Greetings Minnesota Grouse Enthusiasts!  We hope you are all enjoying the summer!
 
We have received a number of questions regarding the impact of the relatively rainy spring and early summer upon grouse broods.  As you may or may not know, the drumming counts were essentially unchanged since last year, so we are relying on a good hatch to provide good numbers of grouse in the woods in October.  It is our opinion that the weather has not harmed the broods this year.  Grouse are fully adapted to the wild weather conditions we experience in the northland.  It takes really abnormal weather during very critical periods to negatively affect them.  The most vulnerable time for grouse chicks is the first week to ten days after hatching, when they are not fully feathered out.  Their down coat is a good insulator at that time, but isn't very waterproof.  So when it rains, the hen "broods" them - calls them up under her body and cloaks them with her feathers.  They can wait out pretty strong storms this way, but not rain that lasts for days on end.  Eventually the hen has to eat.  So the worst case scenario is an abnormally cold three or more day long rain event, falling around the peak of hatch (June 1).  That did not happen this year.  Sure we had rains, but they were mostly short-lived storm events.  Another positive note is that the rain and subsequent warm weather has produced a bumper crop of bugs for growing grouse chicks to eat!!

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has released the results of the woodcock singing ground survey, wing collection survey and Harvest Information Program (HIP).  The singing ground survey consists of volunteers traveling established 3.6 mile long routes after sunset, stopping at 10 listening points and recording the number of displaying woodcock they hear.  There are 1500 of these routes nation-wide, but only half of them are surveyed in any given year.  The number of woodcock recorded did not significantly change from last year in either the eastern or the central regions.  Also, for the second year since 1992, woodcock numbers did not decline!  We're still not out of the woods, as we are still showing long-term (1968-2005) declines of 2% per year in the eastern region and 1.8% per year in the central region.  Here in Minnesota the count was up slightly from last year, but it is unknown if the increase is statistically significant.  Nonetheless, we have seen increasing numbers for the past four years, after a precipitous decline in 2002.
 
Many of you have probably been asked to submit wings from harvested woodcock to the US FWS at some point.  They collect those wings from all over the country, then gather woodcock biologists together in the winter for the annual "Woodcock Wingbee".  These experts examine the wings to determine the sex and age of this sample of harvested birds.  Using that data the Service can determine the ratio of immature birds per adult female and create an index to woodcock productivity the previous spring.  This year the Wingbee was held at the Maplelag resort near Detroit Lakes and was hosted by our own Earl Johnson.  The results for the eastern region showed a significant increase in woodcock productivity over 2003 levels, with 2.0 immatures per adult female.  However, the central region declined slightly from 2003, with 1.4 immatures per adult female.  This is 17% below the long term average.  Here in Minnesota we found a recruitment index of only one immature per adult female, below the long term average of 1.3.  This is surprising given the amount of good quality woodcock habitat we have in the state right now.
 
When you purchase your small game license you complete a HIP survey if you are going to hunt migratory birds.  The Service randomly selects hunters that indicated they hunted woodcock the previous year, and asks them to keep a woodcock hunting diary.  Their harvest data is then extrapolated to the region to estimate woodcock harvests nation-wide.  In 2004, hunters took 61,500 birds in the eastern region and 234,800 in the central region.  Michigan topped the nation with 102,500 birds taken.  Here in Minnesota we harvested 38,500 woodcock.
 
The full Woodcock Population Status Report is available on line at http://migratorybirds.fws.gov/reports/status05/Woodcock%20Population%20Status%202005.pdf

RGS has teamed up with a unique coalition of other hunters in Northern Minnesota to convince the Forest Service we are not happy with their lack of emphasis on sporting interests and game habitat.  The Ruffed Grouse Society, Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, North American Bear Foundation, Minnesota Bear Guides Association, Woodcock Minnesota, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, 1854 Authority (Bois Forte and Grand Portage Bands of Chippewa) and the Red Lake Band of Chippewa have arranged an August 11 meeting with leaders of the Chippewa and Superior National Forests.  These groups, representing tens of thousands of hunters and tribal members, collectively believe that the Forest Service is drastically reducing game habitat quantity and quality, and reducing hunters' access to the forest.  This is occurring without analysis or acknowledgment of the impacts of these actions upon those of us that love to pursue game.  Furthermore, they are not performing adequate consultations on these actions with the Department of Natural Resources and other government entities, as required by law.  We will discuss these issues at the meeting in an attempt to get the Chippewa and Superior Forests to improve their game management practices and transparency about the impacts of their actions.  Stayed tuned as this exciting new effort bears fruit.

