Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -–(Ammoland.com)- Kansas landowners — and those from across the country — will receive free land-use management consultation at Pheasants Forever’s National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic 2012, in the Kansas City Convention Center Feb. 17-19.

The Landowner Habitat Help Room, sponsored by Best Buy and Geek Squad, will feature the latest technology to evaluate landowner needs.

A dozen work stations featuring large-screen monitors will provide a detailed look at each landowner’s property. The room is designed to give farmers and landowners site-specific information about conservation programs they can implement on their land. Biologists use aerial photography, topography, and soil information for individual planning. Landowners just need to bring the legal description of their property (township, range, and section).

Through one-on-one consultations with leading wildlife experts, landowners have the opportunity to learn about conservation and habitat options on their land available through federal, state, and local programs.

Accompanied by trained Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever biologists or partnering biologists from the Missouri Department of Conservation; the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism; or the U.S. Department of Agriculture, landowners will be educated on ways they can improve their acres for wildlife and even what local, state, and federal conservation programs that qualify for enrollment.

“Your next wildlife habitat project starts at Pheasant Fest,” says Steve Riley, Farm Bill wildlife biologist manager for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. “The Landowner Habitat Help Room is one of the many ways Pheasants Forever’s premiere event goes beyond a trade show and becomes an interactive event where wildlife habitat is the main focus, and a lasting impact is made.”

With the most current streaming data available, the Landowner Habitat Help Room will offer topographic and aerial maps on any piece of property in the entire country. For more information, phone Brad Heidel at 651-209-4956 or email bheidel@pheasantsforever.org, or phone Rehan Nana at 651-209-4973 or mail rnana@pheasantsforever.org.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -–(Ammoland.com)- – For the first time, the nation’s biggest event for pheasant and quail hunters and bird dog enthusiasts is coming to Kansas City.

Pheasants Forever’s National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic will be held Feb. 17-19, 2012, at the Kansas City Convention Center in downtown Kansas City, Mo. The event will be sponsored by Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter.

The annual convention has topped 20,000 in attendance each of the last six events. The Quail Classic portion of the 2012 event will be a first, representing the strong tradition of bobwhite quail hunting and conservation found in Kansas, Missouri, and across the Great Plains and southeast United States. Both the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism and the Missouri Department of Conservation will participate in the event.

Kansas and Missouri are home to a combined 47 local Pheasants Forever chapters and 34 Quail Forever chapters. With more than 10,000 Pheasants Forever and/or Quail Forever members in the two states, Howard Vincent, Pheasants Forever, Inc.’s National President and CEO, says it’s time to bring the organization’s premiere event to Kansas City.

“Kansas is one of the elite states for pheasant hunting and wildlife habitat conservation, and Missouri has positioned itself as a clear leader in efforts to restore bobwhite quail populations,” Vincent said. “Kansas City is the perfect meeting place to have fun celebrating both great game birds.”

All things bird dog-related have been the biggest attractions at previous National Pheasant Fest events, and that’s expected to be the case at the inaugural appearance in Kansas City. Approximately 40 different sporting dog breeds will be represented; dog training seminars will be held throughout the three-day weekend; and attendees will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with breeders, trainers, and dog kennel and club representatives.

A “Youth Village” is another popular show attraction, where youth can participate in archery and air rifle ranges, a casting booth, laser shot, and more.

For more information, including exhibitor details, phone Brad Heidel, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Director of Corporate and Special Event Sales at 651-209-4956 or email bheidel@pheasantsforever.org.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

KANSAS CITY, Mo. --(Ammoland.com)- Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QU) have announced that Ed Holland of Bucyrus, Kan., has been appointed as the newest member of the organization’s national board of directors.

The 17-member board meets three times a year and oversees the operations of PF and QU, the nation’s largest upland conservation organization. Born and raised in Kansas City, Holland has spent 30 years as a restaurateur, overseeing daily operations of Myron Green American dining restaurant. He is one of the Kansas City area’s leading proponents of upland conservation, support that’s led to his appointment.

“It’s an honor to be named to serve on the national board of directors for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever,” Holland said.

“I have been lucky enough to see great upland hunting in Kansas and would like to help make a difference in improving habitat for future hunters nationwide.” Naturally, Holland is excited that his hometown will be hosting Pheasants Forever’s National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic 2012, the organization’s largest event, on Feb. 17-19, 2012.

A passionate outdoorsman, Holland learned to appreciate upland hunting and the outdoors from his fellow rugby teammates at Kansas State University. During his senior year, he received his first shotgun and has been an avid hunter since. No matter how busy his schedule, Holland always finds time to spend with his family, teaching them the value of the outdoors.

“Hunting is really the one sport we have always done as a family,” he said. “When my son was growing up, hunting was a big motivator for me because it was an opportunity to spend time with him.”

