RGS Signs Woodcock Management Agreements
The Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) recently signed two landmark agreements that will greatly benefit American woodcock habitat in northern Minnesota.Executive Director Bob Patterson signed Woodcock Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with Boise Paper Solutions Woodland Division and with the Koochiching County, Minnesota Land Department during the recent National Ruffed grouse and Woodcock Hunt in Grand Rapids, MN.Together these partners manage over a half million acres of land in Koochiching and St. Louis counties.These agreements lay out a framework of cooperation in research, education and land management for the creation and maintenance of woodcock habitat.

The American woodcock is a small upland game bird that thrives in dense young forests, such as those created from disturbances like timber harvesting operations or fire.They feed primarily on earthworms during the day and roost in open grassy areas.Woodcock live in the eastern portion of the country, breeding in Canada and the northern tier of the United States, then migrating to the Gulf Coast and Southeastern U.S. for the winter.Northern Minnesota is literally in the heart of the woodcock breeding range.

Woodcock populations have been in decline for the past 30 years.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which monitors woodcock populations, has been concerned about this decline for some time.They shortened woodcock hunting seasons and reduced bag limits in the mid 1990's in an effort to reduce hunter-induced mortality.However, recent research initiated and partially funded by RGS has revealed that hunting has little impact on woodcock populations.

Like most wildlife problems, the root cause of woodcock declines is a loss of habitat.All woodcock habitats require active management ? fields must be burned or mowed, brush must be regenerated and young forests continually created to replace those that have aged to the point that they no longer are useful for woodcock.Unfortunately we have seen a large reduction in active forest management, particularly the type that creates woodcock habitat, in the eastern US.The forests are simply getting older. We can counter these declines by producing high quality breeding and migration habitat in Minnesota. "When greater numbers of young woodcock leave here in fall for the south, we'll see more return to breed the following spring" Patterson said.

Under these agreements, Boise and Koochiching County, with technical expertise from RGS, will Consider the needs of woodcock in their land management practices. They will attempt to maintain old fields and brushlands, create forest openings and create dense young forests, particularly in migration corridors on their lands.Koochiching County Land Commissioner Dennis Hummitzsch said, We are pleased to be able to work with RGS in this manner.Woodcock are an important game bird to many Minnesotans and we are proud to be able to help the species. Steve Earley, Woodlands Manager for Boise Paper Solutions added, We have a responsibility to manage our lands for the needs of the industry as well as the birds and animals that thrive here.

For more information contact Rick Horton, ForestWildlife Biologist, Ruffed Grouse Society, P.O. Box 657, Grand Rapids, MN55744.218-327-2524.rgshort@uslink.net.