Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society

Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society We deliver healthy forests for abundant wildlife, through conservation ethics. Join or renew now! https://www.uplandstore.org/collections/membership-options

RGS & AWS unite conservationists to improve wildlife habitat and forest health. Since 1961, RGS has promoted stewardship for our forests, our wildlife, and our future. Our vision is to create landscapes of diverse, functioning forest ecosystems that provide homes for wildlife and opportunities for people to experience them.

ENTER OUR LATEST SWEEPSTAKES!Two winners. Premium prizes. Two lucky winners will each select their favorite prize from t...
02/13/2026

ENTER OUR LATEST SWEEPSTAKES!
Two winners. Premium prizes. Two lucky winners will each select their favorite prize from the all-new 2026 Reeds Gold Prize Package, a top-tier collection of fi****ms, outdoor gear and must-have equipment.

Enter here: https://give.rgs.giving/doubledraw

02/12/2026

This month’s Bellwether brings together the stories, people and on-the-ground work shaping upland habitat right now. Milestones worth celebrating, projects moving forward, partners stepping up and chapters making an impact all come together in one place.

While you’re reading, don’t miss your chance to enter the February Double Draw Sweepstakes! Enter now: https://give.rgs.giving/doubledraw/Campaign/Details

RGS & AWS is headed to SEWE 2026 in Charleston! Join RGS & AWS for a free SEWE Kick-Off Event on Friday, Feb. 12, from 6...
02/11/2026

RGS & AWS is headed to SEWE 2026 in Charleston!

Join RGS & AWS for a free SEWE Kick-Off Event on Friday, Feb. 12, from 6–9 p.m. at Rivers & Glen Trading Co. Enjoy fresh oysters, cold drinks and live music by Gritty Flyright as we celebrate upland conservation and community.

Thanks to our partners - Duck Camp, onX Hunt, Modern Huntsman and Rivers & Glen Trading Co. for helping make this event possible.

RSVP here: ruffedgrousesociety.org/events/rgs-aws-sewe-kick-off-event-2026

Then visit RGS & AWS during SEWE, Feb. 13–15, at our booth in Marion Square. Stop by to meet staff, learn more about our forest conservation work and connect with fellow upland enthusiasts in the heart of Charleston.

RGS & AWS is proud to recognize Sara Cerv, Forest Conservation Director, on earning the Appalachian Society of American ...
02/11/2026

RGS & AWS is proud to recognize Sara Cerv, Forest Conservation Director, on earning the Appalachian Society of American Foresters Young Forest Leadership Award. After state-level recognition in North Carolina, she now advances as a regional recipient and will be considered for the national honor.

Her work strengthens collaboration across academic, public and private sectors while advancing science-driven forest management throughout the Southeast.

Read more: ruffedgrousesociety.org/sara-cerv-earns-regional-forestry-leadership-honor

Some hunts change you. This week’s features Chad Mak () and his dog Duke after an unforgettable first run in the Maine...
02/10/2026

Some hunts change you. This week’s features Chad Mak () and his dog Duke after an unforgettable first run in the Maine Northwoods. 🪶🌲

“After getting our first grouse in New York I was hooked and decided to take a trip to the Maine Northwoods after hearing the bird numbers are a lot greater than NY. We were exploring new land in a new state on our own but I was most worried if my dog Duke really understood the grouse and its scent since he had only hunted them once.

Midway through our first day I watched him sniff an area and follow a trail for about 30 ft while getting more birdy until he stopped and his tail went nuts. I took the safety off and then heard the grouse lift, we had done it! After that he trailed several more flushes throughout the day. The best part was seeing my dog figure out these elusive birds and now I cant wait to keep hunting them with my boy ”

Chad, thanks for sharing a story that captures discovery, growth and the moment a bird dog really learns the game.

Have a story from your season? Send us a DM for a chance to be featured.

This marked the first Wisconsin Woodcock Banding Workshop, where trained handlers and pointing dogs assisted biologists ...
02/09/2026

This marked the first Wisconsin Woodcock Banding Workshop, where trained handlers and pointing dogs assisted biologists with banding American woodcock chicks. Held at the Sandhill Wildlife Area, the clinic centered on safe, certified field techniques that deliver critical data on age, survival and migration while minimizing disturbance during the nesting period.

Through hands-on training, rigorous testing and mentorship, the effort supports long-term research and strengthens the connection between hunters, dogs and the resource.

Read the full story: ruffedgrousesociety.org/woodcock-banding-wisconsin-the-catch-and-release-season

Surrounding Bald Eagle State Park’s 1,730-acre lake, a 43-acre restoration effort is reshaping former farmland into high...
02/06/2026

Surrounding Bald Eagle State Park’s 1,730-acre lake, a 43-acre restoration effort is reshaping former farmland into high-quality habitat for American woodcock and other wildlife. Decades of succession and invasive shrubs had stalled these bottomlands, prompting a coordinated response to reset the landscape.