PF and its quail conservation division, QU, is the nation’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. The organization has more than 130,000 members and 700 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Chapters are empowered to determine how 100 percent of their locally-raised conservation funds are spent.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

ST. PAUL, Minn. --(Ammoland.com)- Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QF) have announced the addition of two new Farm Bill wildlife biologist positions in Kansas. Kirby Calhoun will cover Dickinson, Clay, Ottawa, and nearby counties, while Mark Witecha will cover Ness, Lane, Hodgeman, and nearby counties.

The positions were created in partnership with the Kansas division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

PF’s Farm Bill biologists provide-on-the ground technical assistance to farmers who implement federal Farm Bill conservation programs, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Reserve Program. They also assist farmers with various programs and practices recommended by PF and partner organizations.

“I am really excited about the additions to the growing Kansas Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever team,” said Steve Riley, PF and QU Farm Bill wildlife biologist manager. “They come with some great experience, and both are just finishing up their master’s degrees. They will definitely help us achieve our habitat goals.”

Calhoun will complete his master’s degree in wildlife management from Texas A&M University this year. Previous to this, Calhoun spent 2010 working for the U.S. Forest Service as a wildlife biologist. He has four years of military experience and is a decorated Army veteran. Calhoun will work out of the NRCS Center in Abilene and can be reached at 785-263-1351.

Witecha previously interned at the Aldo Leopold Foundation near his home in southcentral Wisconsin. He will join Pheasants Forever in early June after finishing his master’s of science degree at Texas A&M, Kingsville, where he has been studying the effects of wildfire and drought on the abundance, movement, and species richness of small mammals. Witecha will be based out of the Ness City Service Center and can be reached at 785-263-1351.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Michigan --(Ammoland.com)- A series of three workshops will be held in southern Michigan to provide more information to property owners on Michigan’s new pheasant restoration initiative.

Three areas of southern Michigan will be the focus of the initiative, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment announced.

The three priority Pheasant Recovery Areas for this initiative are: 1) Huron, Sanilac, and Tuscola counties; 2) Hillsdale, Lenawee, and Monroe counties; and 3) Gratiot, Saginaw, and Clinton counties. To participate in this cooperative initiative, a group of property owners must agree to work together to improve pheasant and small game habitat on their collective acreages.

For participating coalitions, local wildlife biologists and Conservation District staff will provide advice and assistance on habitat prescriptions; project partners will aid in securing seed for grass plantings; and federal resources may be leveraged to provide financial incentives for participating landowners. Also, for land that meets habitat restoration objectives, the DNRE may provide seed and/or materials for plantings, the use of equipment, and in some cases, the release of wild pheasants to initiate population response.

To learn more about the Pheasant Restoration Initiative and how to form a cooperative, property owners are invited to attend any of the following workshops. There is no fee for attending. Various partnering organizations and agencies will be present to help with questions.

Feb. 12, 9 am to noon
Ashley Sportsmen Club
8554 S. Mason Rd.
Bannister, MI 48807

Feb. 26, 9 am to noon
Cabela’s
110 Cabela Blvd East
Dundee, MI 48131

March 5, 9 am to noon
Brentwood Lanes Bowling Alley
178 Park Drive
Caro, MI 48723

On Jan. 15, the Pheasant Restoration Initiative was officially announced at the annual Pheasants Forever State Convention in East Lansing.

The kick-off event was attended by several state leaders, including Senator Debbie Stabenow, Michigan Department of Agriculture Director Keith Creagh, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Director Designate Rodney Stokes, Michigan United Conservation Clubs Executive Director Erin McDonough and Howard Vincent, Pheasant Forever CEO.

“The excitement was brewing in the air as news of this partnership was highlighted throughout the press conference,” stated Mike Parker, Pheasants Forever regional biologist and event organizer. “Pheasant Forever volunteers wanted to know how they could sign up to help with such a great partnership idea.”

The Michigan Pheasant Restoration Initiative is a conservation initiative with many groups working together to focus on the restoration of pheasants in Michigan. This initiative will benefit a suite of migratory birds and other grassland species. Primary partners include Pheasants Forever, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE), Michigan Department of Agriculture, Michigan United Conservation Clubs, local Conservation Districts, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The group of partners is expected to expand as the initiative moves forward.

An initiative such as this has the potential to increase wildlife populations and small game hunting opportunities, improve hunter satisfaction and help Michigan’s economy.

“We’ve heard only positive comments related to this initiative.” said DNRE Wildlife Division Chief Russ Mason. “There is an opportunity here to not only change pheasant numbers but create a social movement: large groups of neighbors and partners working together to help wildlife. It is about individuals wanting to help be part of the solution, and not waiting for others to do the work for them. We keep hearing from our partners asking how they can participate.”

