Western Great Lakes Region

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Western Great Lakes Region Spring 2011 Inside this Issue: 1Regional News News From the RD 2 National Sponsor Raffle Winners Current Events 3 State Drummer Fund 4 MAP Map 5 Habitat Happenings 6 Natl.

1 Western Great Lakes Region Spring 2011 Inside this Issue: 1Regional News News From the RD 2 National Sponsor Raffle Winners Current Events 3 State Drummer Fund 4 MAP Map 5 Habitat Happenings 6 Natl. Raffle Rem Pics 7 National Raffle Order Form Regional News As I look out the office window while writing this, the first real thaw of the winter has begun in Western Wisconsin. Temperatures for the week will be above normal and the snow piled up throughout the farm fields has settled and brown spots are just beginning to appear. Even though residents here realize it s just a tease at this time, it gives us a chance to catch our breath and replenish the dwindling woodpile. Just last week we faced morning temperatures that bottomed out near -30 every day. Not only do cars complain about starting at those temperatures, but the dogs don t want to leave the comfort of the woodstove either. I think my two Gordon Setters are wondering why they can t use the cats litter box. Given the opportunity to get a ride in the truck to school though, and they are the first out the door, eagerly awaiting their place in the back seat. The 2011 spring banquet season has begun and support for RGS continues to be strong throughout the region. Please check out the spring banquet schedule below and contact the ticket chairman for your chance to attend the premier wildlife banquet in your area. RGS will be attending a number of sportsmen s shows in the region and are looking to start new chapters or rejuvenate former chapters in a few areas. Eau Claire, Rice Lake, and Spooner, Wi are a number of areas we would like re-establish chapters, as well as Rochester, Mn. Please contact me with regards to these areas. Your support is most appreciated. Dave Johnson uptrek@gmail.com

2 National Sponsor Raffle Winners First Prize - Connecticut RBL-28 Shotgun -- Jerry Piotrowski, Milladore,Wi Second Prize - AYA Shotgun -- Hugh McMaster, Alden, Mi Third Prize - Caesar Guerini Magnus Shotgun -- Todd Hagedorn, Wausau, Wi Fourth Prize - S&W Elite Gold Shotgun -- Jeff Towner, Grand Rapids, Mi Fifth Prize - SKB Model 785 Shotgun -- Paul Beecher, Wexford. Pa Sixth Prize - Steiner Binoculars -- Bob Norri, Virginia, Mn Seventh Prize - $1000 Cabelas Gift Card -- Dave Ziolkowski, Armstrong Creek, Wi Congratulations to all the winners and thank you for your continued support of our sponsor programs. Current Events February 26 S.W Wisconsin Chapter Banquet Muscoda, Wi Contact Dave Duffey March 10 Golden Sands Chapter Banquet Stevens Point, Wi Contact Tom Otto March Wisconsin Sport Show Eau Claire Indoor Sports Center Eau Claire, Wi March 24 Rib Mountain Chapter Banquet Wausau,Wi Contact Mark Zuiker April 1-3 Wisconsin Deer and Turkey Expo Alliant Energy Center Madison,Wi April 9 Nicolet Wild Rivers Chapter Banquet Crandon,Wi Contact Dave Ziolkowski April 11 Missi Croix Chapter Banquet Prescott, Wi Contact Mike Brown April 18 David Uihlein Chapter Banquet Milwaukee, Wi Contact Jim Hayett April 28 Lakeshore Chapter Banquet Sheboygan, Wi Contact Trent Hake Ext 311 T. Stanton Armour Chapter Banquet Chicago, Il Contact Bob Belter

3 UPDATE ON RGS STATE DRUMMER FUNDS Here is an update on the 2010 RGS Drummer Fund. As mentioned many times before the Drummer Fund is a great tool to get money on the ground for habitat. The Drummer Fund Chapter works on a scale. If your banquet nets between $7,001 up to $19,999: 10% of your net it will be placed into a statewide "Drummer Fund" to fund habitat projects. Chapters whose banquet nets between $20,000 up to $49,999: 15% of their net it will be placed into a statewide "Drummer Fund" to fund habitat projects. Chapter whose banquet nets $50, or over: 20% of their net will be placed into a statewide "Drummer Fund" to fund habitat projects. In addition, there are four other ways that money will be directed into that Fund: 1) If the chapter signs up a Life sponsor, $2,500 of that Sponsorship will go to the Drummer Fund. 2) RGS will be sending out letters at the end of each year seeking donations. A person's State Drummer Fund will be one of three categories that one can donate to. At the end of each banquet, RGS will hand out envelopes to the attendees giving them an opportunity to donate to either the RUFF campaign or the state's Drummer Fund. 3) If a person in your state makes a large donation earmarked for habitat work, that donation will go into your State's Drummer Fund and the chapters can raise funds to match it. 4) If your chapter has a successful banquet, then your chapter may elect to hold additional fundraisers, like raffles, to raise additional money. Your chapter may keep up to $2,500 from each such fundraiser and can use it for projects consistent with RGS' mission. RGS is trying to take steps to provide more funds for projects. Money earned in 2010 will be spent in 2011 so that we can be certain we have it before it is spent. In the first year of RGS' new program to share banquet revenue with the chapters about $125,000 was raised for the states' Drummer Funds to support Habitat Projects. We will be working in 2011 to get all of the MN, MO, and other chapters to increase their revenue so they raise more for their Drummer Funds - attendance, donations and sponsors are the key! How projects to be funded via the Drummer Fund will be determined? In 2007, RGS asked its biologists to establish a mechanism for evaluating projects suitable for funding. That mechanism is in place and will be used to rank projects submitted for funding. How the money retained by RGS for the chapters will be accounted for? Each chapter will have its own account at RGS and may, at any time, ask for an accounting of its funds. The first year of the Drummer Fund raised about $125,000 for projects and another $40,000 was donated to the WI fund. A Great first start!

