winter-time for habitat projects · minnesota grouse news 2015 vol. 1 3 news mille lacs wma: aspen...

Minnesota Grouse News 2015 vol. 1

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MINNESOTA FAN UPDATE

Winter Edition-February, 2015

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Winter-Time For Habitat Projects

How are the grouse doing? Definitely the most frequently asked question in my job no matter the

season, but particularly in winter. Early this winter, when things chilled down rapidly after

Halloween and the lakes froze quickly, people inside and outside the DNR often speculated on

how particular species were faring. With ruffed grouse, it’s not the cold temps that are most

important to survival, but the amount of snow-and we didn’t have much this winter. Ruffed

grouse that are able to roost in snow have a number of advantages; one is that that it’s easier to

maintain body temperature (thermoregulate) and another is it’s a good way to avoid being eaten.

Snow provides protection from the wind and it insulates (I’ve read that its 30% more efficient for


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a grouse to maintain body temp in the snow than not). Grouse may spend 19 to 23 hours a day in

the snow, coming out for just awhile to eat some buds. A ruffed grouse can become a meal for

any number of predators, but they are harder to find if buried in the snow; a shortage of good

snow makes it impossible to hide. Mark Spoden of Grand Rapids DNR took the picture below of a

grouse roost in just a couple inches of snow-obviously very difficult to stay concealed or warm in

those conditions. So although it hasn’t been tremendously cold, the grouse would have done

better with some more snow cover. Winters like this one help bring to light the importance of

conifers in your grouse woods. A Grouse roosting in a conifer would be provided similar

advantages to one roosting in snow; it’s a little warmer under that thicker cover and it’s a better

place to hide. But even though the grouse may have found the winter more stressful than they

would one with normal snowfall, this winter was a very good one for doing habitat projects and

you can read below about some of what we have going on--Ted

Grouse roost site January 2015, Itasca County photo by Mark Spoden


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News

Mille Lacs WMA: Aspen Cutting and Wildlife Openings

Following a few years of slower timber harvest due to poor markets, activity picked up this winter

on the Mille Lacs Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and neighboring Four Brooks WMA.

Administering a dozen timber sales at once can be hectic at times. According to Mille Lacs Area

Wildlife Supervisor Steve Piepgras: “We have more sales going right now then we’ve had the past

three years”. That’s good news for grouse and woodcock hunters. Several of these sales had

been purchased in the past, but were then returned for one reason or another, often due to

difficulty in finding a buyer for the wood. As the problem continued into this season, RGS was

offering to help underwrite some of the timber harvest to make the sales more attractive to

potential harvesters. But as the season progressed and excellent weather conditions brought an

increase in activity, loggers picked up the sales without any additional subsidies-good for grouse,

good for woodcock and good for hunters and habitat in these important grouse hunting areas.

RGS is also partnering with MDHA on a wildlife openings maintenance project at Mille Lacs

scheduled for next fall.


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Minnesota Mulcher Update

It was another busy year for the Minnesota Caterpillar habitat machine (funded in part by a

generous donation from Judi and Dick Huempfner through RGS). Based out of the Mille Lacs

Wildlife Management Area, the unit is shared between DNR Offices in Cambridge, Mille Lacs and

Little Falls so Morrison, Todd, Benton, Mille Lacs, Kanabec, Isanti Counties all see regular use.

From clearing boundaries and graveling parking lots, to mowing brush and hunter walking trails,

the Cat is a very useful tool.

“Over the years we’ve made a lot of hay so to speak with this machine” said Little Falls Area

Wildlife Manager Beau Liddell, “and we’ve reclaimed, converted or enhanced too many acres to

count throughout the work area--many hundreds of acres for sure.” He added: “Our work

accomplishments have been greater, and accomplished more efficiently with access to our own

machine versus having to rent or contract out such work.” Steve Piepgras, Wildlife Area Manager

at Mille Lacs WMA summed it up: “We really, really, really appreciate having it available”.

Summary of Mower Accomplishments in 2014:

Hunter Walking Trail mowing: 42 miles

Brushland/Grassland maintenance: 290 acres

Fire breaks: 63 miles

WMA Boundary: 41 miles

Wildlife Openings: 33 acres

Other: 17 hours

Thanks again to RGS and the Dick and Judi Huempfner for helping to get this

habitat work done.


