This chapter of The Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) was founded in the early 1990s as a result of efforts by Roland Gower, MD, and Nick Steen, a game biologist with Alaska Department of Fish and Game.  Nick pursued efforts to transplant ruffed grouse from interior Alaska to the south central region.  As an avid bird hunter and responsible conservationist, Roland approached Nick about options to support his efforts.  After discussing small game stamps and other programs, they concluded that forming a local chapter of RGS would best blend local sportsmen efforts with Alaska’s wildlife management program.  Roland coordinated with RGS and held a formation meeting in late 1992; Roland was elected Chairman, Harold Ellis Vice Chairman, and Michael Wheeler Secretary-Treasurer.  Len Yuknis volunteered as Banquet Committee Chair, Tony Bell shouldered the Ticket Sales Chair, and other members were John Erkmann, Ted Lamb, Mike Romanchuk, Karen Steen, Nick Steen, and Wayne Vance.  The RGS Board of Directors approved the chapter charter on December 14, 1992, representing RGS members of Alaska residing south of the 99700 zip code boundary. 

In April 1993, the first fundraising banquet was held at the Sheraton Hotel and attended by 200, netting $18,000.  Since then, RGS invested over $433,000 in Alaska of which $350,000 were projects generated or supported by the chapter.  The following examples illustrate how the chapter has implemented its goals for the past two decades:

• Enhance grouse and other wildlife by improving habitat and active management

One of the first projects was to contribute volunteers and $7,500 to help transplant ruffed grouse to the Kenai Peninsula because Turnagain Arm appeared to be a barrier to range expansion.  The chapter purchased radios to track transplanted birds and members provided trapping, transportation, and drumming counts each spring.

The chapter’s commitment to habitat improvement in Matanuska Valley Moose Range enables annual timber cuts to create a mixed age class forest that is ideal for grouse as well as moose, and volunteers scarify and plant aspen seedlings where grass grew.  The chapter and RGS contributed $161,900 from 1995 through 2011 to the Matanuska project and supported several habitat regeneration projects, such as one in Pt. McKenzie and scarified old commercial logging sites in the Houston area. 

The chapter recently successfully lobbied for establishment of a small game biologist position in the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to aid acquisition of data and programs to successfully manage the state’s small game populations and habitat.

• Encourage hunting and promote activities by funding projects that protect hunting traditions, the future of hunting, and assure access to public land.

The chapter is actively involved with local, state, and federal governments to ensure that land management decisions favor wildlife, preserve access, and recreation opportunities for hunters.  Volunteers attend planning meetings, review management plans, bring important issues to decision makers, and testify to regulators.  The chapter successfully pursued allowing grouse hunting with firearms by youth in the Skilak Loop area of Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and changes in the Susitna Area plan to benefit small game.

A large threat to scientific management of wildlife is use of referendums and initiatives by anti-hunting groups that fracture public interests through controversy unsubstantiated with data.  The chapter supported groups to successfully defeat two such ballot efforts.

Education:

• encourage shooting sports, gun safety, and hunter education
• provide scholarships for wildlife or forestry management candidates
• promote RGS and chapter accomplishments
• provide hunting experiences for beginning and disadvantaged hunters

Keeping hunting traditions alive depends on recruiting future hunters, so the chapter supports youth hunter education and development of shooting skills.  The chapter invested in the Rabbit Creek, Birchwood, and Grouse Ridge youth leagues by buying shotguns and supplies and providing training for coaches and supports these programs operated by Outdoor Heritage Foundation of Alaska (OHFA).  The chapter helps with youth days at the ranges, provides funding for adventures at Falcon Ridge for young shooters, supports the Becoming an Outdoors Woman program managed by OHFA, and provides support to the Alaska Ladies Charity Shotgun Classic, which introduces women shooters to shotguns in a safe environment while raising funds to fight breast cancer, and support Shoot for the Cure for Cystic Fibrosis.

The chapter is helping develop next generation wildlife managers and to improve understanding of wildlife in cooperation with local schools.  For example, the chapter funded a grouse telemetry program for a local high school, a masters degree study of sharp tail grouse in Delta Junction, and a masters degree study of ruffed grouse winter food habitat in the Matanuska Valley.

In 2010 the chapter began construction of a trail system in the Matanuska Valley Moose Range cooperatively with the Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry summer intern program.  The trail accesses several ages of past rehabilitation cuts making access easier for hunters and providing viewers the opportunity to see how re-growth progresses.  It serves as an educational laboratory on successional forest management, provides funds to support the intern program, and is currently adding more trail work and signage that identifies various age class forest plots.

The chapter supported RGS’s Under Broken Wing program by annually sponsoring disadvantaged shooters and raising funds.  The chapter also provides support to the Wounded Warriors program.  The chapter holds a pheasant hunt each autumn to provide opportunities for disadvantaged youth and wounded warriors and raise funds to continue the event each year.

The chapter welcomes members to be involved in our many diverse efforts to assure the future of our hunting heritage and wildlife in early successional forests.  Volunteers can contribute time, attend fund raising events, and get involved in many ways.  It is a rewarding way to make a difference.  Contact us at www.ruffedgrousesocietyak.com  to volunteer or make a donation.