News from the Drumming Log

Transcription

1 July 2013 Inside this Issue: News from the Drumming Log Local News RD Message Chapter News Banquet Schedule 2013 National Raffles 2013 Sponsor Reward Program 2013 Grouse & Woodcock Forecast MI Projects 2013 Bruce Wojcik Supervising RD Local News RD Message Once again this year the late spring and summer seasons have found us very busy in Michigan and across the entire region. We have been working on growing our presence and mission delivery by adding some new chapters. The Southern Appalachian Chapter in Asheville NC has become active again and is hosting a banquet Saturday 24 August, This is the beginning of a resurgence is the south heralding a new emphasis and strategic action plan for the Appalachian area and the grouse populations there. We will have a new chapter in the Houghton Lake/West Branch area hosting their first banquet this fall with the date & location yet to be determined. Watch for the announcement on the website very soon. We are also in the planning stages for another chapter in the Hillsdale/Branch/Lenawee/Jackson Counties area. As we continue to increase our mission delivery we gain exposure which leads to interest and new members, volunteers, and events. This leads to more mission delivery and we continue to have a greater impact on the resources we all treasure. If anyone has any interest or has a friend in these areas please contact me and we can work on this together. We have also been very busy hosting numerous dog trials and training seminars with more coming as well as plenty of shooting events. It certainly has been a great time to be an RGS volunteer/committee member.

2 Wanted--NEW Committee Members If you are interested in starting an RGS Chapter in your area I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you. If you did have an active RGS chapter in your area but it no longer exists, and you would be willing to donate your time I need your help. I am asking all current RGS members to consider becoming involved with their local chapter or start a new active chapter in your area. If this is of interest to you, please contact me. The Society is looking toward the future and our future is our Members. The Members who make things happen are called Committee Members. If you would like to become an RGS Committee Member please contact: Mark Fouts, RGS Regional Director or mfouts@ruffedgrousesociety.org RGS Committee Member Make Things Happen Become Part of The Process Join An RGS Committee In Your Area Andy Ammann Memorial Woodcock Viewing Area dedicated A gentle rain fell Thursday evening, June 6 as family, friends and fellow sportsmen gathered to remember Dr. George ( Andy ) Ammann, former grouse and woodcock biologist for the Michigan DNR, and to dedicate the newly created Andy Ammann Memorial Woodcock Viewing Area at the DNR Rose Lake Wildlife Research Area in Clinton and Shiawassee counties. Ammann, who passed away in 2008 at 98 years of age, was a well-respected member of the DNR family and an avid outdoorsman. Dad never met a stranger. said his youngest son, Tom Ammann. Dr. Ammann pioneered the modern method of woodcock banding using pointing dogs to locate nests where the chicks are then banded. I remember going out with Dad in the early days of woodcock banding with a smelt-dipping net trying to catch the birds. It didn t work. Dad knew there had to be a better way, said Andy s middle son, Larry Ammann. In 1981, Dr. Ammann's book, "A Guide to Capturing and Banding American Woodcock Using Pointing Dogs," was published by the Ruffed Grouse Society. This book continues to be the top reference for woodcock banders. Several family members were in attendance and shared their stories of Ammann's passion for hunting and the out-of-doors. Dad had every detail of every hunt written in pocket-sized notebooks. There are hundreds of these notebooks, said Tom Ammann. The Andy Ammann Memorial Woodcock Viewing Area is a cooperative habitat improvement project between the DNR, the Andy Ammann Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society, the Bath Fire

3 Department, Kesler Construction Company, the Lansing Chapter of Safari Club International, Sharecropper, Steve Wiswasser and the Michigan Woodcock Banders. This work was done to maintain young forest habitats and provide a singing/display area and brood-rearing site for nesting woodcock. We re really happy we could put Andy s name on this site. It is a dream come true, said Chuck Riley, board member of the Andy Amman Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to /Editors please note: Accompanying photos are available for download below. Suggested captions follow. Group - Family, friends and fellow sportsmen gather at the Andy Ammann Memorial Woodcock Viewing Area. Andy Amman WVA - Close-up of the Andy Ammann Memorial Woodcock Viewing Area sign./