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Controlling Buckthorn Using Conservation Partners Legacy Funds

RGS is part of two Conservation Partners Legacy (CPL) buckthorn control grants, one at Mille

Lacs/Dalbo and one focused on the Cloquet/Carlton/Southern St. Louis County Area. Both are

going well with over 500 acres inspected and treated. Thanks to Bruce Anderson and Steve

Piepgras of the DNR and also thanks to the Twin Cities Chapter of RGS for working hard to

manage these projects. The Minnesota Deer Hunters Association is the fiscal manager on the

Cloquet Project and RGS is manager on the other. Total grant and matching funds in these two

projects exceeds $82,000.00. Killing invasives may not be as exciting as other types of habitat

improvements or acquisitions, but it is vitally important to keeping forest habitat healthy and

accessible for wildlife and hunters alike. Buckthorn outcompetes other valuable native plants for

sunlight and other essential nutritional/life requirements. The Mille Lacs/Dalbo project has a total

value of $22, 000.00 and the Cloquet project, now in its second phase, is directing funds of more

than $60,000.00, Thanks again to RGS chapters and all partners involved. See another article in

this issue on partnering with other conservation groups to get more work done more efficiently.


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Habitat Projects

Todd County: Ruff-Nik WMA. DNR employees Tod Tonsager, Steve Emerson and I flushed grouse in

January as we inspected this project site on the Ruff-Nik WMA . While markets are improving in many

areas, timber is still a tough sell in some places. DNR Area Wildlife Supervisor Beau Liddell asked for some

assistance from RGS on constructing an access route to some aspen planned for harvest next year.

Mulching Mania, a private contractor based in Royalton, was the successful bidder for this Drummer Fund

project. Following the aspen harvests, the access corridor will be converted to a Hunter Walking Trail.

Habitat projects close to the Metro are of interest to our many Twin Cities RGS members and hopefully

this work will help spark some enthusiasm in opening a new RGS Chapter in the Brainerd area. Liddell said:

“We tried for ten years to secure funding to get this trail built and without RGS, it may have taken another

ten, so thanks to RGS for helping us get this aspen cut and getting a new hunting trail built.”

Lake of the Woods County: Baudette Meadows/Indian Pines. In the northern part of the state, there are

areas where ruffed grouse, spruce grouse, sharp-tailed grouse and woodcock all live in relatively close

proximity. RGS is using Minnesota Drummer Funds to partner with MDHA on alder/willow/brush shearing

south of Baudette in the Indian Pines and Baudette Meadows areas. Some work was accomplished last

year and more is being done this year with a total of approximately 400 acres benefitting woodcock,

ruffed grouse and sharp-tailed grouse. This Conservation Partners Legacy Project has a total value of more

than $43,000.

Roseau County: Warroad. Also in the far north, the Warroad RGS Chapter has been working diligently

with local Wildlife staff to create new Hunter Walking Trails. They put in two new trails last year and are

planning a new 50-mile super trail this year. More details to follow. Thank you very much to this very

active and hard-working chapter.

Aitkin Remote Lake Solitude Area: RGS is sponsoring some work in the Remote Solitude Wilderness Area

near Savannah State Park. The area is non-motorized and has a pretty extensive walking trail system that

needs improving and upgrade according to Brian Leitinger, Aitkin Area Forestry Supervisor for DNR. Area


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Assistant Wildlife Manager Dave Kanz says that area has had a significant amount of recent harvest and

the hunting there can be good. RGS is improving the trails and facilities in coordination with DNR Forestry,

Parks and Trails, and Wildlife: it make the job easier when we work together. Leitinger continued: “We

appreciate RGS stepping up with the funds to help get this non-motorized area in good shape. Note: Aitkin

DNR Forestry scaled the most cords ever last winter-120,000 and RGS is working to improve hunting

opportunities on those lands.

Aitkin Area Trail Creation: RGS is working with the Aitkin/Brainerd DNR Wildlife and Forestry offices to

create some trails on public land near the Little Willow WMA and other locations. If the plan comes

together, it will create 14 miles of new hunter trail in good early successional/young forest habitat. (We

hope to also work with Aitkin County to improve access and hunting along the Jewett Road: also working

with Aitkin County to use Drummer Funds to help with wildlife opening mowing they-don’t have money to

do it and this work will benefit grouse and woodcock, other species and hunters. )

Sandstone WMA-Pine County

The Sandstone WMA is a new addition to the State Wildlife Management Area system-it was recently

transferred to the state by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Dave Johnson, longtime DNR Wildlife

employee and Assistant Area Manager in Pine County, knows his way around the area and he says this

WMA has some good grouse and woodcock habitat close to the Twin Cities. Contractors were mowing and

dozing this winter to set back some mature alder and willow brush to the benefit of grouse and woodcock.

