The Aitkin Area Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) will host its 26th annual Conservation and Sportsmen’s Banquet Thursday, Sept. 12,

The Aitkin Area Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) will host its 26th annual Conservation and Sportsmen’s Banquet Thursday, Sept. 12, at The Landing. It begins with a reception hour at 5:30 p.m. Dinner will be served at 7:30 p.m.

And, in the spirit of the outdoors, youngsters under the age of 16 who recently took and passed a hunter education course and/or women who have participated in a recent Outdoors Women program, and can verify same; will receive a complimentary dinner ticket when accompanied by a paying adult.

The evening will feature a live and silent auction, games, drawings and door prizes, highlighted with the finest selection of quality firearms, artwork and collectibles.

For more information on the banquet contact Jim MacDonald at 218-927-9998 (day) or 218-927-2669 evening.

Proceeds from this event will be used to restore and protect grouse and woodcock habitat.

Georgia 2013 Grouse Season Information

Grouse Statewide October 15 - February 28 - 3 per day

Please check with the state for any updates or changes: http://www.georgiawildlife.com/sites/default/files/uploads/wildlife/hunting/pdf/regulations/2013-2014_StateSeason_summary.pdf

Wyomissing PA Banquet will raise funds to restore and protect ruffed grouse

The Charles E. Bechtel Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society will hold its 36th annual Conservation and Sportsmen banquet on Sept. 11 at the Crown Plaza, 1741 Papermill Road, Wyomissing. Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. and dinner follows at 7 p.m.

Youngsters under the age of 16 who recently took and passed a hunter education course and women who have participated in a recent outdoors women program will receive a complimentary dinner ticket when accompanied by a paying adult. Ticket prices range from $30 for juniors, individual for $60 and a spouse package for $90.

The evening will feature live and silent auctions, games, drawings and door prizes, highlighted by a selection of quality firearms, artwork and collectibles.

Proceeds from the event will be used to restore and protect grouse and woodcock habitat.

Fore more information, contact Trygve Kleppinger at 610-478-4500 or kleppy@comcast.net.

2013 Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock Season Forecasts

Maine

“We had a lot of grouse on the ground in the spring,” noted Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Biologist Kelsey Sullivan, and the statewide woodcock survey revealed woodcock numbers were unchanged from recent years. May had higher than average rainfall. The negative effects on woodcock nesting and brood production were evident during annual brood surveys in central and eastern Maine, according to U.S. Geological Survey Research Biologist Dan McAuley. Overall, Sullivan expects average fall grouse and woodcock populations, with above-average numbers of grouse in the North Woods.

Michigan
Department of Natural Resources Upland Game Bird Specialist and Program Leader Al Stewart reports, ruffed grouse drumming counts were conducted statewide along 95 survey routes during April and May 2013. Using data from 87 routes run in both 2012 and 2013, statewide there was a 10.3 percent decrease in the average number of drums heard per route between 2012 (11.8) and 2013 (10.6). Highest drumming counts were in Zone 1 (Upper Peninsula; 14.5), followed by Zone 2 (northern Lower Peninsula; 9.4) and Zone 3 (southern Lower Peninsula; 6.4).

Analysis at the regional scale indicated there was nearly a significant difference (n=26; t=2.0, P=0.4) in the number of drums heard per route in Zone 1 (Upper Peninsula) between 2012 (17.4) and 2013 (14.9).  There was no significant change (n=52; t=2, P=0.4) in the average number of drums heard per route in Zone 2 (Northern Lower Peninsula) between 2012 (9.9) and 2013 (9.1).  In Zone 3, there were eight routes conducted in both 2012 and 2013.  Due to the low sample size, statistical analysis at the Zone 3 regional scale is not appropriate.

