Ruff Country News Minnesota

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Ruff Country News Minnesota Summer Edition September 2017 Meadow Kouffeld and Ted Dick The fall chill is in the air and the maples are turning across northern Minnesota.

Most of us have gone through the second half of summer in great anticipation of fall, especially with the reported drumming survey increase (57%).

1 Ruff Country News Minnesota Summer Edition September 2017 Meadow Kouffeld and Ted Dick The fall chill is in the air and the maples are turning across northern Minnesota. Only a couple more days before we get to head in to the woods. Most of us have gone through the second half of summer in great anticipation of fall, especially with the reported drumming survey increase (57%). It has been a great summer with favorable conditions, so here s to hoping for an excellent Fall! We hope that you have had a chance to visit some of your favorite hunting spots and that if you have a dog they are primed for opener and in shape to handle the season. We would venture to bet that if your dog has been through a season or two they are getting antsy for the change! In this edition of Ruff Country News we will 1

cover the Minnesota Drumming Survey results, the Woodcock Singing Ground Survey Results, and provide updates and announcements on other RGS and AWS happenings!

2 cover the Minnesota Drumming Survey results, the Woodcock Singing Ground Survey Results, and provide updates and announcements on other RGS and AWS happenings! Message from Meadow Kouffeld, RGS Regional Biologist 2017 Minnesota Drumming Survey Results Drumming counts were up this year in Minnesota! Mean drums per stop were up 57% (average 2.1drums per stop statewide, Minnesota DNR 2017). Although this is an exceptional uptick, we did expect an increase based on the upward point in the 10-year population cycle. The Minnesota DNR coordinates the annual drumming surveys that take place April-May each year. The spring drumming surveys have been a continuous effort since the mid-1930 s with minor modifications since the beginning (e.g. increasing the number of routes during the 1970 s and early 80 s). Although not an exact count, drumming surveys provide an index of grouse populations. In combination with hunter harvest statistics drumming surveys help provide some indication as to where the grouse population is headed in the observed 10-year cycle. If you are interested in the full report: g/grouse/grouse_survey_report17.pdf 2

2017 Women s Intro to Wingshooting Missy Trebus of the 2017 Grand

Women s Intro to Wingshooting courses are taking place in both

Following the successful 2016 pilot course held in Grand Rapids, MN

funding to hold the course in an additional location.

3 2017 Women s Intro to Wingshooting Missy Trebus of the 2017 Grand Rapids, MN Course shows how she feels about the WIW course. Women s Intro to Wingshooting courses are taking place in both Grand Rapids (22 students) and Duluth (24 students) this year! Following the successful 2016 pilot course held in Grand Rapids, MN Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society staff sought funding to hold the course in an additional location. RGS/AWS was awarded full finding from both the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Angler and 3

Hunter Recruitment and Retention grants and the Cabela s Outdoor Fund (~$12,800.00 from both funding sources).

This is great news for ladies in northern Minnesota! In addition to 2018 course offerings in Northern Minnesota RGS and AWS staff are currently working to expand WIW beyond Minnesota in 2018.

4 Hunter Recruitment and Retention grants and the Cabela s Outdoor Fund (~$12, from both funding sources). RGS has received approval and is currently working with the Cabela s Outdoor Heritage Fund to extend the awarded 2017 funding to cover the 2018 Grand Rapids and Duluth courses. This is great news for ladies in northern Minnesota! In addition to 2018 course offerings in Northern Minnesota RGS and AWS staff are currently working to expand WIW beyond Minnesota in The success and reception of this program has not gone overlooked and has gained national attention and interest sponsors include Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Cabela s Outdoor Fund, Grand Rapids State Bank, CN Construction, Sandstrom s Distributing, First State Bank of Bigfork, Minnesota Deer Hunter s Association, L&M Fleet Supply, Sawmill Inn, Federal Ammunition, and Itasca Community Education. Interested in hosting WIW in your community? Contact Meadowk@ruffedgrousesociety.org Cass/Hubbard Counties Receive ~2,300 Acres Through MDHA/RGS Lessard Grant In the field on some of the Potlach land acquired and donated to Cass County. Left to Right: Pat Bundy Cass County Resource Manager, Kirk Titus Cass County Commissioner, Craig Engwall President MDHA, Meadow Kouffeld RGS Regional Biologist. In 2016 RGS and the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association (MDHA) received $3.6 million from the Lessard Sam s Outdoor Heritage Council to protect forest habitat in Cass and Hubbard Counties. This historic project made possible the acquisition and donation of divested timber industry forest land to Cass and Hubbard County Land Departments in central Minnesota. In total 2,280 acres were permanently secured for public use that would have otherwise become private or possibly agricultural fields. This is a big win for the 4