Mason added this initiative is going to help not only restore the high quality pheasant hunting tradition but will help create new hunters and return hunters who have left the sport. Small game hunting is the area where Michigan is losing the most hunters; but is the best way to introduce new people into the sport of hunting, Mason said.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment is committed to the conservation, protection, management, and accessible use and enjoyment of the state’s environment, natural resources and related economic interests for current and future generations. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/dnre

Federal Premium is dedicated to supporting groups like Pheasants Forever that do so much for conservation. Federal Premium has now made over 25 million specially marked PF shotgun shells. Each ammunition round sold has given money directly to The Habitat Organization. PF has used this money to help pheasant hunters, bird populations, habitat and wildlife.

FederalPremium.com

ANOKA, Minn. --(Ammoland.com)- Federal Premium Ammunition recently produced the 25 millionth shotgun shell that gives money directly to Pheasants Forever.

PF CEO and President Howard Vincent recognized this milestone at the 2011 SHOT Show by presenting a commemorative plaque to Federal Premium President Ron Johnson. This staggering number of Premium loads has given money directly to PF since the on-box royalty program began in 1998.

Increasing Contributions
Pheasants Forever formed its first chapter in 1983 and Federal Premium has been involved with the organization from the beginning. Over the years PF and Federal Premium have expanded their partnership and contributions to wildlife.

This year Federal introduces an entirely new line that will give money to PF through the on-box royalty program. Prairie Storm FS Steel will hit store shelves in both 12 and 20-gauge options this summer. Every box sold will give money to PF. In the first 10 years of the royalty program Federal made 15 million specially marked pheasant loads. In less than three years since that last milestone, Federal has produced 10 million more.

Proud of the Partnership

“At Federal Premium, conservation is very important to us as a company, and as hunters,” said Ammunition Brand Director Rick Stoeckel. “And our partnership with Pheasants Forever has been great. We’re happy we’ve been able to work with and support such a tremendous organization that does so much and gives back in so many ways. The combined success we’ve shared has been a great story so far, and it will only get better.”

“When we say hunters are the nation’s leading conservationists, Federal Premium Ammunition takes that to heart,” said Howard Vincent, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s National President and CEO, “The number one way we preserve our pheasant hunting tradition in this country is by preserving pheasant habitat, and Federal Premium knows that.”

To learn more about Wing-Shok or Prairie Storm loads that give money directly to PF, or to see the entire Federal lineup, go to www.federalpremium.com.

African Safari, African Maximum Safaris- 2 hunters, 2 observers, 6 animals & 6 nights accommodations. www.africanmaximum.com $11,800 Retail Value

Pheasants Forever

Michigan --(Ammoland.com)- Are you as anxious for raffle season as you are for the pheasant opener?

Chances are probably not, but we all know what the first raffles of the fall mean: Hunting season is right around the corner and it’s time to put our money where our hearts are and donate toward conservation, youth programs and a lifestyle we couldn’t live without!

For this reason, we’re forwarding on a unique opportunity to participate in the Ingham County Pheasants Forever Chapter’s lucrative raffle from anywhere in the country.

You do not need to be present to win one of these great prizes:

• AfricanSafari, African Maximum Safaris- 2 hunters, 2 observers, 6 animals &6 nights accommodations. www.africanmaximum.com $11,800 value.
• Polaris 4×4 550XP quad. $8,500 Value.
• World Class Whitetails 140 inch Deer Hunt with Shoulder Mount, www.worldclasswhitetails.com $3,200 value.
• Steiner Binoculars 10×42. $1,000 value.
• Strum Ruger .270 Weatherby Magnum 1998 Banquet Edition RMEF #301 of 400 Lever Action $1,800 value.
• Canadian Fishing Trip for 4 fishermen, 3 nights, 4 days- WaWa Canada. www.campanjigami.com $1,400 value.
• Lake Michigan Salmon Excursion- 1/2 day charter Grand Haven, 1/2 days charter South Haven- 6 fishermen www.itildocharters.com$1,300 value.
• Browning.338 Win Mag 1991 Banquet Edition RMEF #177 of 200 Semi-auto Made inBelgium $1,700 value.
• Shadow Hunter 4×6 Box Blind $1,000 value.
• Browning BPS 12 gauge & choice of any style of Danner Boots. $800.00 value.

Less than 90 Tickets Remaining! Odds are better than 1 in 24 of winning!

Odds are better than 1 in 24 of winning with over $32,000 in prizes! Only 239 tickets will be sold.

Prizes will be drawn on September 14th, 2010 and winners will be notified by phone ore-mail. For more information, go to www.pf467.org

Winners will be responsible for all applicable shipping and taxcharges. The Chapter reserves the right to replace any prize with comparableprize if necessary.

Pheasants Forever

Lima, Ohio --(Ammoland.com)- August 9, 2010 – Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever announce Ted Welsh of Lima, Ohio, as its new Farm Bill Biologist for Allen, Putnam, Paulding, Van Wert Counties.