Grouse/woodcock hunter cooperators hunting the first four days of ruffed grouse season reported an average of 1.7 grouse per hour in 2012 compared to 2.0 grouse per hour in 2011. Hunters opinions about the 2012  ruffed grouse population were mixed; 27 percent of the respondents thought grouse populations were up or slightly up from 2011 in the areas they hunted, with 41 percent reporting the population is the same and 32 percent reported they were down or slightly down.  For the full season, the average number of ruffed grouse flushed per hour by cooperators in 2012 (1.66) was slightly lower than the number of birds flushed per hour in 2011 (1.91).  The average number of woodcock flushed per hour statewide by cooperators was slightly higher between 2012 (1.57) and 2011 (1.2).

Stewart concludes, “Based on current survey data, I expect the grouse population this fall will be on a slight decline following the peak of the cycle in 2011.  The 2013 fall ruffed grouse and woodcock numbers could be similar if not a little bit lower statewide compared to 2012.  With favorable annual production, hunters could take approximately 240,000 grouse and 74,000 woodcock in 2013.  Although spring arrived two weeks later than normal; the warm, average weather conditions this year may have a positive impact on brood survival.  If we have favorable production this spring, I anticipate fall ruffed grouse and woodcock numbers could be similar to or only down slightly from last year. Due to normal rainfall and lack of early summer frosts, I expect soft mast production to be very good this fall compared to 2012.”

The ruffed grouse season begins on September 15, statewide.*  In 2013, the opening date for woodcock hunting will be September 21.*  The USFWS framework for Michigan allows for the woodcock hunting season to open no earlier than the Saturday closest to September 22 and to run for no more than 45 days.

Are you looking for new places to hunt grouse and woodcock?  Stewart invites hunters to explore the 10-million acres of public land in Michigan. You can plan your next hunting adventure online with Mi-HUNT. This DNR hunting tool allows people to search for grouse and woodcock habitat on public hunting lands. “Bird hunters have found this tool to be very helpful for viewing different forest types, topography, satellite imagery and road layers…all from the comfort of their own home”, said Stewart.  “There’s even a tutorial designed for grouse hunters.”  To learn more about this free interactive mapping application, visit www.michigan.gov/mihunt for details.

Minnesota
Courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Ruffed grouse drumming counts were down across most of the bird’s range, according to the annual survey conducted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

“This decrease was not unexpected because the ruffed grouse population is still in the declining phase of its 10-year cycle,” said Charlotte Roy, DNR grouse biologist. “Drum counts peaked most recently in 2009.”

Drumming counts dropped from 1.1 to 0.9 per stop in the northeast, which is the forest bird’s core range in Minnesota. Counts in the northwest declined from 0.9 in 2012 to 0.7 drums per stop in 2013. Drumming counts did not change significantly in the central hardwoods or southeast, with an average of 0.9 and 0.4 drums per stop, respectively.

Ruffed grouse populations, which tend to rise and fall on a 10-year cycle, are surveyed by counting the number of male ruffed grouse heard drumming on established routes throughout the state’s forested regions. Drumming counts are an indicator of the ruffed grouse breeding population.

This year, observers recorded 0.9 drums per stop statewide. The averages during 2011 and 2012 were 1.7 and 1.0 drums per stop, respectively. Counts vary from about 0.8 drums per stop during years of low grouse abundance to about 1.9 during years of high abundance.

The number of birds present during the fall hunting season also depends upon nesting success and chick survival during the spring and summer. Drumming did occur later this year because of the late spring, suggesting that nesting likely occurred later than normal.

“Later nesting would have pushed the hatch out a bit, hopefully beyond the spring rains,” Roy said. “Time will tell if that occurred and the impact on production.”


Minnesota has an abundance of aspen and other ruffed grouse habitat in the state, much of it located on county, state and national forests where public hunting is allowed. An estimated 11.5 million of the state’s 16.3 million acres of forest are grouse habitat. For more information, see www.mndnr.gov.

Wisconsin
Brian Dhuey, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wildlife researcher reported, “Statewide ruffed grouse population indices decreased 9 percent between 2012 and 2013, based on the number of drumming grouse heard during roadside surveys. Changes in indices to breeding grouse populations varied by region, and the statewide mean number of drums/stop was not significant (P= 0.58) from 2012 to 2013. Drummer densities on the two research areas, the Sandhill Wildlife Area in Wood County and the Stone Lake Experimental Area in Oneida County were mixed, Stone Lake showed an increase of 2 percent and Sandhill a decrease of 5 percent from 2012 levels.”

