History of the Ruffed Grouse Society
In the early 1980s, a few Canadians concerned about the well-being of the ruffed grouse started a Canadian chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. This chapter eventually became the society's Grand River Chapter. The number of chapters grew and by 1988 the Ruffed Grouse Society of Canada had come into being. An executive director was hired and the society was well on its way. Plans are to continue to expand as the society grows. News of the Canadian chapters is published in the society's American counterpart's The Ruffed Grouse Society Magazine “Covers”.
South of the border, RGS started on a fall day in 1961 in Monterey, Virginia, Seybert Beverage, attorney, met in his office with Bruce R. Richardson, Jr., and Dixie L. Shumate, Jr. When business obligations had been satisfied, the talk in Beverage's office turned to the upcoming hunting season and to the ruffed grouse.
During the conversation, the ideas took shape that something specific ought to be done to help the superb game bird, for there were signs of increasing trouble. Much wildlife habitat was disappearing annually as civilization demanded more room. And a great deal of the forest habitat left was far from ideal grouse cover.
It was basically through the efforts of the three men in Monterey that the Ruffed Grouse Society of America (now the Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society) was formed. They became its first officers when, on October 24, 1961, the Society received from Virginia its charter of incorporation. Richardson was first president, serving until 1966. Beverage was secretary and editor of the Society's small newsletter. Shumate took on the duties of treasurer.
The response to that call for help has grown with the years. Today, with headquarters in Corapolis, Pennsylvania, the international, non profit Society has thousands of members in dozens of chapters throughout the United States and Canada.
With the support of these members, the Society maintains critical financial sponsorship of scientific studies searching for the most efficient methods of improving forest habitat as a means of increasing grouse populations.
The research being conducted by universities and state and federal agencies, has revealed many things-among them that what is done to benefit the ruffed grouse also benefits the American woodcock and a long list of other game and non-game forest wildlife species.
South of the border, RGS started on a fall day in 1961 in Monterey, Virginia, Seybert Beverage, attorney, met in his office with Bruce R. Richardson, Jr., and Dixie L. Shumate, Jr. When business obligations had been satisfied, the talk in Beverage's office turned to the upcoming hunting season and to the ruffed grouse.
During the conversation, the ideas took shape that something specific ought to be done to help the superb game bird, for there were signs of increasing trouble. Much wildlife habitat was disappearing annually as civilization demanded more room. And a great deal of the forest habitat left was far from ideal grouse cover.
It was basically through the efforts of the three men in Monterey that the Ruffed Grouse Society of America (now the Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society) was formed. They became its first officers when, on October 24, 1961, the Society received from Virginia its charter of incorporation. Richardson was first president, serving until 1966. Beverage was secretary and editor of the Society's small newsletter. Shumate took on the duties of treasurer.
The response to that call for help has grown with the years. Today, with headquarters in Corapolis, Pennsylvania, the international, non profit Society has thousands of members in dozens of chapters throughout the United States and Canada.
With the support of these members, the Society maintains critical financial sponsorship of scientific studies searching for the most efficient methods of improving forest habitat as a means of increasing grouse populations.
The research being conducted by universities and state and federal agencies, has revealed many things-among them that what is done to benefit the ruffed grouse also benefits the American woodcock and a long list of other game and non-game forest wildlife species.