Minnesota DNR looking for your input on future Ruff Grouse program

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Public Review and Input to the DNR's Ruffed Grouse Long-Range Plan
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has been developing a ruffed grouse long-range plan for some time now. We are now asking for your input.

The purpose of the plan is to determine management goals and a management objective, assess and outline current issues regarding the ruffed grouse in Minnesota, and then develop conservation actions to help the MNDNR meet the demand of ruffed grouse hunters and observers for the next ten years.

At this stage the plan communicates management goals, establishes a measurable management indicator, identifies a list of preliminary conservation issues, and seeks public input regarding desired conservation issues and actions. Conservation issues are challenges or conflicts that could prevent the accomplishment of the goals and management indicator, while actions are measures taken to resolve or minimize issues in order to achieve the management objective.

In order to help inform and solicit your comments, the plan gives a description of the ruffed grouse and its habitats in Minnesota, and develops assessments and trends of the bird's population, harvest, and habitats. We are especially interested in hearing about your ruffed grouse conservation issues, and possible actions that the MNDNR could take to resolve these issues.

After public review and input, the Department will add to the Long-Range Plan additional pertinent issues, and specific conservation actions that will address all of the identified issues for the next ten years.

Go to www.dnr.state.mn.us/index.html