Give for Grouse Podcast

In this week's episode, we are joined by Michael McCord, a biologist with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, to talk about Ruffed Grouse, Bobwhite quail, invasive species, and forest management in the Volunteer State. Despite being a Tennessee Vol, Michael made for great conversation about managing habitat for quail and grouse, as well as a little hunting chat!   A realistic discussion about...

In this week's episode, we are joined by wildlife conservationist, biologist, researcher, and lobbyist Jim Inglis of the North American Grouse Partnership. A man of lofty titles, many talents, and an impressive resume, our conversation with Jim goes back to 30 years of doing research for Ruffed Grouse to politicking for wildlife on Capitol Hill. We discuss:   Ruffed Grouse research for the Appalac...

In this week's episode, we are joined by conservationist, habitat manager, and land and wildlife consultant, Thomas Mlsna. Thomas is the essence of a land and wildlife steward, practices what he preaches, and instills in his audience and clients an approach to land and wildlife management that benefits not just a single species, but an entire ecosystem. In this episode, we discuss:   Holistic Land...

In this week's episode, we chat with whitetail legend Bill Winke about our passion: the Ruffed Grouse. In our conversation, we learned that Bill is just as passionate about Ruffed Grouse as we are, as he grew up hunting more grouse than whitetails in Iowa, and now manages his farm for a healthy ecosystem for all wildlife, ruffed grouse and whitetail deer included, on his new farm in Northeast Iowa...

In this week's episode, we have the pleasure of chatting with Page Rice, a Service Forester in the state of Ohio. Page is a breath of fresh air in the forestry space, bringing knowledge, expertise, and a quick wit to her communication about forest management. In this episode, we discuss,   Getting deer hunters and deer managers to look at the bigger picture and manage for ecosystems rather than ju...

In this week's episode, we chat about two of our favorite things, filming ruffed grouse and prescribed fire!   We share stories about filming grouse from this past Spring and what we learned about the bird and its habitat. Including how grouse responded to a recent prescribed fire. Grouse behavior in the burn unit. How fire compares to timber harvesting for creating and maintaining grouse habitat....

In this week's episode, have a light-hearted but educational debate with our friend and conservationist, Brian Banbury, and answer the question, who is the real King of Spring, the Ruffed Grouse or the wild turkey? Strong points were made from both sides for each species, and to determine the winner, we discuss:   Which species is tougher? Is the ruffed grouse or the wild turkey more emblematic of...

In this week's episode, we catch up with our friends from the North, Mark Symes and Andrew Lowles, of Ruffed Grouse Society Canada, to learn about the ruffed grouse and forest management in Canada. Both coming from backgrounds in science, biology, and forestry, Mark and Andrew provide us with a unique outlook and perspective on the challenges and opportunities that RGS Canada faces in conserving a...

In this week's episode, we have the pleasure of discussing ruffed grouse and forest management with wildlife biologist Dr. Karl Malcolm. A gifted communicator and educator, Karl gives us an incredible education and offers a perspective and insight that only a biologist, scientist, and wildlife professional can. In this episode, we discuss:   First, who is the real King of Spring, the wild turkey o...

In this week's episode, we catch up and discuss some of the things we've learned about ruffed grouse since we started the Give for Grouse Initiative, and we talk about some of the guests we've had and what we've learned from them. From the nuances of forest management to filming and photographing grouse, we talk about a little bit of everything in this episode!   Follow Us On Instagram   Like Us o...

In this week's episode, we borrow the title of guest Ethan Tapper's award-winning book and discuss How to Love a Forest. Ethan is an author, forester, ecologist, and naturalist blessed with an incredible ability to communicate the nuances of forest management, conservation, and our relationships with ecosystems. In this conversation, we discuss:   What does it really mean to take care of our fores...

This week's episode is all about prescribed fire as we sit down with Caleb Haynes, a Forest Restoration Technician for The Nature Conservancy. Caleb helps manage the Warm Springs Mountain Preserve in Bath County, where prescribed fire is their primary management tool, and helps conduct controlled burns for the US Forest Service. Caleb's extensive knowledge and experience with prescribed fire are e...