5 outdoor recreationists of Minnesota and all residents alike. These lands will remain as managed forests further protecting sensitive aquafers from fertilizer and pesticide leaching from agriculture while producing sustainable timber products and providing critical wildlife habitat. In total, Cass County received 1,960 acres while Hubbard received 320 acres of quality forest habitat. These counties occur in the forested habitat along the forest-prairie transition zone which has been disappearing at an alarming rate. Efforts to preserve wildlands recently have focused on the prairie portions of the State and wetlands have also been targeted, but the transition zone forests, particularly around Park Rapids, are important to grouse and woodcock hunters. Development and conversion to agriculture have put this prime bird habitat at risk. Coincidentally, recent economic changes have caused timber companies to divest of most or all of their significant land holdings. Hunters are often not aware how much of their favorite public hunting land was actually timber company land until its gets leased and/or posted. At our annual RGS input meeting last spring, people told us they strongly support these projects that keep timberlands in production and open to public hunting says Ted Dick. But while member support has been strong, word of this project (and a similar effort in St. Louis County) has not travelled far enough yet-please let fellow grouse hunters know about these important projects. Grouse hunting in Minnesota is a public land sport and we want to keep the public land accessible and healthy for grouse and woodcock hunters now and for generations to come. 5

RGS/AWS Works with L&M Fleet Supply to Purchase Mower for Grand Rapids DNR DR Brush Mower: Left to Right: Michelle Clough, Mark Spoden, Jeremiah Nichols, Meadow Kouffeld.

6 RGS/AWS Works with L&M Fleet Supply to Purchase Mower for Grand Rapids DNR DR Brush Mower: Left to Right: Michelle Clough, Mark Spoden, Jeremiah Nichols, Meadow Kouffeld. The Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society worked with L&M Fleet Supply based in Grand Rapids, MN to purchase a DR Brush Mower to donate to the DNR. In August RGS/AWS staff coordinated the purchase and presentation of the equipment to Mark Spoden, the Grand Rapids Area Wildlife Manager. Michelle Clough (Store Manager) and Jeremiah Nichols (Shop Supervisor) from the Grand Rapids L&M Fleet Supply location assisted with the RGS donation and were very helpful in demonstrating the use of the machine. It is expected that this piece of equipment will be in use for many years to come and benefit Minnesota s sports men and women. When Grand Rapids DNR Wildlife expressed a need for a brush mower to use for maintaining hunter walking trails, access routes, wildlife openings, facilities, parking lots, goose pastures etc, we jumped at the chance to help because we know their budgets are tight and we want to keep our hunting assets in good shape, particularly here in the heart of grouse country said Ted Dick. 6