4 Wisconsin Ruffed Grouse Society Management Area Projects 1985 to 2009 Douglas Co. 28,100 Acres Washburn Co. 7,145 Acres Rusk Co. 800 Acres Taylor Co. 2,500 Acres Sawyer Co. 2,700 Acres Bayfield Co. 3 Projects 3,500 Acres Ashland Co. 3,304 Acres Iron Co. 900 Acres Price Co. 8 Projects 30,017 Acres Vilas Co. 600 Acres Forest Co. 4,705 Acres Marathon Co. 5,889 Acres Oneida Co. 800 Acres Florence Co. 7 Projects 9,104 Acres Lincoln Co. 2,800 Acres Barron Co. 480 Acres Dunn Co. 500 Acres Pierce Co. 80 Acres Chippewa Co. 100 Acres Marinette Co. 1,675 Acres Langlade Co. 2,260 Acres Oconto Co. 5 Projects 9,200 Acres Shawano Co. 100 Acres Portage County 1000 Acres Eau Claire Co. 3 Projects 2,240 Acres Buffalo Co. 6,000 Acres Clark Co. 1,984 Acres Trempealeau Co. 200 Acres LaCrosse Co. 200 Acres Jackson Co. 2,640 Acres Iowa Co. 280 Acres Crawford Co. 25 Acres Grant Co. Monroe Co. 420 Acres 700 Acres Sauk Co. 830 Acres Columbia Co. 100 Acres Wood Co. 4,271 Acres Waushara Co. 125 Acres Sheboygan Co. 794 Acres Marquette Co. 40 Acres

5 RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY 2011 HABITAT HAPPENINGS IN THE WESTERN GREAT LAKES REGION Regional Overview: The first Ruffed Grouse Society Management Area Project (MAP) in the Western Great Lakes Region (Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin) was initiated in Since then the Society has provided over 1.5 million dollars in funding over 150 projects in this region. These funds have enhanced ruffed grouse and woodcock habitat on over 330,000 acres of public land. Thanks to our local chapter committees and RGS members who make all of this possible. 2010: In 2010, habitat related projects were funded in Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin. These projects ranged from the regeneration of important young forest habitat to improving hunter walking trail systems. During the year, long term partnership agreements for improving ruffed grouse and woodcock habitat conditions continued on the Chequamegon/Nicolet National Forest (WI) and the Hiawatha and Ottawa National Forests (MI). The 18 th and 19 th Wisconsin Coverts Workshops were held in August near Woodruff. These 3-day sessions sponsored by the Ruffed Grouse Society provided private landowners vast training on current land management practices. Since 1994, 476 landowners have taken part in this event and are sharing what they have learned with friends and neighbors. Over the past two years these workshops were expanded to include participants from Illinois and Minnesota. Three major youth events were held in the region in the past year, events that provided opportunities for young men and women to learn more about their outdoor heritage. What s ahead in 2011? Interest to improve ruffed grouse habitat on public lands continues to grow with many projects waiting funding from the Society. These include, but are not limited to the following: Implementing the Upper Great Lakes Woodcock and Young Forest Habitat Initiative Chequamegon/Nicolet National Forest Early Successional Habitat Project Glacial Lake Grantsburg Woodcock Habitat Project, Burnett Co., Wisconsin River Hills Forest Habitat Project, Callaway, Montgomery and Warren Co., Missouri Support for the Driftless Area Initiative, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin National Emphasis: The Ruffed Grouse Society is leading the fight to keep all National Forest lands open for public hunting. A recent lawsuit in Michigan is requiring the agency to consider banning hunters and snowmobilers from portions of the Huron/Manistee National Forest. The Society is working with nearly all the nations conservation organizations in uniting to prevent any hunting ban from occurring, a situation that if allowed to happen, could quickly spread across the country. Thank you for your support! None of the Ruffed Grouse Society s accomplishments would be possible without the generous support from our members. We are in this together; in this struggle to protect the future of our hunting heritage and to preserve our nations forest wildlife. Please consider becoming a committee member if you are not already. If you are interested in receiving regular updates on grouse related issues please consider becoming a member of our Forest Action Network (FAN), a group of grouse enthusiasts who are taking an active role in grouse and woodcock management in this region. For information contact your Regional Director or Coordinating Biologist Gary Zimmer at , or by at rgszimm@newnorth.net.

6 National Raffle Remington 1100 F-Grade Action Engraving Detail Order tickets using following flyer.

Western Great Lakes Region. Newsletter. Regional News

Western Great Lakes Region. Newsletter. Regional News Summer 2011 Inside this Issue: 1 Regional News News From the R.D. 2 National Sponsor Raffle Winners 4 Upcoming Banquets or Shoots 6 Update on RGS State Drummer Funds 8 WI 2011 Drummer Fund Projects 9 WI