In this week's episode, we sit down with Jesse Owen, a wildlife forester specializing in Golden-Winged Warbler projects with the NRCS. We discuss forest managment, logging, and healthy forests with a focus on wildlife from ruffed grouse and golden winged warblers to insects, turkeys, and whitetail deer. Jesse is a great communicator and educator of forest management for wildlife, and in this episo...

In this week's episode, we chat with the Chief Conservation and Operations Officer for the Ruffed Grouse and American Woodcock Society, Mark Hatfield. With a career managing wildlife throughout the United States, Mark brings an impressive resume and extensive experience to RGS, advancing its mission and improving Ruffed Grouse populations. In this episode, Mark gives us an update on the work that...

In this week's episode, we chat with John Kehn, the Service Forestry Coordinator in Ohio, to learn more about the nuance of forest management and what influences the forest product market in Ohio. John brings a wealth of valuable information and experience to the table regarding forestry in the episode, and we discuss the ins and outs of why using a consulting forester is so important to buyers an...

In this week's episode, we chat with self-taught ruffed grouse hunter and grouse manager, Bo Thrasher. You'll be hard-pressed to find someone more passionate about hunting ruffed grouse and creating ruffed grouse habitat than Bo, and that passion was palpable in this episode.   Hear the story of his first successful ruffed grouse hunt. What he's learned about ruffed grouse hunting in Appalachia. H...

In this week's episode, we have the great honor to interview the legendary Tim Flanigan about all things ruffed grouse. Tim is an accomplished ruffed grouse photographer, hunter, advocate, and conservationist, and he shared with us a wealth of information about ruffed grouse, including:   How to distinguish the difference between a male and a hen ruffed grouse in flight. How far ruffed grouse trav...

In this week's episode of the Give for Grouse Podcast, we talk with ruffed grouse guide and outfitter, Wesley Hodges. Wes guides hunters for ruffed grouse in Virginia and, through his adventures and experiences, offers a perspective on ruffed grouse in Virginia that few people, if any, can match. We discuss: Why Wes thinks Ruffed Grouse are doing better in Virginia than most people think. The disc...

In this week's episode of the Give for Grouse Podcast, we chop it up with forester, grouse hunter, Southerner, and Appalachian American, Noah Smith. Noah is a certified forester and offers a wealth of knowledge about ruffed grouse, grouse management, forestry, and the forest product industry. In this episode, we get Noah's thoughts on:   Where he sees the most birds while grouse hunting in Appalac...

In this week's episode of the Give for Grouse Podcast, we catch up with Mike Dye, the Forest Game Bird Biologist in Virginia, to discuss how ruffed grouse are doing in the Commonwealth. Mike shares with us the current status of ruffed grouse in Virginia, including population trends, their declining habitat, and the reasons behind their continued decline in numbers. Again, it starts and ends with f...

In this week's episode of the Give for Grouse Podcast, we sit down with Mark Wiley, the Forest Game Bird Biologist in the state of Ohio. We discuss the current status of ruffed grouse in Ohio, as well as what the future holds for the species. Mark also shares his thoughts on what it will take to reverse the declining populations of ruffed grouse and why landscape-scale forest management and the fo...

In this week's episode, we discuss what it takes to manage private property for ruffed grouse in Appalachia. We use Cody's property in Virginia, Rockin' Chair Ridge, as an example to illustrate the challenges, management practices, and successes he and his family have experienced in their land management journey. From communicating goals and objectives to family members, to contacting and implemen...

In this week's episode of the Give for Grouse Podcast, we discuss ruffed grouse management 101. Ruffed Grouse are a specialist species that thrive in early succesional habitats and young forests, and we dicuss how to create those environments through logging and other habitat management techniques. From food sources to cover requirements, we talk about the habitat requirements adult ruffed grouse...

In this week's episode, we share our first project as part of the Give for Grouse Initiative, a fundraising effort to erect a billboard that proudly supports logging, advocates for forest health, and champions the ruffed grouse. Our goal at the Give for Grouse Initiative is to give a voice to the ruffed grouse while supporting the loggers and foresters who create the habitat that ruffed grouse cal...

In this week's show, we introduce to you the Give for Grouse Initiative! We discuss what the Give for Grouse Initiative is all about, what we're hoping to accomplish, and how we want to give ruffed grouse a voice and advocate for healthy forests and forest management.