Dhuey also stated, “This is the second decrease in the ruffed grouse indices since 2011. Survey indices show a decrease in drumming grouse in three of the four regions of the state.  Despite the decrease in breeding grouse in the spring of 2012, brood production in the summer of 2012 was 17 percent higher than in 2011. This unfortunately did not translate into more breeding grouse in the spring of 2013. Wisconsin’s primary grouse range, the Central and Northern Forest Regions, showed mixed results. The Central Forest had a decrease in breeding grouse of 18.1 percent this spring, while the Northern Forest had a small increase of 1.6 percent.”

A long winter with snow still present in late April in northern Wisconsin delayed the ruffed grouse breeding season.  Nesting began 10 days to 2 weeks later than usual in the region with most broods starting to appear during the second week of June. Unfortunately the cool, wet spring continued during this period that most likely will impact fall populations.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service woodcock singing ground surveys from 2012 were up 2.1 percent from 2012 numbers for Wisconsin with 3.01 singing males heard per survey route.   This is the sixth consecutive spring that showed increases in singing males in the state.  The late arrival of spring also negatively affected breeding woodcock with heavy snow falling across most of the state in late April.
As for the 2013 Wisconsin hunting season, at this time it appears both ruffed grouse and woodcock numbers likely will be down when compared to last year.


*References to season dates or regulations are as provided by our correspondents and should be verified on that state’s official website or published materials.

Visit the RGS website for the full report

Ruffed Grouse Society Conservation group to host fund-raiser dinner in Hackensack MN

The Deep Portage Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society will host its 24th Annual Conservation and Sportsmen’s Banquet on Aug. 29 at the Deep Portage Conservation Reserve, 2197 Nature Center Drive NW in Hackensack beginning with a reception hour at 5:30 p.m. Dinner will be served at 7:30 p.m.

According to Jerry Lamon, individual membership and dinner tickets are $60. There is also a membership and spouse package which includes two dinners for $95. Junior membership and dinner tickets are $45 each. Banquet, Conservation, Sustaining and Gold sponsorship packages are also available at $275, $500, $1,000 and $2,500 respectively.

And, in the spirit of the outdoors, youngsters under the age of 16 who recently took and passed a hunter education course and/or women who have participated in a recent Outdoors Women program, and can verify same; will receive a complimentary dinner ticket when accompanied by a paying adult.

Seating is limited and attendees are urged to make reservations early.

As is the custom at this event, the evening will feature a live and silent auction, games, drawings and door prizes highlighted with the finest selection of quality firearms, artwork and collectables.

For more information and/or tickets contact Lamon at 218-947-3870 or by email at Jblamon@tds.net.

More info and the complete PineAndLakes article

Alaska 2013 Grouse Season Information

Grouse

•

Including spruce, sooty (formerly blue), ruffed, and sharp-tailed grouse

• Area restrictions in Unit 14C. Handout available at Anchorage ADF&G or online at

http://hunt.alaska.gov

.

• Season begins later -- the day after Labor Day -- in Unit 14

C.

• Lead shot is now prohibited in shotguns for all bird hunting

in Unit 26

Units 1–6:

Five per day

, ten in possession............................................

Aug 1-May 15

Units 7 and 15:

Ten per day

, twenty in possession; of which not more than one per day and two in

possession may be ruffed grouse.

Aug 10-Mar 31

Units 8 and 10:

no open season

Units 9, 17–19, 21–24, and 26:

Fifteen per day

, thirty in possession

Aug 10-Apr 30

Unit 11:

Fifteen per day

, thirty in possession

Aug 10-Mar 31

Units 13, 14A, 14B, and 16:

Fifteen per day

,

thirty in possession of which not more than two per day

and four in possession may be ruffed grouse..