7 RGS Hunter Mentor Program in Grand Rapids Area! Early September 2017, 10 boys between the age of 11 and 16 had the opportunity to partake in the RGS New Hunter Mentor Program hosted by the Diamond S Ranch (David and Julie Sandstrom) near Squaw Lake Minnesota. The program is designed to give those new to hunting (young and old, male and female) the chance to learn about the basics of habitat, wildlife, hunting dogs, shooting and bird hunting. The students enjoyed good food and night shooting skeet on an illuminated range as well as bunkhouse accommodations. All involved had the chance to hunt over a dog with mentors guiding them through the process. It is expected that this program will be offered again in the Grand Rapids area in Students from all areas are welcome and numbers are limited by a set enrollment number. It is hoped that an all-girls NHMP group can be hosted as well. If you know of a child in those age ranges, girl or boy, that would enjoy the opportunity to learn more about habitat, wildlife, gun dogs, shooting and hunting please contact Mark Fouts at MarkF@ruffedgrousesociety.org. Also watch for announcements on social media and via on future opportunities. 7

8 RGS and AWS FY17 Grant Updates Machines like this skid-steer are busy mowing trails and wildlife openings this August! RSG and AWS were awarded a FY17 MN DNR Conservation Partners Legacy (CPL) Grant for the total amount of $270,000 in fall Over the last few months RGS and AWS staff have been working to administer portions of that grant including three projects worth a total of $100,000. The projects include: 1) the handcutting of brush in the Northeast region on both state and federal ownerships,2) mowing of woodcock openings and 3) the Hydro-Axe treatment of mature willow and alder stands on the Roseau River WMA. Ownerships up for treatment under this grant include state, county, and United States Forest Service managed lands. We are currently working on a FY18 Conservation Partners Legacy grant that will broadly enhance forest health in northern and Southeastern Minnesota. The application was submitted September 12 th with notification in October

9 Cory Medina Band performs at the Wild Flush Party August 26 th. (Matt Soberg Photo). Announcing New Chapter of American Woodcock Society August 26, 2017 was a day of celebration for Minnesota woodcock hunters. It marks the first day of existence for the Pineridge Chapter of the American Woodcock Society. Pineridge Grouse Camp is located between Remer and Longville MN and has long played host to a group of avid woodcock hunters who were part of another Conservation Group: Woodcock Minnesota. The Camp held an event on the 26 th called the First Annual Wild Flush Hunting Season Celebration as a way to bring hunters/dog people together to honor the arrival of fall and also announce the creation of the first AWS Chapter in Minnesota. In addition to dog training demonstrations, puppy certifications, booths displaying information from various conservation organizations, a gear swap and food, the evening featured live blues from The Cory Medina and Brothers Band. Despite the rain, well over 100 people turned out, (we think turnout would have been double that if not for the all-day drizzle). Jerry Havel, owner of Pineridge and a longtime supporter/volunteer with Woodcock MN said: Woodcock MN has done a great job of supporting woodcock research and has increased awareness of our favorite bird through programs like the banding training and seminar weekend, but we saw the benefits of combining our efforts with those of RGS/AWS to take advantage of their habitat enhancement programs, educational opportunities and staff of biologists to get even more work done. The crew has been busy already with providing field knowledge to the latest AWS/RGS grant applications and they would like to be active in developing and writing grant proposals for habitat improvements now 9

and in the future: It s not just about fundraising and throwing parties, we want to be involved in getting things done whether its contacting decision-makers, inspecting and monitoring Hunter Walking

10 and in the future: It s not just about fundraising and throwing parties, we want to be involved in getting things done whether its contacting decision-makers, inspecting and monitoring Hunter Walking Trails, educating hunters and non-hunters or helping develop projects said Havel. One particular area of interest to the group is development of woodcock stopover areas along the migration corridors. Ted Dick is organizing a meeting of biologists and managers at the upcoming Woodcock Symposium in Michigan to discuss the possibility. Through the efforts of several cooperating agencies and organizations, we ve made some strides in conserving and enhancing our woodcock populations in MN, but a great next step would be to expand that effort to our southern neighbors to provide habitat for the doodles as they migrate to the Gulf States and back. RGS Biologists Lead Logger Education in Grand Rapids The Minnesota Logger Education Program (MLEP) is an industry-sponsored seminar series designed to provide information to timber professionals. The program uses a continuing education format where credits are issued for participation with the goal being a well-educated workforce that can provide quality timber harvest services and forest management. This summer, Meadow Kouffeld and Ted Dick, along with DNR Privateland Forest Wildlife Specialist Jodie Provost worked with Rachel Peterson of MLEP to host a seminar and field tour in the Grand Rapids area. The theme of this seminar was Designing Timber Sales for Wildlife. By doing some fairly simple and specific things like leaving some future drumming logs or retaining small patches of healthy older aspen in clumps, a forester or logger and really improve the short and long-term prospects for wildlife on a piece of land. said Meadow Kouffeld. Ted Dick added: We love participating in these events, it s our feeling that if we can influence the way forest management is conducted on a broad scale by communicating with the people doing the work, we can have a greater impact than all the habitat projects we do directly. 10