Johnson (who is retiring this year after a long and distinguished career), says: “thank you very much to

RGS members for financing some much needed habitat work on this WMA”. We are also helping with

wood removal/habitat/road project to access several aspen cuts within the WMA.


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Fergus Falls-Dead Lake WMA. There are some public land gems in the western part of the state and the

Dead Lake WMA is one of them. Acquired in 2009, this area provides habitat and hunting opportunities for

a number of upland and wetland species. When Area Manager Don Schultz (above) called about doing

some timber harvest, RGS went on a joint site visit to evaluate the potential for grouse and woodcock. We

saw grouse while we were in the field, and we found some aspen, but much of it was very old and most of

it was dead or dying-this demonstrates again the importance of harvesting aspen earlier if your goal is to

perpetuate aspen on the site. We contacted some foresters and asked about markets. Surprisingly, there

appears to be a market for the wood and the resulting sales should ensure that grouse do well in this area

for some time to come.

“Member-Get a Member” Campaign. This winter, RGS conducted a “Member- Get a Member”

Campaign and Ed Zieroth from Grand Marais was a winner in Minnesota. Winners were allowed

to direct a $2,500.00 payment in their name toward the Drummer Fund of their choice. I haven’t

spoken to Mr. Zieroth yet, but he indicated to RGS staff that he would like his money to go to the

Minnesota Drummer Fund and that he would like to see it spent on a project in the Grand Marais

area. RGS is working with local wildlife managers to develop a grouse woodcock CPL habitat

project in the area. Congratulations to Mr. Zieroth and more on this story later.

Other Projects in the Planning Stages:

RGS has many other projects in various stages of development. Potential projects we hope to fund

include: a State/Itasca County habitat project in the Grand Rapids Area, an acquisition near Four Brooks

WMA, a possible Park Rapids acquisition, a Park Rapids habitat project, a SE MN CPL grant proposal and

an Ely Area/Vermilion Community College Student Hunter Walking Trail Project.

Private Lands Programs

A couple months ago, I was meeting with the committee of one of our larger RGS chapters to discuss a

variety of habitat projects (I’m available to do this with any chapter that would like to discuss). After going

into some detail on most all of the projects described here, I asked what else they would like out of their

biologist partnership. They mentioned that they would like to see more private land work being

encouraged or accomplished. We are working on several projects including educational seminars through

the Minnesota Logger Education Program (MLEP). We are also working on private landowner


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seminars/tours to help landowners learn about the advantages of harvesting their timber and how to go

about it.

Private land timber harvest has dropped dramatically (50% decline) over the past 10 years while public

land harvest has been maintained or increased. Much of what happens on private lands seems to be

dictated by price-high stumpage prices tend to increase the amount of private wood put up for sale-no

surprise. But are there others ways to encourage people to have their timber harvested-one is to educate

landowners on the wildlife habitat values. Another is to help them learn the details of how to go about

working with a logger or consulting forester in managing their forested land-we work on this everyday and

these new workshops will create new partnerships between private landowners and timber professionals

resulting in more grouse and woodcock habitat

Partnering with Other Conservation Groups

Another way for RGS to be more effective in our in forest management activities is to partner with other

like-minded groups. Here in Minnesota, we’ve been working with the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association

on several projects and hope to partner on others. Having a broad constituency matters when applying

for grants through the Lessard/Sams Outdoor Heritage Council and having both MDHA and RGS on a

proposal is a very strong endorsement of any forest landscape project. We saw this on the pending Pelican

River WMA grant and we’re working on others. The American Bird Conservancy is another group that has

a strong interest in young, early successional habitat and we’re working with them on several projects.

More later.

Thanks to the Members and Committees

As always, a big thank you to the local RGS chapters and particularly their committees. Without your

tireless work, we wouldn’t have the ability to do what we do, so thank you-- your efforts are very much

appreciated.

It’s been seven years since the constitutional amendment created the Lessard- Sams Outdoor Heritage

Council and the funding sources that allow outdoor and environmental organizations to apply for grant

money to improve and enhance wildland habitat. Your RGS chapters and coordinator are making every

effort to take advantage of this source of funding. By using your drummer funds as matching funds and

coordinating with partners with similar goals when submitting project proposals, we can make your

banquet dollars go much further toward improving young forest habitat.