The DNR Budgetary Oversight Committee has finished its review of the DNR's Fiscal Year 2004 spending of hunter's and fishermen's dollars.  The group of volunteers, Chaired by RGS biologist Rick Horton, found that spending was appropriate overall.  However, they did make several recommendations to the administration and the legislature, including:

• Increase the proportion of waterfowl stamp proceeds going to habitat management from 25% to 60%
• Change the Wild Cervid Health Surcharge from a $0.50 transfer from the Deer/Bear Account to a separate surcharge
• Create a funding mechanism for fishing tournaments so DNR staff time doesn't come from the Game and Fish Account
• Implement the Pheasant Plan and develop Waterfowl, Turkey and Grouse Plans.

The group also encouraged the state to continue efforts to create long-term dedicated funding for natural resources, and to continue funding WMA acquisitions.  The full report is available online at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/gamefishoversight/reports.html .

The Ruffed Grouse Society's Senior Wildlife Biologist Dan Dessecker will be interviewed on Wisconsin Public Radio by Joy Cardin at 6 AM on Tuesday, July 19th.  The subject matter will include a discussion on the future of the Endangered Species Act.  Dan recently presented testimony at a Congressional Hearing on this subject.  Late risers can listen to the show on the WPR website http://www.wpr.org.

Upcoming Events  For detailed banquet information visit http://www.ruffedgrousesociety.org/banquets.asp
 
July 24-30  Upland Bird Camp (Youth Event)  Deep Portage Conservation Reserve
August 2  RGS Drumming Log Chapter Banquet - Brainerd
August 4-7  Fisherman's Picnic - Grand Marais  (look for the RGS booth)
August 10-12  Golden-Winged Warbler Workshop - Siren, WI
August 11  Hunter/Tribal Coalition meeting with USDA Forest Service - Grand Rapids
August 12  RGS Rum River Chapter Banquet - Cambridge
August 12-14 & 19-21  Game Fair - Armstrong Ranch, Anoka
August 18  RGS Blackduck Banquet - Blackduck
August 22  RGS Twin Cities Banquet  Minneapolis
September 1  RGS Deep Portage Banquet - Hackensack
September 1  RGS North Shore Chapter Banquet - Grand Marais
September 8  RGS Aitkin Chapter Banquet - Aitkin
October 6  RGS Pine County Chapter Banquet - Finlayson
October 12-14  RGS National Grouse and Woodcock Hunt - Grand Rapids
October 27  RGS Ely Chapter Banquet - Ely

