Ruffed Grouse Society Announces 2015 Michigan Habitat Blitz Schedule
Ruffed Grouse Society 04.21.15
RGS chapters enhance habitat through public land work days planting trees in April and May
The Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society are giving a boost to local chapter habitat work days this spring by organizing the distribution of free native tree and shrub seedlings to chapters in Michigan. A grant from Fairmount Santrol that is facilitated by the Leelanau County-based, non-profit Saving Birds Thru Habitat was used to purchase 5,000 trees and shrubs for this event. Chapter habitat work days are scheduled for the end of April and early May and are open to anyone who wants to help improve wildlife habitat on public land.
RGS and AWS chapters are holding their habitat work days where they will provide benefits to ruffed grouse, American woodcock and other forest wildlife and will help the Michigan Department of Natural Resources meet their habitat management goals. Chapters will be planting a mix of species suitable for a variety of field conditions, including American hazelnut, Alleghany serviceberry, red-osier dogwood, magenta crabapple, American elderberry, white spruce, chokecherry, black cherry, hackberry, gray dogwood, swamp white oak and red oak.
Below is a list of chapters holding events, the planting location and the person to contact if you are interested in participating and want more details on the event:
West Michigan Lakeshore Chapter (Huron Manistee National Forest)
Contact Vern Bird at verno216@gmail.com or (231) 730-4206.
Thunder Bay Chapter (State forest property near Alpena)
Contact Joel Bauer at joelebauer@hotmail.com, (989) 619-4013.
Southwestern Michigan Chapter (Allegan State Game Area)
Contact Ryan Prough at rjprough@gmail.com, (269) 598 ‐ 2031 or Bob Petrick at cabindogs@gmail.com, (269) 998‐5654.
Lower Central Mitten (Somerset State Game Area)
Contact Gabe Camp at campgc2@gmail.com, (517) 719-1725.
Jim Foote Chapter (State Forest Property near Grayling)
Contact Pete McCutcheon at petermrgs@yahoo.com, (231) 546-4849.
Greater Southeast Michigan Chapter (Waterloo Recreation Area)
Contact Jim Gilsdorf at jimg@provide.net or Dave Veldman at Dave@sportdogphoto.com, (248) 789-2673.
Thumb Area Chapters: Lakeside, Robert J. Lytle, Keith Davis – Roger Moore (Deford State Game Area near Cass City)
Contact Jim Zimmerman at jimzim71@gmail.com, (586) 243-9519.
North Central Michigan and Saginaw Valley Chapters (Two events, one on state forest near Grayling, another at the Lame Duck GEMS near Gladwin)
Contact Tim Riley at timriley00@yahoo.com or (989) 370-7313.
Mid UP Chapter (South Marquette GEMS site)
Contact Jesse Zimmerman at jessejames23@gmail.com.
Eastern Upper Peninsula Chapter (State forest near St. Ignace)
Contact Marty Sarrault at marty0127@peoplepc.com, (231) 627-6052.
Le Grande Traverse Chapter (State forest southwest of Traverse City near the new GEMS site)
Contact Paul Huffman at phuffman64.ph@googlemail.com, (231) 510-0736
Healthy Forests. Abundant Wildlife. Sporting Traditions.
Established in 1961, the Ruffed Grouse Society is North America’s foremost conservation organization dedicated to preserving our sporting 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.