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6 SUMMER/FALL 2013 BANQUET SCHEDULE Southern Appalachian Chapter, Asheville, NC Saturday, August 24, 2013 Don Mallicoat, Grand Rapids Chapter, Grand Rapids, MI Wednesday August 28, 2013 Christian Betz, Greater Southeast MI, Detroit, MI Friday September 6, 2013 Dan DeVito, LeGrand Traverse Chapter, Traverse City, MI Saturday September 14, 2013 Rick Bechtold, Mid Upper Peninsula Marquette Chapter Thursday September 12, 2013 North Central Michigan Chapter, West Branch, MI TBD Jason Michalski Highlands Chapter, Cadillac, MI Saturday September 28, 2013 Sandra Misaras, Northwoods Chapter, Crystal Falls, MI Thursday October 3, 2013 Rick Bath, Al Litzenburger Chapter, Petoskey, MI Friday October 4, 2013 Mike McDonald, Thunder Bay Chapter, Alpena, MI Wednesday October 16, 2013 Joel Bauer,

7 DOG TRIALS & HABITAT DAYS & SHOOTS Andy Ammann RGS Dog Training Seminar Saturday 10 August 2013 Albert A. Smith/Saginaw Valley Chapter Fun Shoot Thursday 15 August 2013 Robert J. Lytle Chapter, Imlay City, Fun Shoot Saturday 24 August 2013 Keith Davis Chapter, Flint Fall Tune Up Shoot Saturday 7 September 2013 Andy Ammann Chapter, Dog Trial Saturday 7 September 2013 Eastern Upper Peninsula Chapter, Youth Day Saturday September 7, 2013 Al Litzenburger Chapter, Petoskey Premier Hunt Saturday 5 October 2013 Al Litzenburger Chapter, Youth Hunt Sunday 3 November 2013 Gun Dog of Year Host Highlands Chapter Saturday 23 November 2013 Congratulations To All of the Lucky National Raffle Winners!! Thank you to everyone for their support!! RGS Announces Winners of the National Raffle: 1 Ticket # 5257 Benjamin Moore Milwaukee WI ORVIS UPLANDER SHOTGUN 2 Ticket # 4666 Joe Prechodnik Cedarburg WI KANSAS QUAIL HUNT 3 Ticket # 1063 Mike Helms Rochester MI NATIONAL GROUSE & WOODCOCK HUNT 4 Ticket # 1689 Brian Klein New Berlin WI SOUTH DAKOTA PHEASANT HUNT

8 Fall 2013 National Raffle Get Your Tickets Now! The Ruffed Grouse Society is excited to kick off the 2013 Fall National Raffle, and you can get your tickets now for a chance to win the following prizes: 1. Northern Maine Grouse Hunt for Two; Enjoy 4 nights/3 days of hunting at Libby Camps in northern Maine during the 2014/2015 hunting season; Package value: $3, Grand Traverse Fishing, Golf and Wine Tour for Four; Enjoy 4 nights/5 days in Traverse City, Michigan charter fishing, golfing and touring the area's fine wineries; Package value: $2, Northern Minnesota Fishing and Resort Stay for Two; Enjoy a one-week stay at the Driftwood Lodge Resort on Lake Kabetogama with a boat rental; Package value: $2000 Tickets will be sold for $20 each or 3 for $50. Three winners will be drawn on December 31, WINNER'S CHOICE! Tickets can be purchased by contacting me. Up to 10,000 tickets will be sold, and winners will be responsible for any and all taxes associated with their prizes. Void where prohibited by law Banquet Sponsor Rewards Program 1. Option 1 A sponsor may elect to receive an unframed print of the year, either the new one or one from prior years (while supplies last). Photos of prints from prior years are available on the RGS website: 2. Option 2 A sponsor may elect to participate in a national drawing at the end of the 2013 Fall Banquet Season. There will be seven tickets drawn. The first winner will win the first item in the list below and so on until all seven tickets are drawn. Sponsors who choose this option will be assigned a ticket number(s) for the drawing by RGS National. Fall Shuffle By Chris Smith RGS 2013 Print Of The Year The Following Are The Seven Prizes Being Offered: 1. Caesar Guerini Magnus Light Over/Under 28-Gauge Shotgun 2. AYA 453 Side-By-Side 20-Gauge Shotgun 3. Browning Superlight Feather Over/Under 20-Gauge Shotgun 4. Orvis Helios 2 4-Weight 8 6 Mid Flex Fly Rod Outfit 5. Webley & Scott WS 900 Over/Under 28-Gauge Shotgun With Quality Presentation Case 6. Webley & Scott WS 900 Over/Under 20-Gauge Shotgun With Quality Presentation Case 7. SportDOG Tek 1.0 GPS + E Collar (tek-v1lt)

