From: "Rick Horton" RGS Biologist
Date: March, 2004

Subject: MN FAN Update

Minnesota Grouse Enthusiasts:
 
The public comment period for the Rambling Woods Resource Management Project on the Blackduck District of the Chippewa National Forest closes March 5. If you wish to provide comments, they can be sent to comment-eastern-chippewa-blackduck@fs.fed.us.  
The Rambling Woods Project area encompasses 44,752 acres of National Forest land in the Third River country between Lake Winnebegoshish and Blackduck - a very popular area for grouse hunters.; 16,227 acres of this are aspen and 21% of it is over age 60 (almost 20 years beyond rotation age) Eighty-seven percent of the area is designated Management Area 1 and is supposed to be managed specifically for high populations of ruffed grouse, woodcock and deer and produce a lot of aspen fiber for industry.
 
The original proposal (Alternative B) called for clearcutting almost 1,600 acres of aspen, maintaining almost 500 acres of wildlife openings and no real conversions of aspen to conifers. The Society supported this action, despite the fact that it did not maintain the acres of aspen, or the amount of young aspen for grouse and woodcock habitat.  It was still much better than other recent projects we had seen on the Chippewa.
 
However, the District Ranger is now leaning towards selecting Alternative C due to pressure from other interest groups. This action will still clearcut and regenerate over 1,000 acres of aspen, but another 500 acres will be clearcut, treated and converted to conifers. The wildlife opening maintenance will still occur. The amount of old aspen will be higher in 10 years, and the young forest lower under both Alternatives.
 
Again, regardless of the decision this is still one of the better projects we have seen in the past 4 years. But we are still hoping to see ONE project that maintains, or maybe even increases, the quantity and quality of grouse habitat on federal lands.
 
Please help us continue to fight to maintain some of the very best grouse and woodcock hunting in the world by getting involved in the decision-making process and supporting the Ruffed Grouse Society.
 
Rick Horton
Ruffed Grouse Society
218-327-2524


From: "Rick Horton" <rgshort@cpinternet.com>
Date: Tue Mar 23, 2004 01:07:01 PM US/Central
To: "Rick Horton" <rgshort@cpinternet.com>
Subject: MN RGS FAN Update

Minnesota Grouse Enthusiasts: 
 
CHIPPEWA NATIONAL FOREST
 
I am pleased to announce that the efforts of the Ruffed Grouse Society have helped create more grouse and woodcock habitat on the Deer River Ranger District of the Chippewa National Forest.  In the Upper Bowstring River (UBR) project, the District Ranger was considering implementing Alternative 2, which called for clearcutting 137 acres of old aspen and 37 acres of less than mature aspen; thinning 1,322 acres of young aspen and 418 acres of old aspen and underplanting them with conifers; and creating goshawk habitat in hunter walking trail areas.  Needless to say this would not have been good news for grouse hunters.
 
After several letters and meetings with Forest Service officials, the Ranger opted to select a modification of Alternative 5.  This decision calls for clearcutting 216 acres of old aspen, 149 acres of less than mature aspen, 78 acres of mature aspen/fir and 62 acres of old birch to create 505 acres of young forest conditions for grouse and woodcock.  In addition, there will be no conifer underplanting in the Spur Lake Hunter Walking Trail system, no goshawk habitat creation in the Jingo Lake Hunter Walking Trail system, no wildlife openings will be planted over with trees in Jingo Lake, no mature aspen stands will be thinned, and fewer roads will be decommissioned!
 
This is the best decision we have had for grouse and woodcock habitat on the Chippewa in a long time and we are grateful to see our efforts paying off.  However, it still WILL NOT maintain the current amount of grouse and woodcock habitat in the area!  We continue to lose aspen and young forest habitat on our national forests at an alarming rate.  Please stay informed and take advantage of opportunities to let resource managers and decision-makers know that it is important to you that we maintain the best grouse habitat in the nation.
 
The Blackduck District Ranger is currently analyzing public comments and mulling over options on the Rambling Woods Resource Management project (RWRM).  He told RGS staff at a meeting last week that he was considering a modified alternative that would  convert less aspen to conifers than planned.  A decision is expected very soon.
 
SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST
 
The comment period for the Virginia Project EIS closed early this week.  Attached are the Society's comments.  We are once again disappointed to see that thousands of acres of grouse habitat are going to be actively and passively converted to other forest types.  The Laurentian District is apparently implementing the new forest plan before it is finalized and approved.  They repeatedly reference desired future conditions in the draft plan in the analysis of this project.  See the attached comments for more details.  It is not too late to make your voice heard on this project!  While the official comment period is closed, you can still make the District aware of your desire to see this area managed for game habitat.  Contact Allan Bier, Laurentian Ranger District, 318 Forestry Road, Aurora, MN  55705, 218-229-8800, abier@fs.fed.us.
 
MINNESOTA DNR
 
The Ruffed Grouse Society continues to have a strong working relationship with the Department of Natural Resources and is pleased with their efforts to actively manage the state's forests for wildlife habitat.
 
