A Smoky Mountains chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society is in the making, with the first meeting to be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, at Fat Buddies Barbeque in Franklin.

The primary goal of the local chapter will be improving ruffed grouse habitat.

“It is important for grouse hunters, and sportsmen in general, to work together to influence decisions made on management of public lands to improve and increase dwindling wildlife habitat,” said Don Mallicoat, one of the chapter’s organizers.

The ruffed grouse is on the Audubon Society’s list of top 20 threatened bird species.

“Ruffed grouse habitat in the southeast is being threatened by development and lack of management on public land,” Mallicoat said. Mallicoat said ruffed grouse need young forest settings. The lack of logging and controlled burns in the national forest has led to shortage of young forest ecosystems as older forests are taking over.

Currently, less than 1 percent of the national forests in WNC are in early successional stages, while the optimal is 10 percent to maintain a proper balance for wildlife survival, according to Mallicoat.

“That is one of the challenges we face,” he said.

In addition to advocating for better habitat management, the chapter plans to get involved in habitat work, like seeding forest service roads with grasses and planting mast bearing trees like oak and hickory.

The ruffed grouse is considered the “King of Gamebirds.”

“I’ve hunted quail, pheasant, and dove but nothing compares to the exciting flush of a grouse over a dog on point,” Mallicoat said. “At the end of a day’s hunt, all other birds are counted by number taken. Grouse are counted by number flushed. Because of the thick habitat they inhabit, and their propensity for not doing what you expect, each bird is a challenge and only about one-in-10 birds is actually brought to bag.”

According to organizers, the ruffed grouse chapter is a fit for anyone who “loves to hear the whirr of grouse wings launching into the air.” The meeting will also appeal to those who like eating BBQ or “enjoy messing around with shotguns,” organizers joked.

The first meeting will cover what the Ruffed Grouse Society is and how the local chapter fits in. Mike Wilkins, the head ranger for the Nantahala district of the Nantahala National Forest will talk about forest service projects that affect grouse habitat. The group will also lay plans for future events, including a fun shoot in Rosman, grouse surveys, a point and retrieval trial and a habitat workday.

The cost is $12, which includes dinner. For more information call Grant Keener at 828.342.4330.