Your work soliciting donations and raffle items and all that banquet preparation is paying off in more

projects that protect your access to land to hunt and improve and enhance your experience in the field.

And if your local chapter has ideas for habitat work, let us know and we’ll see how we can work it out.


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Update on Pelican River Acquisition

A landowner with a long history in the Orr area has offered to sell a parcel of land to be

developed as a Wildlife Management Area. The owner would like this exceptional property to

remain undeveloped, managed for wildlife and open for public use. It is adjacent to both

state and county lands, and provides improved access to those lands in an area with very little

acreage currently dedicated to wildlife management.

• The property is approximately 220 acres. A very diverse forest composition, including

aspen, pine and ash of multiple ages provides excellent habitat for ruffed grouse, white-

tailed deer, black bear, woodcock and many non-game species.

• 1.3 miles of Pelican River frontage and associated riparian habitats. The river is popular

for ricing, trapping and waterfowl hunting and is an important area for migratory and

nesting non-game species as well.

• The habitat is already in good shape and there are existing trails that could be adapted for

use as hunter walking trails.

• Some plantations currently on the land would be converted to more wildlife-friendly

covertypes.

• This acquisition will be facilitated by the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association and the

Ruffed Grouse Society. A Conservation Partners Legacy grant from the Outdoor Legacy

Fund, plus financial contributions from the landowner, the RGS Drummer Fund, and the

Minnesota Deer Hunters Association will make possible the purchase of the property as

well as necessary appraisal, property survey, and other development work such as signage

and trail improvement. The property will be owned and managed by the Minnesota

Department of Natural Resources as a Wildlife Management Area and will be permanently

open to the public for permitted recreational uses.

Note-this project has a long way to go to completion. One thing we would ask hunters to

do now is, if you live or hunt in St. Louis County. Contact the County Board and let them

know you support the addition of public hunting land in this area. Remind that that grouse

hunting is an important activity for you and is one of the reasons you live/vacation in their

county. Total value of this project will be in excess of $450,000.

Other Projects in the Works

Ruffed Grouse Management Areas –We are working on expanding the number of Ruffed Grouse

Management Areas in Minnesota. Areas under development or discussion include sites in Thief Lake,

Norris Camp, Brainerd (Meadowbrook) and four new RGMAs in the Northeast if all goes well in the current

Forest Planning process.


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Online Resources for Grouse Hunters. We are also working on upgrading online information for grouse

hunters. We are looking at adding downloadable data for Ruffed Grouse Management Areas, printable

maps of hunting areas, and other information valuable to hunters on the DNR Grouse Hunting page. Let

Ted know if you have suggestions for the types of info you would like to have available.

Rights-of-Way. Utility rights-of-way (ROW) crossing public and private lands are often managed in such a

way that little habitat remains in the managed area. In other parts of the country, these corridors are

managed as young forest habitat for woodcock, grouse, pollinators and other early successional/young

forest species (sadly these corridors may often be the only young forest left in some areas). Luckily in

Minnesota, we have an active timber industry and a decent amount of young forest. But why not make

more in places where it fits-like in a ROW? We are in discussions with some utility companies, the DNR

and other conservation groups to set up some projects that would demonstrate improved habitat

management on these corridors by reducing herbicide use and allowing some brush and young forest to

grow.

Beltrami County Grouse Management. RGS Members from Beltrami County recently turned out at a

County Board meeting to support a proposal by the County Foresters to implement a long-term grouse

management project at Three Island Park. DJ Bakken and Dick Moore of Beltrami County Forestry did a

great job of presenting the plan. Thanks to Karl Leisenheimer, Steve Wilds and others for showing support

at the meeting.

Thank You

Thank you for your support of grouse and grouse hunting in Minnesota. Be watching in the future

for more news concerning other projects we’ve been working on to maintain/improve grouse

habitat and hunting traditions. And if there is anything I can help with, let me know.

Ted Dick

Forest Game Bird Coordinator,

1201 E. Hwy 2

Grand Rapids, MN 55744

218 999-7870

218 395-0577 cell

[email protected]

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. For information on the Ruffed Grouse Society/American Woodcock

Society, please call 888-564-6747 or check out the RGS website at www.ruffedgrousesociety.org.

winter-time for habitat projects · minnesota grouse news 2015 vol. 1 3 news mille lacs wma: aspen...

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