Created in partnership with the Ohio Division of Wildlife, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and local Pheasants Forever chapters, the position will provide conservation and land-use consulting to area landowners – and just in time for the new Conservation Reserve Program general sign-up.

Pheasants Forever’s Farm Bill Biologist program is designed to provide technical assistance to farmers and ranchers – through one-on-one consulting – about the benefits of conservation programs (such as the Conservation Reserve Program), as well as assisting farmers and landowners through program implementation. Pheasants Forever first began employing Farm Bill Biologists in 2003 and now has more than 60 biologists working in 11 states – Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Farm Bill Biologists have contacted and consulted with over 35,000 landowners, resulting in the improvement of over 1.4 million acres of land for wildlife.

“As someone who is passionate about wildlife conservation and also knowledgeable about agriculture, I am looking forward to working with landowners on plans for their properties,” Welsh said. Welsh joins Pheasants Forever in time to serve landowners during the CRP general sign-up happening until August 27th.

“We’re excited about the location and timing of this position,” said Jim Inglis, Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologist Coordinator, and a Marysville, Ohio, resident, “Welsh will provide a great service to landowners, and in doing so provides another great service to conservation.”

Prior to joining Pheasants Forever, Welsh worked as a charter boat captain at Sea Breeze Charter and also as a grounds man at Witts Orchard. Welsh earned his associates degree in fish and wildlife management from Hocking College and a bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University. He will be based out the USDA Paulding Service Center, NRCS building, in Paulding and can be contacted at (419) 306-2675 and twelsh@pheasantsforever.org.

PF Ohio Farm Bill Biologists

• Clint Geldine Hancock, Hardin OH cgeldine@pheasantsforever.org (419) 356-1927
• Bill Kiser Fayette, Pickaway, Ross OH bkiser@pheasantsforever.org (937) 751-3518
• Erik Lewis Butler, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble OH elewis@pheasantsforever.org (937) 654-3884
• Brice Nemire Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Williams OH bnemire@pheasantsforever.org (419) 376-1340
• Mike Retterer Champaign, Clark, Logan, Madison, Union OH mretterer@pheasantsforever.org (937) 631-1064
• John Wallace Auglaize, Darke, Mercer, Shelby OH jwallace@pheasantsforever.org (937) 459-8085

For more information on Pheasants Forever in Ohio, visit www.ohiopf.com.

Pheasants Forever is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs.

Pheasants Forever

Hays, Kan. --(Ammoland.com)- Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever announce Jim Schweitzer of Omaha, Nebraska, as the organization’s new regional representative for western Kansas.

Schweitzer’s primary duties with “The Habitat Organization” will include starting and servicing Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever chapters and members in the region to enhance the organization’s wildlife habitat mission.

Schweitzer will advise Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever chapters in raising and expending funds on wildlife habitat and conservation education. He will also work with local, state, and federal natural resource agencies on behalf of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever chapters in western Kansas.

Schweitzer joins Pheasants Forever after more than a decade with Odyssey Healthcare as a senior sales representative. He has been involved with Pheasants Forever at the local chapter level for more than 20 years, having served on the Burt County (Nebraska) Pheasants Forever Chapter’s committee the past seven years and as the coordinator of that chapter’s youth/mentor hunt the past three years.

“We have a saying here in the Midwest that ‘people don’t care what you know until they know you care,’” said Schweitzer, “I care about pheasants, quail and other wildlife, and am looking forward to working with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever volunteers that are just as dedicated as I am.”

“Jim’s combined professional and Pheasants Forever experience will serve him very well in accomplishing the mission of Pheasants Forever in western Kansas,” said Pete Berthelsen, Pheasants Forever Senior Field Coordinator, “But what we value most at Pheasants Forever is passion, and Jim’s dedication to habitat improvement is a welcome addition to a region with a great deal of potential habitat work.”

Schweitzer earned his B.A. from the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. He will make his home out of Hays, Kansas. Schweitzer can be reached at 402-679-0707 and via email at jschweitzer@pheasantsforever.org.

Kansas is home to 40 Pheasants Forever, 11 Quail Forever chapters and more than 5,600 Pheasants Forever and/or Quail Forever members. For information about “The Habitat Organization” in eastern Kansas, please contact regional representative Jordan Martincich at (785) 242-3175 or jmartincich@pheasantsforever.org.

Pheasants Forever is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs.

OutdoorDealHound.com Save Money this August 10th

OutdoorDealHound.com

Saint Paul, Minn. –-(Ammoland.com)- Outdoor enthusiasts looking for quality outdoor products and apparel… look no further!

OutdoorDealHound.com launches August 10, offering you instant rebates and bundled pricing on tons of outdoor gear, and extra savings for NWTF members.

Online shoppers who have purchased a flight, hotel and rental car together for a significant discount have seen firsthand how bundled shopping saves you money.

There’s good news – bundled shopping is no longer just for travelers!