Brainerd volunteers Mike, Matt and team leader Liam (in the yellow hat-note the RGS/Cass County signs) Members Lead the Way to the Hunter Walking Trails One of the outcomes of our Minnesota member

11 Brainerd volunteers Mike, Matt and team leader Liam (in the yellow hat-note the RGS/Cass County signs) Members Lead the Way to the Hunter Walking Trails One of the outcomes of our Minnesota member meeting in March was a recommendation to work with chapters to make them aware of engagement opportunities. The Drumming Log Chapter in Brainerd has been leading the effort to inventory, evaluate and monitor the condition of our Hunter Walking Trails. Retired DNR Wildlife Manager Gary Drotts has been creating spreadsheets and visiting sites; if a gate needs replacing or a sign has been shot, Gary is on it. The rest of the Chapter has been pitching in and they are sponsoring a group hunt event in late September when they will check on some more trails. We know Hunter Walking Trails are popular with hunters, especially new hunters and we have trails on county, state and Federal lands in MN. The Forest Service, DNR and Counties including Cass, Hubbard and Beltrami have been very supportive of the effort. The Chapter would like to enlist some northern MN politicians in creating a funding source for creation and maintenance similar to the Grant-In-Aid Snowmoblie Trail system whereby a revenue source is created and the money is distributed (possibly at the county level) to fund groups that are willing to take on maintenance. We are also contemplating an Adopt-a-Hunter Walking Trail effort. We need to push for some attention for these trails and we would like to have more trails. Maintenance funding through the DNR, counties or the US Forest Service is not a given these days. Let us know what you think and thank you to the Brainerd Chapter for leading the way! 11

12 There you have it. Time to back away from the desk and get out in the woods. Thank you for all you to do support the RGS/AWS mission of maintaining our healthy forests, abundant wildlife and sporting traditions Feel free to contact us if you have any questions, comments or concerns or if you would just like to give us a HWT condition report or you have a hunting story. Enjoy your time outside and look for us in the woods. RGS will continue to work to improve our forests for ruffed grouse and woodcock as well as promote the future of hunting. Please keep in mind that there are Drummer Funds (money raised at banquets and Thank You! additional fundraisers) available to do work in your area! If you have an idea on how your chapter might be able to spend drummer funds locally, please contact either Ted Dick or Meadow Kouffeld. The work we put in today will benefit our children tomorrow and it is support from people like you, our members that will ensure that the values we hold dear today will continue to be important to the next generation. Keep in touch by checking out the RGS website or follow us on Facebook for more information about additional efforts RGS is making to improve our young forests and your grouse hunting. Meadow Kouffeld Ruffed Grouse Society Regional Biologist Minnesota and the Western Upper Peninsula Meadowk@ruffedgrousesociety.org Ted Dick Forest Game Bird Coordinator, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources cell ted.dick@state.mn.us 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. For information on the Ruffed Grouse Society/American Woodcock Society, please call or check out the RGS website at 12

Minnesota Grouse News 2012

Minnesota Grouse News 2012 New grouse hunter Anthony Johnson with Ted Dick, Grouse Coordinator (and Jakeand Anthony s first grouse!) 2011 was the first full year of the partnership agreement between The