The Division of Forestry continues its efforts to address the backlog of overmature aspen on state lands by trying to harvest these stands before they become insect and disease risks and lose their value to the timber industry.  The Society is looking at ways to assist those efforts.  One option we are exploring is for us to contract a consultant to perform stand surveys and upgrade the DNR's timber management database.  This will allow them to prioritize harvest schedules and address the unhealthiest stands first, before they are lost.  It will also help them identify healthy stands that can be allowed to remain and provide winter food and nesting cover for grouse.
 
The Division of Forestry is seeking money from the legislature to fund sustainable forest certification under both the FSC and SFI systems.  These certification systems are becoming the standard and "cost of doing business" within the timber management industry.  They provide assurance to the general public and end product users that the forests are being managed in such a manner as to insure they will be productive in perpetuity.  Others are seeking ways to get the same level of certification on private lands.
 
The Division of Forestry is also in the process of producing new Forest Stewardship binders.  These binders are provided to private landowners that enroll their land in the forest stewardship program and are chock full of information on forest management.  The Society will be providing several publications for insertion in the new binders.
 
The Division of Fish & Wildlife has invited the Society to take part in their annual training session known as "wildlife school" at the end of the month.  We intend to discuss RGS initiatives, funding levels and our concern about dwindling habitat quality and quantity on some ownerships around the state.  The Division's new grouse research biologist will begin his duties next month.
 
Several bills are currently moving through the legislature that may be of interest.  We urge you to remain informed on the activity of bills of interest to you be reading periodicals like Outdoor News or Outdoors Weekly.  Some interesting ones are:

• Dove hunting season establishment
• 4/16th legislation to approve a vote to constitutionally dedicate a portion of taxes for natural resources
• Bonding for Wildlife Management Area acquisition
• Reforestation of state parks along the North Shore
• Brainerd Lakes Forest Legacy
• ATV regulations
• Hunting bears with hounds

FOREST HISTORY CENTER
 
The Ruffed Grouse Society is working with the Minnesota Historical Society and the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association on a new Young Forest Display at the Forest History Center in Grand Rapids.  The Center is getting completely remodeled this winter and will be ready for the public after Memorial Day.  At that time we expect thousands of annual visitors will become educated on the value of active aspen forest management for ruffed grouse, deer, woodcock and many other animals.  The display will include information panels, mounts of drumming and nesting grouse and a full body deer mount.
 
FOREST PRODUCTS INDUSTRY
 
The Society has been working closely with Boise Paper Solutions in International Falls, and their parent company, Boise Cascade, for several years.  Last year Boise Cascade became a national RGS sponsor by providing all of the paper needs of our office in Coraopolis, PA.  Ironically, the paper came from the I-Falls mill.  Everything comes full circle - Boise harvests trees to make paper and in the process creates grouse/woodcock habitat.  The paper is then used it to further promote timber management for wildlife through education and advocacy.  Much of that effort will help Boise keep doing business in Minnesota.  It's a perfect match!  We have also been active with Boise on their fee title lands in northern Minnesota.   Most recently we established the Deer Lake Hunter/Interpretive Trail system in northern Itasca County last year.
 
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative state implementation committee has developed a new educational packet that cooperators can provide to private landowners involved in timber management.  The Society was actively involved in the development of this packet and it contains abundant information on forest management for wildlife habitat.
 
EDUCATION
 
The Society continues to recruit new hunters into the fold at every opportunity.  This year we are funding several Becoming and Outdoors Woman programs as well as Upland Bird Camps at state environmental learning centers.  This year's Deep Portage Upland Bird Camp will be held July 25 - 30, and as always RGS will be covering the $375 cost for a number of lucky kids around the state.  For more information on this camp, visit http://www.deep-portage.org/uplandbird.html.
 
SUMMARY
 
We at the Ruffed grouse Society are very excited about the positive things we have accomplished over the years and are very pleased with recent successes.  You can help us build on that success by supporting us through our banquet program and by making your voice heard by resource managers.  We may like to hunt with just a dog and a good buddy, and keep our favorite covers secret, but together we all can have a loud voice in preserving Minnesota's tradition of fine grouse and woodcock hunting!!
 
Upcoming banquets:
4/8/04 - Bemidji Northern Inn
4/15/04 - Grand Rapids Sawmill Inn
4/22/04 - Virginia Park Inn
4/29/04 - Duluth Holiday Inn
5/4/03 - St. Cloud Kelly Inn
5/6/04 - Warroad Legion Hall
 
 FAN REMINDER

To insure that you continue to receive timely Forest Action Network (FAN) updates please notify me of changes in your email or mailing addresses. Currently, there are nearly 700 FAN members in this region alone. Your help has been important in making sure public land managers consider the impacts of their decisions to ruffed grouse and woodcock.





Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions:

Rick Horton, Regional Biologist, Ruffed Grouse Society

P.O. Box 657, Grand Rapids, MN  55744 (218) 327-2524 email:

rgshort@uslink.net

The Ruffed Grouse Society is an international organization actively involved in promoting forest wildlife conservation on public and private lands throughout North America. For information on the Ruffed Grouse Society, please call 888-564-6747 or check out the RGS website at

www.ruffedgrousesociety.org