OutdoorDealHound.com brings this money-saving concept to outdoor enthusiasts
with a one-of-a-kind approach that gives shoppers individually tailored discounts based on the number and type of items purchased – something you can’t get anywhere else!

OutdoorDealHound.com gives YOU:

• immediate savings
• access to exclusive NWTF members-only savings
• a broad selection of products from the most trusted names in the outdoor industry
• the certainty to shop with confidence for quality products while supporting the NWTF
• simplicity… shopping is easy as 1-2-3!

Log on to OutdoorDealHound.com August 10 and let the savings begin!

Pheasants Forever

Saint Paul, Minn. –-(Ammoland.com)- Pheasants Forever, Inc. and Quail Forever announce Tim Kessler of Aberdeen, South Dakota, as the newest member to the organization’s National Board of Directors. The 18-member board meets quarterly and oversees the operations of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever.

A lifelong resident of Aberdeen, Kessler served for 17 years (1992-2010) on the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission, retiring this May. South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds said Kessler “served with honor and has always come down in favor of what’s best for the state’s natural resources.”

A third-generation owner of Kessler’s grocery, one of the largest food and drug stores in the Dakotas, Kessler also owns Big Shot Pheasant Fields near Aberdeen.

Kessler has long been fond of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s wildlife habitat conservation mission, “During my time on the Commission, we teamed up many, many times with local Pheasants Forever chapters,” he said. He’s also taken best habitat practices to heart for his own property.

“It’s been extremely gratifying for me to take a marginal piece of property and develop the habitat into quality nesting, brood, food and winter cover – the perfect combination for pheasants,” he said. Kessler looks forward to serving and contributing to “The Habitat Organization’s” Board of Directors.

“To be an integral part of managing what I’ve always had such a passion for – pheasants and pheasant hunting – this is a truly rare opportunity.”

All members of the National Board are volunteers offering their expertise, time, and effort on behalf of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever.

“Speaking on behalf of the entire National Board of Directors, we are excited about the passion for conservation and the volunteer spirit Tim Kessler brings,” said Bruce Hertzke, Chairman of the Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever National Board of Directors, “Tim brings a wealth of wildlife and business experience that will help us achieve our habitat mission.”

Kessler started sacking groceries when he was 12-years-old, and purchased the 71-year-old family business from his father in the late 1980s. He graduated from Northern State University in Aberdeen. He and his wife of 35 years, Amy, have three grown children.

Pheasants Forever is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs.

Pheasants Forever

Saint Paul, Minn. –-(Ammoland.com)- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that the new Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up will run Monday, August 2nd through Friday, August 27th.

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever Farm Bill Biologists are prepared to work with landowners through the entire sign-up period.

The new general CRP signup will be the first since 2006, and landowner demand is expected to be strong, especially considering the USDA has updated soil rental rates since that last general signup.

“CRP continues to be a good option for producers to ensure income on the tough-to-farm and lowest producing acres,” said Dave Nomsen, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Vice President of Government Affairs, “This general signup’s 4 million-plus acre nationwide allotment is likely to fill up quickly, so it’s critical that landowners get into their local USDA service centers immediately to examine CRP options on their land.”

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 60 Farm Bill Biologists working at USDA service centers to provide one-on-one assistance to farmers and ranchers during the 2010 general sign-up.

The new CRP general sign-up arrives in time to address the 4.4 million acres of CRP expiring on September 30, 2010. It is also representative of USDA’s ongoing action to maximize the wildlife habitat and environmental benefits created via the program’s 25-year history. This February at Pheasants Forever’s National Pheasant Fest, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced his pledge to keep CRP fully enrolled at the federally mandated (via the 2008 Farm Bill) maximum level of 32 million acres. With an additional 14.2 million acres of CRP slated to expire between 2011 and 2013, the new general sign-up is the critical first step, said Nomsen.

Today’s announcement also resonates with pheasant hunters, as CRP acres provide the top nationwide habitat component in producing pheasants. Just three years removed from record-setting pheasant harvests (Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota); hunters have been disappointed in the 6.5 million acres that left the Conservation Reserve Program without a general signup. America’s quail populations continue their rapid decline because of habitat losses.

“This new general signup is critical to prevent us from losing more acres and for preventing continued population decline of the birds many of us love to pursue each autumn,” Nomsen added.

Nomsen also points out how understated CRP is to the rural environment and the rural economy. “For 25 years, CRP has been the nation’s single most important and successful conservation program, protecting water quality and soils, and creating habitat for a diverse mix of wildlife,” he said, “It’s a program critically important to the economy of rural America and our nation’s outdoor traditions. CRP in the next 25 years will continue all of these benefits, while also producing the habitat critical to pollinators and the $19 billion dollars honey bee pollination means to America’s agricultural economy.”