9 Michigan 2013 Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock Forecast DNR 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 Using data from 87 routes run in both 2012 and 2013, statewide there was a 10.3% 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 in the average number of drums heard per route in Zone 2 (Northern Lower Peninsula) between 2012 (9.9) and 2013 (52; n=9.1; t=2, P=0.4). In zone 3, there were 8 routes conducted in both 2012 and Due to the low sample size, statistical analysis at the Zone 3 regional scale is not appropriate. Grouse/woodcock hunter cooperators hunting the first 4 days of Ruffed grouse season reported an average of 1.7 grouse per hour in 2012 compared to 2.0 grouse per hour in Hunters opinions about the 2012 ruffed grouse population were mixed; 27% of the respondents thought grouse populations were up or slight up from 2011 in the areas they hunted, with 41% reporting the population is the same and 32%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 The 2013 fall ruffed grouse and woodcock numbers could be similar if not a little bit lower statewide compared to With favorable annual production, hunters could take approximately 240,000 grouse and 74,000 woodcock in Although spring arrived 2 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 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 for details. Al Stewart Wildlife Biologist, Upland Game Bird Specialist and Program Leader MI Department of Natural Resources Stevens T. Mason Building, 530 W. Allegan St, PO Box 30444, Lansing, MI stewarta1@michigan.gov or My Mission: To assist resource managers and constituents in the management of upland game bird populations with the best science possible.

10 2013 Michigan Drummer Fund Projects These projects maintain and restore young forest habitat in Michigan for ruffed grouse and American woodcock. The funding for these projects comes directly from local RGS chapters in Michigan. A total of 14 chapters were able to contribute to the MI Drummer Fund from banquet revenues and special projects this year. Grant funds were also obtained to supplement chapter funds. In recent years the amount of available funding has increased from $16,000 in 2011, to $31,000 in 2012, to a total of $54,000 in On December 15, 2012 the Michigan RGS Habitat Council met to discuss the 13 proposals that had been submitted for habitat projects by resource management agencies. The Council approved funding for all 13 projects. The approved funding totaled $70,000. Currently one project is only partially funded. After matching agency funds are included, nearly $190,000 in young forest habitat restoration and enhancement will be accomplished. Huron-Manistee NF Wagonwheel Two Aspen Regeneration This project is located on USFS land in Wexford County on the Wagonwheel Grouse Management Area. Six acres of mature aspen will be non-commercially harvested between October 1 and March 21 to promote regeneration of a young aspen forest. This site is located near M-55 and M-37, and there is no road access. This project will benefit ruffed grouse, American woodcock and golden-winged warblers. Main contact Patty O Connell, USFS Manistee, poconnell@fs.fed.us. Huron-Manistee NF M-37 Aspen Regeneration The RGS Drummer Funds will be leveraged with other partner contributions and federally allocated dollars to contract up to 42 acres of noncommercial aspen regeneration and up to 10 acres of non-commercial alder regeneration on the Baldwin/White Cloud Ranger District. The regenerated young forest conditions will benefit ruffed grouse, American woodcock and other young forest wildlife species. Main Contacts Heather Keough, hkeough@fs.fed.us and Jim Cline, acline@fs.fed.us, USFS Baldwin. Huron-Manistee NF Mio Openings Improvement Project This project is located on USFS land in Oscoda County. This project will improve and maintain early successional habitat in forest openings through the use of large mechanical equipment with mowers or tree shears. This project is also supported with MI DNR funding and National Wild Turkey Federation Super Funds. The RGS Drummer Fund contribution will boost the acreage treated to approximately 100 acres. Main Contact Phil Huber, USFS Mio, phuber@fs.fed.us. Huron-Manistee NF 2013 Huron Shores Alder Regeneration for Ruffed Grouse/American Woodcock Lowland forest habitat will be returned to an early successional stage using mechanical equipment. This is part of a 65 acre project that is also supported by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. This project will benefit American woodcock, ruffed grouse and goldenwinged warble, a Forest Service sensitive species. Other natural resources and the local economy of Iosco County will also benefit. Main Contact Paul Thompson, USFS Oscoda, pdthompson@fs.fed.us. DNR WLD Rejuvenation of American Woodcock Breeding Sites (3 projects) Three project sites, 2 on the Gratiot-Saginaw State Game Area (SGA) and 1 on the Rose Lake State Wildlife Area (SWA), have been identified where woodcock breeding habitat needs to be rejuvenated to provide optimum breeding and roosting habitat. Significant decreases in use of these areas by woodcock have been noted by woodcock banders. The project area on the Rose Lake SWA is 98 acres and the