Rick Horton
Ruffed Grouse Society
218-327-2524

RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY

NEWS RELEASE
June 2, 2005

RGS senior wildlife biologist testifies before House committee

           In a move applauded by proponents of wildlife diversity and improved forest health, the U.S. Forest Service has adopted new regulations for its land management planning process. 
           “The new regulations guiding National Forest management released in December 2004 outline substantive improvements to the land management planning process,” according to testimony given before the U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Committee May 25 by Dan Dessecker, senior wildlife biologist for the Ruffed Grouse Society. “These improvements will allow the U.S. Forest Service to spend more time protecting wildlife and less time producing paperwork,” Dessecker declared.
           “Perhaps the single most important improvement outlined in the new regulations is a return to the clear direction of the National Forest Management Act regarding the conservation of plants and animals,” Dessecker said. “This ecosystem- or community-based approach is similar to the model proposed by twenty-one of the nation’s leading wildlife conservation organizations,” he stated in reference to comments provided during the public input period for the new regulations.
           Under the new planning regulations, the Forest Service is charged with the delineation of desired social, economic and ecological conditions for each National Forest. In contrast, under prior regulations, “The Forest Service engaged in lengthy planning processes leading to the development of documents measured not in pages but in pounds,” Dessecker said.  Due to changing policies, priorities and budgets, these plans were outdated almost the moment they were completed.
           “The success of this adaptive management approach will depend in part on the ability of Congress to provide sufficient funds to support the necessary resource monitoring programs,” Dessecker stated. “Likewise, success will depend in part on the ability of the Forest Service to demonstrate measurable progress toward desired conditions outlined in forest plans.”
           Continuing his testimony, Dessecker noted, “Experience has demonstrated that meeting the requirements imposed by the previous regulations dramatically increases the time and cost of the forest planning process. The tremendous workload and cost of forest planning takes scarce personnel and financial resources away from needed on-the-ground conservation activities.”
           Dessecker’s testimony was grounded in the belief that the new forest planning regulations will return common sense to the management of our nation’s National Forests.

Dan Dessecker’s e-mail: rgsdess@chibardun.net.
The Ruffed Grouse Society is a non-profit conservation organization concerned with the welfare of young-forest wildlife and the health of the forests themselves. For more information about RGS, call (888) 564-6747 toll free or log on to www.ruffedgrousesociety.org. 

Ruffed Grouse Society, 451 McCormick Road, Coraopolis, PA 15108

Hunter Group Letter To Forest Service

 June 29, 2005

Randy Moore, Regional Forester
Norm Wagoner, Chippewa National Forest Supervisor
Jim Sanders, Superior National Forest Supervisor
Norm Weiland, Regional Wildlife Program Leader
Chippewa and Superior National Forest District Rangers


Dear Sirs and Madams,

We collectively represent the interests of thousands of Minnesotaís sport hunters and tribal members that wish to ensure that management of game species and habitat are not overlooked. Our interest lies not only in availability of game for sport and subsistence hunting but for non-consumptive activities like wildlife viewing as well.

We, as representatives of our respective agencies and organizations, recently met to discuss areas of concern that each group has with the newly implemented National Forest Management Plans and their impacts upon game management. While recognizing that the relationship and issues each organization has with the Forest Service varies, we were able to focus on several common concerns.

Our common concerns lie primarily within the following main topics: 1) a shift in emphasis away from managing habitat to enhance game populations, 2) access to the forests, 3) dissatisfaction with the level of interaction between the Forest Service and our groups, both in initial consultation and follow-up responses to concerns we address in requests for comment on various Forest Service initiatives, and 4) inadequate consultation between the Forest Service and other agencies that are charged with fish and wildlife management on lands both on, and off, federal lands.

We are requesting a meeting to discuss these topics with the Forest Service. Our goal for this meeting is to initiate improved cooperation between the Forest Service and the other stakeholder agencies and organizations that share responsibilities and interests in game management. At a minimum, we would like the presence of the forest supervisors, district rangers, tribal relations liaisons, regional wildlife program leader and regional tribal relations program manager. In addition we are inviting a representative of the Minnesota DNR Commissioners Office. We propose that this meeting be at the Sawmill Inn in Grand Rapids, MN. The following dates are available: August 8 - 12, 2005. Please select a date that works with most of your staff and contact Rick Horton at 218-327-2524 to confirm.

We look forward to discussing our concerns with you. Please respond to Rick Horton with the best date for the Forest Service to meet with us.

Brian Bachman, North American Bear Foundation
Andy Edwards, 1854 Authority (Bois Forte of Lake Superior Chippewa and Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa)
Randy Havel, Woodcock Minnesota
Rick Horton, Ruffed Grouse Society
Jay Huseby, Red Lake Band of Chippewa
Mark Johnson, Minnesota Deer Hunters Association
Mike Schrage, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Dennis Udovich, Minnesota Bear Guides Association

cc: Chief Dale Bosworth
Commissioner Gene Merriam
Senator Norm Coleman
Senator Mark Dayton
Representative James Oberstar