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Sandhill Wildlife Area | Babcock, Wis.

Forest Management for Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock Habitat

April 17, 2025 | 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

This workshop covers how to incorporate ruffed grouse habitat goals into the planning and execution of forest management. Through a series of presentations and field tours, we will discuss habitat considerations of ruffed grouse and how relatively minor changes in timber marking can have major impacts on grouse habitat. In this workshop we will cover:

  • Ruffed grouse habitat considerations including special considerations like climate change and disease
  • Modifying forest management to incorporate ruffed grouse habitat
  • Managing for elements of early successional within later successional forests
  • How other species benefit from the proposed management strategies

WORKSHOP DETAILS

Registration available this coming winter. To be notified when registration opens, join our mailing list!

Registration Fee

TBD

Registration Deadline

TBD

Cancellation Policy

Requests received prior to the registration deadline will be granted a full refund. No refunds will be granted to requests received after the registration deadline. To receive a refund, a request must be made to the Wisconsin Forestry Center.

Target Audience

This workshop is designed for professional foresters and natural resource professionals. This workshop counts toward the Forest Management for Wildlife Certificate.

Workshop Agenda

Draft agenda will be available Spring 2025. View previous workshop agenda.

Continuing Education Credit

The workshop counts towards the Forest Management for Wildlife Certificate program and we will be seeking pre-approval for the following:

               


WORKSHOP INSTRUCTORS

Additional Instructors TBA

Mike Demchik

Professor of Silviculture, UW-Stevens Point

Michael Demchik is a professor of forestry at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He teaches a range of courses and is involved in research that addresses using silviculture to reach landowner goals. He focuses on developing methods to teach students and professionals how to mark timber better, faster, and with more confidence in their decisions. He has held positions in federal, state, and private natural resource management in West Virginia, Maryland, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Jon Steigerwaldt

Forest Conservation Director: Great Lakes/Upper Midwest, Ruffed Grouse Society/American Woodcock Society

In his role as director, Jon Steigerwaldt oversees policy issues as well as public and private lands conservation delivery programs. Jon earned a bachelor of science in forest management and a master of science in natural reources, with an emphasis in wildland fire ecology, both at UW-Stevens Point. He has worked for numerous county forests, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, UW-Stevens Point, non-profit organizations, and as a private forestry consultant.


WORKSHOP PARTNER