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Ruffed Grouse Society Commends Pennsylvania on its Ruffed Grouse Management Plan

Ruffed Grouse Society Commends Pennsylvania on its Ruffed Grouse Management Plan

Ruffed Grouse Society

Coraopolis, PA --(Ammoland.com)- The Ruffed Grouse Society commends the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) for its initiative to develop an individualized Ruffed Grouse Management Plan as defined in the National Action Plan of 2008.

“As the one international wildlife conservation organization dedicated to promoting conditions suitable for ruffed grouse, American woodcock and related wildlife to sustain our sport hunting tradition and outdoor heritage, the Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) supports the PGC efforts to implement the National Plan for the conservation of this species, and offers its assistance in establishing the presence of the early successional habitat (ESH) component back to historic levels within the landscape for the benefit of ruffed grouse and all Pennsylvania wildlife,” said Mike Zagata, RGS President and CEO. “This is a step in the right direction, a step we urge other states follow.”

“However, we implore the PGC to establish a scientific based method to determine ruffed grouse population status rather than relying on various surveys and other trend analysis data. Using the current hunter flush rates is not always reliable as hunters generally go to the best covers. As a result, over-estimation of grouse numbers could lead to an inaccurate representation of the population status within the state. The PGC and the Pennsylvania sportsmen and women need reliable data in order to set harvest limits and season length and they need to know if they’re making progress towards their goal,” Zagata said. Adding that ruffed grouse hunting in Pennsylvania is a source of both social and economic significance in this state.

“Grouse hunting alone contributes to approximately $79 million of direct spending each year to the Pennsylvania economy. That number increases dramatically when all of the species that will benefit from this Plan are included. Much of this revenue is directed towards small businesses, especially in rural Pennsylvania. Continual decline in optimal habitat will adversely affect these businesses, and the social and cultural tradition of the grouse hunting heritage of both the Pennsylvania residents and those traveling to the state for the hunting experience will suffer” Zagata continued.

RGS Regional Biologist Linda Ordiway echoed Zagata’s comments, adding that the PGC could strengthen its initiative by offering added incentives to private landowners who actively manage their forested stands. Doing so will help create a mosaic design of forest age classes from brush to mature stands and therefore enhance wildlife diversity.

“Currently state and federal programs are available to landowners who manage their lands for timber and native grasslands, but not for the maintenance of the young forest habitat characteristics (high stem density). The history of removing only the high-value trees, known as high-grading, has resulted in many acres that would benefit from such incentive programs,” Ordiway said.

“ESH is not only essential to ruffed grouse and woodcock, but for other wildlife species, both hunted and non-hunted, during all seasons and multiple phases of their life stages. It benefits small and large hunted species and is important to license sales and the social aspect of the Pennsylvania hunting tradition. ESH also provides wildlife viewing areas for both hunter and non-hunter use of Pennsylvania’s rural areas. Reviving the balance of ESH within the landscape affords PA the opportunity to showcase one of its greatest resources, its wildlife, and increase tourism and the dollars that flow from it within these rural areas,” said Ordiway.

More information on RGS, its mission, management projects and membership is available on the web at: www.ruffedgrousesociety.org/.

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Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report July 28th 2011

Wisconsin DNR

MADISON, WI --(Ammoland.com)- Warm temperatures have continued to dominate the weather scene in Wisconsin this week, with most of the state also receiving some much needed rainfall, including some locally heavy rains in central and southern Wisconsin, which have lead to some rapidly rising and falling water levels on streams and rivers.

The warm weather continues to bring out large numbers of boaters to lakes and rivers, and conservation wardens are receiving many complaints of boats and personal water craft traveling too close to other boats. Water levels had dropped significantly on the Rock and Crawfish River and boaters are urged to use caution as several boats have been damaged by hitting rocks, but levels have risen some with recent rains. Water levels on the lower Wisconsin State Riverway also rose this week. The north has received just light and scattered rainfall in last few weeks and most streams and rivers are near their typical summer low levels. Most natural lakes are also at a low level and many of the flowages are beginning to experience a drop in water levels as well.

Angling success continued to be erratic, with bass providing the most consistent action. Largemouth were being found in thick cover, in the down wood, near the bog edges, in the thick lily pad beds and under mats of vegetation, with smallmouth a little more inconsistent as dropping water levels and warmer temperatures keeping theme on the move. Walleye success has been fair. With water temperatures still in the 80-degree range, many musky anglers have heeded the warnings and let up on fishing pressure. Panfish action has been generally good, with some decent catches of crappie, perch and rock bass reported, but bluegill retreating to deeper water and tough to find. In the south, anglers are having some luck on Beaver Dam area lakes with perch and walleye. Wisconsin River area anglers have been doing very well on catching northern pike, and anglers have still been catching channel catfish throughout the upper Rock and Crawfish rivers .

On Green Bay, walleye fishing continued to be good off Geano Beach on the west shore and Bayshore Park on the east. Perch fishing has improved some in Sawyer Harbor at Sturgeon Bay. On Lake Michigan, west winds last week dropped water temperatures as low as 45 degrees north of Two Rivers. But by the weekend, temperatures rose to 60 degrees at piers to 65 degrees in some lakeshore areas. Angler success out on the lake from most ports continued to be slow, with some chinook reported out of Manitowoc and Two Rivers and a mixed bag of coho, chinook, and lake trout out of Sheboygan and Port Washington. Racine and Kenosha trollers have been catching fewer coho, but more chinook, and rainbow trout.

Some very small spotted fawns are being seen again, indicating some late birthing still taking place. Similarly, some turkeys broods are being seeing with very small poults, indicating there was probably some late re-nesting. The fall shorebird migration is going strong with the peak of adults moving through the Wisconsin at this time. Good numbers of yellowlegs, least sandpipers, and other species are being seen at various wetlands.

Good numbers of swallowtail butterflies are being seen in some areas, while some are reporting fewer monarchs. Black caps are reaching their peak in southern Wisconsin, but large swarms of deerflies continue to make picking difficult.

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