Aug 10-Mar 31

Unit 14C:

Five per day

, ten in possession, of which not more than two per day and four in possession may be ruffed grouse.

.Sept 3-Mar 31

Unit 20D,

that portion lying west of the east bank of the Johnson River a

nd south of the north

bank of the Tanana River:

By falconry only,

ten per day

,

ten in possession, provided that not more than two per day and two in

possession may be sharp-t

ailed grouse...................................................................................

Aug 10-Aug 24

Fifteen per day

, thirty in possession, provided that not more than five per day and ten in possession

may be sharp-tailed grouse....................................................................................................

Aug 25-Mar 31

Units 12, remainder of Unit 20, and Unit 25:

Fifteen per day

,

thirty in possession..

Aug 10-Mar 31

Check the Alaska Fish and Game website for updates 

Prospects good for Michigan grouse hunters

By Darin Potter

Lansing — Hunters throughout the state in pursuit of upland birds and small game can expect another successful season this fall. Upland game birds like ruffed grouse and woodcock should be found in good numbers, and rabbits and squirrels are plentiful.

“The 2013 fall ruffed grouse and woodcock numbers could be similar if not a little bit lower statewide compared to 2012. With favorable annual production, hunters could take approximately 240,000 grouse and 74,000 woodcock in 2013,” Al Stewart, the DNR’s upland game bird specialist, told Michigan Outdoor News. “Although spring arrived two weeks later than normal in 2013, the warm, average weather conditions this year may have a positive impact on brood survival. If we have favorable production this spring, I anticipate fall ruffed grouse and woodcock numbers could be similar to or only down slightly from last year.”

Stewart said grouse drumming counts were down this spring.

Using data from 87 routes run in 2012 and 2013, statewide there was a 10.3-percent decrease in the average number of drums heard per route between 2012 (11.8) and 2013 (10.6).

The drumming counts were highest in Zone 1 (14.5 drums per route), followed by Zone 2 (9.4) and Zone 3 (6.4).

Grouse season runs Sept. 15 to Nov. 14, then re-opens Dec. 1 to Jan. 1. The woodcock season opens Sept. 21 and ends Nov. 3.

When hunting woodcock, a Harvest Information Program endorsement is required. The HIP survey takes about a minute to complete and must be added by the agent when you purchase a small-game license.

A relatively new tool created by the DNR called, MI-Hunt (www.michigan.gov/mihunt) gives hunters the ability to scout areas ahead of the season by viewing land from aerial photos and learning the habitat online. With 10 million acres of public land in Michigan, it’s not difficult to find areas that hold upland game birds or game animals, according to Stewart.

“Bird hunters have found this tool to be very helpful for viewing different forest types, topography, satellite imagery, and road layers – all from the comfort of their own home. There’s even a tutorial designed for grouse hunters,” he said.


Calling the local wildlife biologist before the season is also a good way to find areas that hold game.

Read the rest of the Outdoor News article

Michigan Ruffed Grouse Society hosting annual shoot on Aug. 15

Cory Butzin | cbutzin1@mlive.com 

Shooters and steak lovers have until Aug. 9 to register for the Ruffed Grouse Society Albert A. Smith-Saginaw Valley Chapter's annual Invitational Fun Shoot. The event is held at the Saginaw Gun Club, 9549 Gratiot Road in Saginaw on Thursday, Aug. 15 and gets underway at 4 p.m.

According to Ron Heatley, registration for the shoot and “grill your own steak dinner” is $25. Attendees also have an opportunity to shoot skeet or sporting clays at there own cost.

Proceeds from this event will be used to support the annual Harry Danz Scholarship Fund.

For more information and/or directions call Heatley at 989-860-4874.

Established in 1961, the Ruffed Grouse Society is North America’s foremost conservation organization dedicated to preserving our sporting traditions by creating healthy forest habitat for ruffed grouse, American woodcock and other wildlife. RGS works with landowners and government agencies to develop critical habitat utilizing scientific management practices.

Information on RGS, its mission, management projects and membership can be found on the web at: www.ruffedgrousesociety.org

See the complete MLive article