The Ruffed Grouse Socity is the only organization in the world dedicated to both the preservation & improvement of grouse hunting and critical grouse habitat through research, education and active participation in habitat management projects.

Habitat Management is Essential to the Future of Grouse and Woodcock Hunting. Grouse and woodcock habitat must be responsibly and intelligently managed to maintain or grow grouse populations, whether it be by private landowners or government agencies. Left unmanaged, even the best habitat will outgrow its ability to provide grouse with food, cover and protection from predators – and populations will decline.

The Smoky Mtn Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society is doing its part by working on habitat restoration projects in coordination with the US Forest Service, North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission, Wild Turkey Federation and Asheville and Atlanta chapters of RGS. Here are some examples of how we're working to restore habitat for the Ruffed Grouse and other woodland birds.

• Queens Branch Little Tenn. Land Trust
  USFS Nantahala Range District
  
  In cooperation with USFS, NC Wildlife Resource Cooperation, RGS, Wild Turkey Federation, Quail Unlimited. We helped fertilizer and plant Milo, millet and clover on USFS roads in the Nantahala ranger district some 130 miles (est) of roads were worked up last summer. Also Milo from Quail unlimited chapter 696 in middle Tenn. was planted in fields on the Queens Branch Tract of the Little Tenn Land Trust property.