11 2 areas on the Gratiot Saginaw SGA total 31 acres. The areas will be treated mechanically, and burning may also be used to set back succession. Main Contacts Chad Fedewa, MI DNR Flat River, and Sara Schaefer, MI DNR Middleville, DNR WLD Deford SGA Opening Maintenance Project The Deford State Game Area provides quality woodcock nesting and brood rearing habitat in the form of early successional stands dominated by aspen. However, singing ground habitat is lacking on the area. Old opening have filled in with autumn olive, red pine, jack pine, sumac, black locust and cherry. The DNR has developed a plan to restore 59 acres of openings over a 3 years period. A combination of fire wood sales, hand crews and mechanical equipment will be used. Main Contact Don Bonnette, MI DNR Cass City, bonneted@michigan.cov. DNR WLD Drummond Island Grouse Management Area This 2850 acre site in Chippewa County has been intensively managed for the past 20 years for ruffed grouse, American woodcock and other young forest species. Signs and gates are currently needed to identify this grouse management area and restrict motor vehicle access. The Drummond Island Sportsmen s Club is also cooperating on this project. Main Contact David Jentoft, MI DNR Sault Ste. Marie, jentoftd@michigan.gov. DNR WLD LeGrande 2013 This 97 acre project in Cheboygan Co. will restore and maintain openings. The area has a large amount of managed aspen, but needs open restoration to provide habitat diversity to optimize conditions for ruffed grouse, American woodcock, and other young forest species. Main Contact - Mark Monroe, MI DNR Gaylord monroem@michigan.gov. Ottawa NF - Forest-wide Young Forest NEPA project The current planning process is not addressing all of the issues of over mature and declining aspen, fir, spruce, and jack pine stands on the Ottawa. Funds are needed to narrow the planning focus onto these key habitat types, while increasing the geographic scope of the planning to include the entire Ottawa NF. The goal is to plan and approve 5,000 to 10,000 acres of regeneration harvest. Main Contact Brian Bogaczyk, USFS Ironwood, bbagaczyk@fs.fed.us. Hiawatha NF Nahma Marsh Tag Alder Regeneration Mechanical or hand cutting will be used to regenerate 10 acres of tag alder to improve woodcock habitat on this Delta County marsh. Cuts will be designed to allow future cutting which will maintain a diversity of age classes of alder. Main Contact Kirk Piehler, USFS Gladstone, kpiehler@fs.fed.us. Hiawatha NF Sprinkler Early Successional Habitat Maintenance This project will maintain old fields that are filling in with fir/spruce/aspen. These ten acres of regenerated old fields will maintain habitat diversity in this Mackinac County forest area to benefit American woodcock and ruffed grouse. Main Contact Kirk Piehler, USFS Gladstone, kpiehler@fs.fed.us

12 Habitat Management Equipment Rental Rates 2013 Heavy Equipment and Cutting Head RGSMembers (includes operator)..$125/hour Non RGS member (includes operator).$150/hour Fuel Surcharge: $10.00/hour Transport: $85.00/hour MichiganContacts John Paige, Mike Papiez, Larry Visser, Bruce Wojcik,

13 RGS/CAT FAQ s What does the CAT with mulching head do? Shreds small trees and brush into a coarse mulch. How big a tree will the CAT with mulching head take down? In general 4 and smaller trees are easily mulched. The CAT will take down larger (8 to 10 ) trees but it takes longer to turn them into mulch. What does it cost? Non RGS members $150.00/tachometer hour RGS members $125.00/tachometer hour RGS membership $25.00/year Fuel Surcharge $10.00/hour Hourly fee includes operator and fuel. Can I operate the CAT with mulching head myself? Operating the CAT with mulching head requires special training. The hourly fee includes the operator supplied by RGS. How much will the CAT with mulching head do in an hour? One half to two thirds of an acre per hour is a reasonable expectation. Sometimes when conditions were excellent, we have done as much as an acre per hour. Hidden obstacles like old stumps and deadfalls will reduce the area mulched each hour. How do I schedule the CAT with mulching head to work on my property? See the RGS/CAT promotion sheet for how to contact John Paige, Mike Papiez, Larry Visser or Bruce Wojcik.