Since its formation in 1985, Pheasants Forever has been one of the nation’s strongest supporters of CRP. A voluntary program for agricultural landowners, CRP provides annual rental payments and cost-share assistance for the establishment of long-term, resource conserving covers on eligible farmland. The millions of acres of CRP lands in the United States protect topsoil erosion, improve water and air quality and is a major contributor to increasing wildlife populations – including pheasants and quail – in many parts of the country.

Pheasants Forever is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs.

Build a Wildlife Area Campaign Yields Waterfowl Production Acres in Minnesota

Pheasants Forever

Buffalo, Minn. --(AmmoLand.com)-  Minnesota’s 2009 Build a Wildlife Area campaign has resulted in a new Waterfowl Production Area in Wright County.

The 65-acre addition to the Pelican Lake West Waterfowl Production Area will be officially dedicated on Tuesday, August 3rd. In eight years, Pheasants Forever and partners in Minnesota Build a Wildlife Area campaigns have led in the creation of 3,165 acres that have been opened to public hunting and outdoor recreation as federal Waterfowl Production Areas or state Wildlife Management Areas.

The 65-acre Weldele tract - sold by John and Sandra Weldele - connects to the Pelican Lake West Waterfowl Production Area and also neighbors the Pelican Lake state Wildlife Management Area, strengthening a great wildlife complex.

“This land has been in their family a long time,” said Eran Sandquist, Pheasants Forever Regional Wildlife Biologist, “An honest and hardworking Minnesota family, the Weldeles wanted to protect their land from development. Not only is the area permanently protected, but thanks to the Weldeles and the Build a Wildlife Area campaign is a place countless others will enjoy.”

In addition to the Build a Wildlife Area campaign, major funding for the land acquisition came via the Outdoor Heritage Fund and Pheasants Forever’s Minnesota Habitat Fund, Pheasants Forever chapters, Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, Minnesota Waterfowl Association, Ducks Unlimited and Muller Family Theaters.

The dedication ceremony will take place on Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010 at 6PM. The location is Edmondson Ave NE / County Highway 15 (South of 60th St. NE, north of 50th St. NE), Buffalo, MN 55313. Representatives from Pheasants Forever, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will be on hand, and photo and interview opportunities are available. For more information, please contact Eran Sandquist, Pheasants Forever regional wildlife biologist, at (763) 242-1273 or esandquist@pheasantsforever.org.

Build a Wildlife Area – Minnesota
Pheasants Forever National and the Anoka County (Minnesota) Chapter of Pheasants Forever combined forces with Outdoor News (a series of Midwest outdoor publications), Gander Mountain and Game Fair to launch the initial effort Build a Wildlife Area campaign effort in 2003. Major partners have also included Ron Schara Enterprises, Federal Premium Ammunition, Apple Auto Group, and KFAN Radio. Since then, Minnesota Build a Wildlife Area campaigns have resulted in more than 3,000 acres that have been opened to public hunting and outdoor recreation.

Build a Wildlife Area: $1 = $3
Through a unique funding mechanism, the Build a Wildlife Area program puts 100 percent of the funds raised directly toward land acquisitions utilizing state, federal and other grants. It’s been Pheasants Forever’s pledge from the beginning to see that every dollar of your donation is multiplied x3 through matching grants that Pheasants Forever has in place with state natural resource agencies, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and other partners. In other words, your $25 donation is worth $75 and your $10,000 donation is worth $30,000 for the Build a Wildlife Area campaign.

Build Wildlife Area Accomplishments in Minnesota

Pheasants Forever is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs.

Pheasants Forever

Washington, DC --(Ammoland.com)- Howard K. Vincent, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever National President and CEO, has been appointed to the new 18-member Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack made the announcement during a national teleconference. The Council will advise the two federal Departments on recreational hunting and shooting sports activities and associated wildlife and habitat conservation.

The Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council is an official advisory group under the Federal Advisory Committee Act that will help to promote and preserve America’s hunting heritage for future generations. It will also provide a forum for sportsmen and women to advise the federal government on policies related to wildlife and habitat conservation endeavors that (a) benefit recreational hunting; (b) benefit wildlife resources; and (c) encourage partnership among the public, the sporting conservation community, the shooting and hunting sports industry, wildlife conservation organizations, the states, Native American tribes, and the federal government.

“It’s an honor to be able to represent Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever and sportsmen and women nationwide on this Council,” Vincent said, “I look forward to providing input to the Obama Administration on items ranging from 2012 Farm Bill conservation programs, youth hunter recruitment and hunter retention, and continuing America’s strong hunting heritage.” Individuals on the Council will serve two-year terms.

“Maintaining and conserving wildlife habitat and water resources that are so important to America’s hunting and angling heritage in the face of today’s conservation challenges requires a coordinated effort between federal, state, and local officials and partners in the private sector,” said Vilsack.

“The members of Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council will play a crucial role in our ongoing efforts to improve the health and management of America’s public and private lands.”

