From your RD. 2-3 Recent Happenings 3 Other Events 3-5 Upcoming Events Local Chapter Events 5-6 Habitat Updates 6-7 Other Local News 8 In Closing

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1 Grousin Around the Mid-Atlantic Summer 2014 Inside this Issue: 1 From your RD Good Things Are Happening 2-3 Recent Happenings 3 Other Events 3-5 Upcoming Events Local Chapter Events 5-6 Habitat Updates 6-7 Other Local News 8 In Closing From your RD Good Things are Happening Good things are happening at the Ruffed Grouse Society! Our membership drive produced an increase in members. A lot of my chapters are holding multiple events with increased funds being raised. A lot of habitat work is being done after all that is what it is all about. Some more details on that in the following pages. Just as important, there seems to be an increased awareness of RGS and the work we are doing not just with our members but also with the general public and with members of other conservation organizations. I have noticed a subtle shift in public awareness of and need for active forest management. No longer is the term clearcut immediately associated with a nuclear landscape. The point is that we are finally getting the message through not only to our members but to other groups and people. Even several members of local bird clubs have acknowledged to me the need for active forest management. RGS is slowly emerging as the leader in forest management. Out work and that of our volunteers is starting to make a difference. None of these accomplishments would be possible without our wonderful group of volunteers. We are so fortunate to have such energetic volunteers that understand the mission and are willing to work for it. New committee members are always needed in all my chapters. New people bring new talents and contacts to each committee, resulting in more circles of influence and more success for that chapter and ultimately more habitat and more birds. Please consider joining your local RGS committee and giving back to the resource. Dave Hansroth daveh@ruffedgrousesociety.org

2 Recent Happenings Jan 2014 May 2014 Banquets: South Mountain Chapter, Lancaster PA Saturday, February 8 - Congratulations to the Lancaster committee for another great banquet. The proceeds from this successful event assured that funds will be put into the PA Drummer Habitat Fund. Great Job! Potomac Valley Chapter, Frederick, MD Saturday, March 8 - The 17th annual banquet was another great success. Over 160 attendees enjoyed an evening of good food, fun, and conversation. This successful banquet added funds to the Maryland Drummer Habitat Fund. Highland Drummer Chapter, Lewisburg, WV Saturday, March 15 - The 9th annual banquet was a big success again this year. The chapter worked hard and managed to get over 30 sponsors. Total revenue was up again this year. Money was added to the WV Drummer fund. Congratulations to the volunteers for a job very well done. Red Brush Chapter, State College, PA Saturday, March 22 - The 27th Red Brush banquet was another success. Attendees enjoyed good food, drink and company! In addition to corporate funds, revenues were raised for grouse and woodcock habitat. The committee did an outstanding job of securing local donations, adding to the net profits. Money was added to the PA Drummer Fund. James River Chapter, Richmond, VA Thursday March 27 - The 4th annual banquet was a roaring success. The chapter started early soliciting donations and sponsors. The results were fantastic. Net was up over $10,000. Attendance increased from 90 people to over 170! Sponsors increased from 18 to 45. Many thanks to this chapter for their motivation and enthusiasm. Cumberland Valley Chapter, Carlisle, PA Saturday, April 5 - The Cumberland Valley chapter held their 31st successful banquet, with a nice increase over The committee did an outstanding job gathering local donations and contributions and adding a few sponsors. Many thanks to our new ticket chair and treasurer. And even more thanks to Gerry Putt who filled that position well for thirty years!! Delaware Valley Chapter, Media, PA Thursday, April 24 - Over 220 attendees enjoyed this 30 th annual banquet making it another tremendous success for this great chapter. A long list of local donations was highlighted by a safari to South Africa. Special thanks go to this wonderful committee. 2

3 Rappahannock Chapter, Fredericksburg, VA Shoot and Dinner Thursday, May 1 Fredericksburg Rod and Gun Club This young chapter continued its winning ways again this year. The committee did a super job with donations and sponsors. In fact they had two Gold Sponsors. Watch for more info on a December South Dakota pheasant hunt arranged by Tom Stumpf, G.L. Herndon and this chapter Charles E. Bechtel Chapter, Reading, PA Southeastern PA Sponsor Dinner Wednesday, May 14 - Thirty eight sponsors enjoyed the raw bar, lobsters and steak at this delicious event. The Fausti Class Over/Under 20 gauge shotgun was won by Dr. Tom McGrath, DVM, of Mount Joy. Other Events: Potomac Valley Chapter, Frederick, MD - Dog Training Seminar and Fun Chukar Challenge Saturday, March 29 Kim and Jim Lewis of Mason Dixon Game Outfitters did an excellent seminar. The seminar concluded with some hands-on training for all participants. An outstanding lunch followed and set the stage for the fun trail. First Place went to John Thereault with his English Setter "Keeper", Second Place to: Don Williams with his English Setter "Baron" and third to Gary rothrock with his Cocker Spaniel "Weezie." South Mountain Chapter, Lancaster PA - Grouse Challenge Sporting Clays Shoot Saturday, March 29 This event continues to be the talk of South/central PA. Despite the cool and rainy weather, over 100 shooters tried their hand at this difficult course, designed by the committee to mimic grouse shots as closely as possible. As a result of this event, the Lancaster chapter added $5000 to their sweep account for local habitat work. Upcoming Events: Mark Your Calendars June 2014 Cumberland Valley Chapter, Carlisle, PA Third Annual Sporting Clays Shoot Saturday, June 7 - The Cumberland Valley Chapter will hold another exciting sporting clays shoot. For more information contact Tim Wentz Bonasa Chapter, DuBois PA Annual Sportsman s and Conservation Banquet Saturday, June 21 Eagles Lodge Join us for a fun filled evening including great food, raffles and auctions, prizes and surprises. Highlights will include local hunting and fishing trips and a wonderful selection of merchandise. For more information contact Sandy 3