Through careful mulching, targeted follow-up treatments and long-term planning, partners shaped a mosaic of young forest, wetlands and open cover. This work reflects years of collaboration across state, federal, academic and conservation groups, delivering lasting habitat value on public land.

Read the full story: ruffedgrousesociety.org/a-story-of-succession-restoring-43-acres-at-bald-eagle-state-park-in-pennsylvania

RGS & AWS is included as a collaborating partner in a forest management project led by the National Wild Turkey Federati...
02/05/2026

RGS & AWS is included as a collaborating partner in a forest management project led by the National Wild Turkey Federation and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry at the Pack Demonstration Forest in New York.

The work includes a 15-acre timber harvest within a 128-acre demonstration area, helping diversify forest age structure after decades without active management and showcasing practical forestry methods for landowners, professionals and students. Funding support was provided by the New York NWTF State Chapter.

Learn more about the project: ruffedgrousesociety.org/suny-esf-and-nwtf-lead-demonstration-forest-project-with-conservation-partners

Photo courtesy of Allison Brusa from NWTF

The Chippewa Valley Chapter’s 38th Annual Conservation Banquet is shaping up to be a night worth marking on the calendar...
02/04/2026

The Chippewa Valley Chapter’s 38th Annual Conservation Banquet is shaping up to be a night worth marking on the calendar. Expect exciting auction items, games, raffles, fi****ms and prizes designed for those who love hunting, fishing and life outside. Every ticket supports forest wildlife conservation and helps strengthen the work of our local chapter.

Save your seat, bring a friend and be part of a night that gives back to the landscapes and traditions we care about. Register online and join us: ruffedgrousesociety.org/events/chippewa-valley-chapter-38th-annual-conservation-banquet

Sugar Mountain Project is a critical step for ruffed grouse conservation in Tennessee. On the Tellico Ranger District of...
02/04/2026

Sugar Mountain Project is a critical step for ruffed grouse conservation in Tennessee. On the Tellico Ranger District of Cherokee National Forest, this project targets more than 12,000 acres of high-elevation forest where young forest habitat has largely disappeared. Planned treatments including timber harvest, thinning and prescribed fire will help restore habitat conditions that ruffed grouse, woodcock and other wildlife depend on.

With grouse numbers down more than 70% across the Southern Appalachians, this work and public support for it matter right now. Learn more about the project and why your voice counts: ruffedgrousesociety.org/sugar-mountain-project-a-crucial-step-for-ruffed-grouse-conservation-in-tennessee

This personal reflection follows a new upland hunter whose first woodcock harvest reshaped how he understands food respo...
02/03/2026

This personal reflection follows a new upland hunter whose first woodcock harvest reshaped how he understands food responsibility and gratitude. Guided by his dog Marlowe and a shared meal prepared by a local chef, the experience connects the woods to the table and frames hunting as participation in a larger cycle rather than a simple pursuit.

Read the full story: ruffedgrousesociety.org/saying-grace-a-hunters-revelation

On the Nantahala Ranger District, an 870-acre forest management project is moving forward to restore healthier, more div...
02/02/2026

On the Nantahala Ranger District, an 870-acre forest management project is moving forward to restore healthier, more diverse forest conditions on public land. Treatments include a mix of timber harvests, midstory removal and other science-based practices designed to support oak and hickory regeneration while creating better habitat for grouse, woodcock and a wide range of wildlife.

RGS & AWS played an active role throughout the public process and is now working alongside the U.S. Forest Service to help implement key elements of the project, ensuring the work delivers long-term benefits for forest health and wildlife across the Southern Appalachians.

Read more about the project: ruffedgrousesociety.org/rgs-aws-supports-nantahala-mountains-project-to-improve-wildlife-habitat-and-forest-diversity

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100 Hightower Boulevard
Pittsburgh, PA
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Healthy Forests | Abundant Wildlife | Conservation Ethics

Our Mission

Established in 1961, the Ruffed Grouse Society is North America’s foremost conservation organization dedicated to preserving our hunting traditions by creating healthy forest habitat for ruffed grouse, American woodcock and other wildlife. RGS works with landowners and government agencies to develop critical habitat utilizing scientific management practices.

The Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS)

Our members are mainly grouse and woodcock hunters who support national scientific conservation and management efforts to ensure the future of the species. Our organization headquartered in Coraopolis, PA, employs a team of Forest Conservation Directors to work with private landowners, and government, including local, state and federal, land managers who are interested in improving their land for Ruffed Grouse, American Woodcock and the other songbirds and wildlife that have similar requirements.