The new Council replaces and improves upon the previously existing Sporting Conservation Council by expanding membership to include the archery, hunting and shooting sports industries, as well as including broader representation from the nation’s major hunting organizations. The Council’s charter also more clearly defines its responsibilities in supporting the public, the sporting conservation community, the shooting and hunting sports industry, wildlife conservation organizations, and the State and Federal governments.

Becoming the first Director of Finance for Pheasants Forever in 1987, Vincent has been involved with Pheasants Forever as a volunteer and/or employee since shortly after the organization’s inception. Over the years he has also served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Pheasants Forever’s National Board of Directors appointed him CEO and successor to Jeffrey Finden, the organization’s first CEO, in January 2000. A native of Duluth, Minnesota, and a graduate of the University of Minnesota – Duluth, Howard and his wife Wendy live in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, where he enjoys chasing the wily ringneck with his two sons, Marco and Ian.

Pheasants Forever is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs.

Quail Forever

San Antonio, Tex. – -(Ammoland.com)- Dedicated quail hunters and conservationists have formed the fifth Quail Forever chapter in Texas.

Known as the San Antonio Area Quail Forever Chapter, the Bexar County group launched to improve area quail habitat and engage youngsters in conservation education.

“As an avid outdoorsman and quail hunter, I feel the need to continue the efforts to keep quail habitat thriving in our county,” explained Richard Kattman, a Boerne, Texas resident, and the San Antonio Area Quail Forever chapter’s first president.

“A critical step in doing this is bringing the next generation into the picture. Conservation success is dependent on youth finding interest in our environment.”

Like only its Pheasants Forever counterpart, Quail Forever provides its local chapters the ability to decide how 100 percent of their fundraised dollars are spent. This local control gives chapters and members the ability to make things happen for wildlife in their communities, while belonging to a national organization advocating for wildlife and conservation in policy discussions in Washington, D.C.

“We have a lot of folks happy with what the Quail Forever approach to conservation,” said Kattman, “Knowing that all the proceeds will remain under the direction of this chapter has people pleased that their contributions will directly affect their area.”

“San Antonio Area Quail Forever is made up of a group of friends that is dedicated to quail, conservation and educating the next era of hunters,” explained Jordan Martincich, Quail Forever’s Regional Representative in Texas. “These are the required ingredients for a recipe of quail conservation success.”

San Antonio Area Quail Forever

• The San Antonio Area Quail Forever Chapter has also elected Brian McBrearty of San Antonio as treasurer; Wyatt Stevenson of San Antonio as banquet chair; Dean Jessop of San Antonio as habitat chair and Mike Fry of San Antonio as youth/education chair.
• The chapter plans to hold its first banquet in March 2011.
• For more information about meetings and banquets, contact Richard Kattman at (210) 865-0634 or via email rkattmann@hces.net.

For information about Quail Forever in Texas, please contact regional representative Jordan Martincich at (785) 242-3175 or jmartincich@quailforever.org.

Quail Forever is dedicated to the conservation of quail, pheasants and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs.

National Pheasant Fest 2011

Pheasants Forever

Omaha, Neb. – -(Ammoland.com)- Pheasants Forever is proud to announce that Cabela’s will be the presenting sponsor of the organization’s signature event, National Pheasant Fest 2011, coming to the Qwest Center in Omaha, Nebraska, January 28-30, 2011.

National Pheasant Fest 2011 presented by Cabela’s will be Pheasants Forever’s seventh such event, and the second in Nebraska. The event combines a national consumer show, habitat seminar series, and family event complete with puppies, tractors, shotguns, and art. This annual gathering has grown into the nation’s largest event for upland hunters, farmers, sport dog owners and wildlife habitat conservationists. The 24,205 attendees at National Pheasant Fest 2005 had a $2.5 million impact on the city of Omaha.

“Cabela’s is proud to sponsor National Pheasant Fest, it is a celebration that embodies all that Cabela’s is about,” said Tommy Millner, Cabela’s President and CEO, “Next January, expect to see Cabela’s as a large part of National Pheasant Fest, with considerable support coming from its greater-Omaha area store.”

Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter, is headquartered in Sydney, Nebraska, and has called the state home since 1961.

“We’re extremely excited to bring our biggest and best event to Nebraska and to have Cabela’s on board as presenting sponsor for National Pheasant Fest 2011,” said Howard Vincent, Pheasants Forever’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

“The event has grown dramatically since we last brought it to Omaha, and we plan to unveil new features for our second go-round, making it your pheasant destination to kick off 2011.”

For more information about National Pheasant Fest 2011 presented by Cabela’s, please contact Pheasants Forever toll free at (877) 773-2070 or log onto www.pheasantfest.org.

Pheasants Forever is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs.

Pheasants Forever

Grafton, ND-(Ammoland.com)- Dedicated pheasant hunters with high interest in conservation have formed the newest Pheasants Forever chapter in North Dakota. Known as the North Valley Pheasants Forever Chapter, the Walsh County group has rallied around introducing youth to outdoor activities.