4 RGS Weekend at The Greenbrier Friday Sunday, June 20-22, 2014 The Greenbrier Resort, White Sulphur Springs, WV. Join us for a fun filled weekend at The Greenbrier. This world famous resort has given us fantastic rates on rooms and activities. Arrive on Friday evening and enjoy a welcome reception featuring game appetizers prepared by the Greenbrier chef paired with wines chosen by the sommelier. Both the chef and sommelier will be on hand to explain how the dishes were created and how the wines were paired. Meet our CEO and some of our Board members. Enjoy a fine gun display. On Saturday, take part in the Sporting clays tournament, or just enjoy one of the many other activities that make the Greenbrier world famous. Then head for Saturday evening s banquet and our guest speaker Frank Jezioro, Director of West Virginia s DNR. Don t forget the only Fodor s five star rated spa in the world! Leave on Sunday evening at your leisure. Contact Dave Hansroth at DaveH@ruffedgrousesociety.org or at for more information. August 2014 Potomac Valley Chapter, Frederick, MD Fun Shoot Saturday. August 9, 2014 BCC IWLA in Poolesville, MD. The shoot starts at noon with the last shooter out at 4. Included are 25 skeet targets and 25 sporting clay targets. A great barbeque dinner is included in the basic $40 fee. Categories include High Overall, High Ladies and High Youth. Extra categories include side by side and senior. Trophies will be awarded in all categories. Slots are limited to 50 Shooters so sign up early! Contact Paul Shields at pshields6@gmail.com or for more information. Southern Mountains Chapter, Greenville, SC Saturday, August 16 - This new chapter - the first in South Carolina - is working hard to make their second banquet a success. New this year is a special bird dog clinic hosted by well known trainer and author Maurice Lindley. After enjoying the clinic come on down to the second annual cocktail party and reception complete with a live and silent auction. Looks like it is shaping up to be a great time! Charles E. Bechtel Chapter, Reading PA Youth Shoot and Grouse Walk Saturday, August 16 Leesport Gun Club This annual event is always a lot of fun with challenging targets on the grouse walk and lots of help, encouragement and instruction for the young shooters. Three events are offered 50 trap targets, 25 target grouse walk and a small gauge shoot for Juniors. Food raffles and prizes will be available. Kitchen opens at 8:30 and registration at 9:00. For more information, contact Dick Shuman at Backbone Mountain Chapter, Oakland, MD Annual Sportsman s and Conservation Banquet Saturday, August 23 Wisp Resort Join us for a fun filled evening including great food, raffles and auctions, prizes and surprises. Highlights will include local hunting and fishing trips and a wonderful selection of merchandise. For more information contact Harold Harsh at jbhh@wildblue.net or

5 September 2014 Charles E. Bechtel Chapter, Reading, PA 36 th Annual Sportsman s and Conservation Banquet Thursday, September 10 The new venue worked out well last year so we are back at the Crown Plaza on our usual Wednesday. As usual there will be raffles, auctions, fun, great conversation and great food. Contact Tryvge Kleppinger at kleppy@comcast.net or for more information. H.C. Edwards Chapter, Staunton, VA 24th Annual Sportsman s and Conservation Banquet Saturday, September 13 This is a special year for this chapter their 25 th anniversary. There will be distinguished guests, unique merchandise, good food, conversation, raffles, games and silent and live auctions. Support local habitat efforts for grouse woodcock and a host of other species. Don t miss this special event. Contact Kenny Wilkinson at rkjpinetrail@verizon.net or for more information. Lehigh Valley Chapter, Allentown, PA Annual Sportsman s and Conservation Banquet Wednesday, September 24 Come on out and enjoy an evening of fun filled with prizes, surprises. silent and live auctions. Enjoy good food and conversation plus help the local habitat for grouse woodcock and many other species. Contact Ron Kistler at ronjkis@ptd.net or for more information. Thunderbird Chapter, Altoona, PA 28th Annual Sportsmen s and Conservation Banquet Friday, November 7 - The Casino at Lakemont Park. Please note the new location needed as this chapter continues to grow at a rapid rate. Cocktails and raffles at 6pm, dinner at 7:30 pm. Auctions, games, raffles and door prizes. Contact Sam Marino at for more information. Note: Details on all upcoming events can be found on our website: Habitat Updates I am so pleased to report that significant habitat work is being done all over my region. Here are just a few highlights: Virginia In VA our RGS equipment, under the direction of Al Bourgeois and the Staunton Chapter, is creating habitat every day on both state and federal lands. The Staunton Chapter continues to hold annual field days with good habitat impact. In Eastern VA, the Richmond chapter is doing woodcock work while planning even more projects. The chapters in VA have increased their nets and this the input into the Drummer fund both 5

