#335 | What’s Happening to the Driftless Forests—and to Grouse with Jon Steigerwaldt

Birdshot Podcast

Nick Larson

Leisure, Science, Sports, Nature, Hobbies, Wilderness

4.8 • 971 Ratings

🗓️ 10 October 2025

⏱️ 60 minutes

🔗️ Recording | Apple Podcasts | RSS

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Summary

In this episode of The Birdshot Podcast, host Nick Larson is joined by Jon Steigerwaldt, a Forest Conservation Director for the Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society. Jon talks about the critical habitat work happening in the Driftless Region and northeast Iowa, highlighting the challenges facing ruffed grouse populations, the impact of forest management, and ongoing conservation efforts. From habitat restoration to dealing with invasive species, this conversation covers key conservation strategies while also touching on Jon’s experiences hunting and training his bird dog, Hazel. Jon Steigerwaldt is a dedicated conservationist and upland bird hunter with a deep background in forestry and forest ecology. With a focus on sustainable forest management, Jon works with multiple states across the Upper Midwest to improve habitats for ruffed grouse, woodcock, and other species. In his role with the Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society, Jon is directly involved in large-scale projects to restore forest ecosystems and support wildlife populations in the Driftless Region and beyond. Expect to Learn The importance of forest management for ruffed grouse and other upland species How dynamic forest restoration blocks help improve habitat for grouse populations Challenges faced by forest management in the Driftless Region, including parcelization and topography The role of invasive species like multiflora rose and honeysuckle in disrupting habitat Jon's insights into training bird dogs like his setter, Hazel, and the role of dogs in upland hunting Current efforts to revitalize grouse populations in northeast Iowa and other parts of the Midwest Episode Breakdown with Timestamps: [00:00] - Introduction [04:00] - Nick’s First Ruffed Grouse Hunt of the Year [10:22] - Jon’s Bird Dog, Hazel, and How She’s Developed Over the Years [11:32] - Jon’s First Big Dog [13:33] - Jon’s Career and Education [23:01] - Parcelization and Landowner Challenges in Logging [35:51] - Invasive Species and Their Impact on Forest Ecosystems [44:50] - Forest Management After Natural Disasters [50:13] - Stewardship Agreements and Reinvestment Into Forests [57:28] - Upcoming Events and Community Management Follow the Guest Jon: Ruffed Grouse Society: https://ruffedgrousesociety.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruffedgrousesociety/?hl=en Fall Membership 2025: https://ruffedgrousesociety.org/ Follow the Host Nick: Instagram: @birdshot.podcast Website: www.birdshotpodcast.com Listening Links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/17EVUDJPwR2iJggzhLYil7 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/birdshot-podcast/id1288308609 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@birdshot.podcast SUPPORT | http://www.patreon.com/birdshot Use Promo Code | BSP20 to save 20% on https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt/app Use Promo Code | BS10 to save 10% on https://trulockchokes.com/ The Birdshot Podcast is Presented By: https://www.onxmaps.com/

Transcript

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0:00.0	John Stigarwell, Forest Conservation Director for the Rough Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society. Tell me what you know about Iowa Rough Grouse today, challenges, that sort of thing, and what you guys are working on. I'd love to hear about it. Well, the challenges are numerous to Rough Grouse and Iowa, and I would say the Driftless Region as a whole. We're going back to sort of that heyday of rough grouse hunting in Iowa, 70s, 80s.
0:21.8	The population was fairly robust, where now we kind of got so far past that, a lot of our habitats
0:26.8	are just relatively commodious.
0:28.6	Kind of what made rough grouse hunting what it is today in the north woods really was active
0:32.8	forest management, and it was access to timber markets.
0:35.9	So we had this sort of very robust timber industry,
0:38.2	which kept all that habitat moving forward in the north woods and improving. But that same access
0:43.5	to timber markets is a lot more difficult than the DIRFAS region. So we have to start talking about,
0:47.4	well, what are the incentives we can put forward to make sure that that management happens.
0:51.3	Currently, we've been working with the Iowa DNR on improving rough grass habitat, wildlife habitat,
0:57.3	on public lands and private lands in northeast Iowa.
1:00.2	RGS' model is what we call the dynamic forest restoration block design.
1:04.2	I'm kind of eager to talk about.
1:05.2	I'm kind of eager to talk about.
1:32.6	Yeah. Hello, sweetie. That's a big bird.
1:34.9	That's a big girl.
1:38.8	Wow.
1:41.7	Hey everyone.
1:42.6	Nick Larson here, host of the Birdshot podcast, the show that brings you conversations, stories, and traditions from all across the uplands.
1:50.2	The Birdshot podcast is presented by Onyx Hunt and supported by folks just like you via our Patreon and community.
1:56.4	If you want to stay up to date and not miss any of our upcoming episodes, be sure to subscribe and follow the show in your podcast player or on YouTube wherever you're listening or
2:03.8	watching today. Tap that button for me. Thank you for doing so. And with that said, let's get
	...

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