6 last year and this year. Also, RGS has offered the RGS machine to the VA DGIF and it has been accepted so that even more work will be done here. Maryland Lots of things are happening in MD all good. The Oakland Chapter was instrumental in getting us started on a landscape size, long term project on the Jennings Randolph Corps of Engineers land. Plus they continue work on the Potomac State Forest, Mt Nebo WMA and others. Green Ridge is developing a combination Golden Wing Warbler and ruffed grouse demonstration area consisting of about acres. They also continue to work on the woodcock demonstration area at Kirk Orchard. The Frederick Chapter has completed a woodcock project on McKee-Beshers WMA that should progress into a long term landscape project. We are looking at potential woodcock projects on the Eastern Shore Pennsylvania Since the inception of the PA Drummer Fund in 2009, almost $1,000,000 has been put on the ground in the form of habitat. This figure includes matching grants and volunteer labor. We will surely go over the million dollar mark this year. Many projects are going on right now many of which are long term and landscape size. The Reading Chapter and the Allentown chapters continue to hold habitat days each spring. They can confidently state We are growing grouse and woodcock. The Lancaster Chapter continues work at Swatara State Park and has significant funds in their sweep account for more large scale projects. West Virginia Work continues in the Canaan Valley with a ten acre alder regeneration cut just completed to augment work that has already been completed. The Lewisburg Chapter continues to have field days and has completed good habitat improvement. Out work with Consol energy has expanded into WV and looks to create lots of good habitat. North Carolina/Southern Appalachia RGS continues to have a strong voice in the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forest revision plans. Volunteers are making their voices heard at local meetings to ensure early successional forests are part of those plans. This same work is ongoing in Georgia, Virginia and West Virginia Other News 2014 Twelve Days of Christmas National Raffle Tickets to be available from January 1, 2014 to December 9, :00 AM EST.* Chance to win a shotgun every other day during the drawings. Winning tickets will be drawn at RGS Headquarters in Coraopolis, PA. Winners to be posted on this page each day and winners contacted via RGS staff as soon thereafter as possible to arrange for prize delivery. Donation: $10.00 each or 3 for $

7 12 Prizes December 11, 2014: GoPro HERO3+ Black Edition December 12, 2014: Stevens 512 Gold Wing Over/Under 20-Gauge Shotgun December 13, 2014: Steiner Merlin Binoculars: 8 x 32 December 14, 2014: Tristar Hunter EX Over/Under 28-Gauge Shotgun December 15, 2014: YETI Tundra 65 All-Purpose Cooler December 16, 2014: CZ Bobwhite Side-By-Side 20-Gauge Shotgun December 17, 2014: SportDOG TEK 1.0 GPS & E-Collar (TEK-V1LT) SportDOG, Donor December 18, 2014: Webley & Scott 900 Sporting Over/Under 28-Gauge Shotgun Webley & Scott, Donor December 19, 2014: Samsung 51 Class PDP Series Wide Screen Television December 20, 2014: CZ Canvasback Over/Under 20-Gauge Shotgun December 21, 2014: L.L. Bean $ Gift Certificate L.L. Bean, Donor Fifth Annual RGS South Dakota Pheasant Hunt For the last three years, the Fredericksburg Chapter has sold and sponsored this hunt. They had a blast last year and most of them are going again this year. The same guys buy and go each year so you know they are having a great time. Northern Plains Outfitters has been a generous donor to RGS. This year Northern Plains has added some incentives to get more RGS ers there including an extra free day of hunting and lower rates for more hunters. All food and lodging is included, plus transportation to and from the hunting areas. So, shoot a bunch of pheasants while enjoying great company, good food and lodging. Here is the price breakdown for additional hunters: Hunters: Price each: 1-3 $ Enough hunters have signed up so that all will receive a free day, I believe several extra hunters have already signed up. Don t miss this opportunity. Contact Tom Stumpf at deerrunfarm20169@yahoo.com or call with questions or to book with our group. L to R: G.L. Herndon, Robert Johnson, John Simpson, Barry Sullivan, and Dave McCullan 7

8 Be sure to check out Linda Ordiway s FAN letter on the RGS website for a lot more regional information. In Closing I never want to miss a chance to sincerely thank all of our volunteers. Without you RGS would not exist. With your continued help, I believe we are on the brink of a brighter future for grouse and woodcock. Thanks again. Never hesitate to contact me at any time for any reason. I am here to serve you and the birds. Sincerely, Dave 8