“My family and I have been passionate about pheasant hunting and conservation for many years,” explained Jared Pokrzywinski, a Grafton, North Dakota, resident and the chapter’s first president.

“With the current decline of outdoor interest from the next generation, I feel it’s important to promote activities to spark an interest in the outdoors from today’s youth.” North Valley Pheasants Forever joins the national Pheasants Forever organization’s No Child Left Indoors® initiative, a nationwide movement to get kids unplugged from electronics and turned on to the outdoors.

The chapter will do this through activities such as mentored youth pheasant hunts and youth outdoor field days.

North Valley Pheasants Forever is the 29th chapter in North Dakota, and like all Pheasants Forever chapters nationwide, will retain control of the funds it raises.

Pheasants Forever provides its local chapters the ability to decide how 100 percent of their fundraised dollars are spent. This local control gives chapters and members the ability to make things happen for wildlife in their communities, while belonging to a national organization advocating for wildlife and conservation in policy discussions in Washington, D.C.

“North Valley Pheasants Forever is dedicated to the future of pheasants, pheasant hunters, and the success of conservation,” explained Jesse Beckers, Pheasants Forever’s Regional Wildlife Biologist in North Dakota. “The chapter leaders and volunteers share common excitement for helping youngsters find themselves in the outdoors. The best way to make a difference is by getting involved, which this promising new Pheasants Forever chapter is doing.”

North Valley Pheasants Forever
The North Valley Chapter of Pheasants Forever has also elected LuWanna Lovcik of Pisek as treasurer; Merlyn Feltman of Grafton as banquet chair; and Ken Miskavige of Grafton as youth/education chair.

North Valley Chapter plans to hold its first banquet the winter of 2010-2011. The chapter is already being supported by local companies such as AgriMaxx and Grafton-Inn Gun Club.

Pheasants Forever is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs.

Pheasants Forever

Saint Cloud, MN -(Ammoland.com)- Thanks to a local effort led by Pheasants Forever and the Stearns Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Minnesota’s Stearns County has surpassed 20,000 acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) since starting a Farm Bill initiative in 2003.

Stearns County’s conservation efforts are spearheaded by Pheasants Forever’s Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist Jason Selvog and SWCD Technician Vince Manderfeld. They explain the benefits of the conservation programs, and provide the one-on-one technical assistance for program implementation. To reach this 20,000 acre milestone, this initiative involved more than 5,300 landowner contacts and approximately 13,000 hours working directly with landowners.

Pheasants Forever’s efforts are part of an overriding Minnesota Farm Bill Initiative that includes the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) and the Stearns County SWCD.

In 2004, the Stearns County SWCD further accelerated their promotion of Conservation Reserve Program by partnering with several local groups to implement Conservation Reserve Program within their respective areas of the county. With Pheasants Forever and USDA’s help, partnerships were created between the Sauk River Watershed District, North Fork Crow River Watershed District, Clearwater Watershed District, Stearns County Chapter of Pheasants Forever, Rice Lake Association and the Koronis Lake Association. Efforts were concentrated on several Conservation Reserve Program practices that focus on water quality and wildlife habitat.

“Ultimately, we have a common goal and that’s improved conservation,” Selvog said, “This work improves the quality of our environment with cleaner waters, protects vulnerable soils, and creates more wildlife habitat in Stearns County. We can attribute the success of this initiative to the partnerships that were created. This gave us the opportunity to reach more people and implement more conservation.”

Stearns County will now start working on the next 20,000 acre mark with help from the upcoming General Conservation Reserve Program.

More on Pheasants Forever in Stearns County found at www.stearnspf.org.

Pheasants Forever is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs.

Pheasants Forever's Farm Bill Biologist Program

Pheasants Forever

Aurora, Colo. --(Ammoland.com)- Pheasants Forever has added three new Farm Bill biologists in Colorado through a partnership with the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

The partnering groups are focused on protecting environmentally sensitive agricultural lands through conservation programs and improving public hunting lands for wildlife.

“Partnerships are critical to accomplishing our habitat mission in this day and age,” explained Bob Hix, Pheasants Forever’s regional field representative for Colorado.

“All 17 Pheasants Forever chapters in the state, the Division of Wildlife, and the NRCS have joined together in partnership to fund these three new positions. These new employees will translate into thousands of acres of improved habitat and hunting access.”

Pheasants Forever’s Farm Bill Biologist program is designed to educate farmers and landowners – through one-on-one consulting - about the benefits of conservation programs (such as the Conservation Reserve Program and Environmental Quality Incentives Program), as well as assisting farmers and landowners through program implementation. Pheasants Forever first began employing Farm Bill Biologists in 2003 and now has more than 50 biologists working in ten states – Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Farm Bill Biologists have contacted and consulted with over 30,000 landowners, resulting in the improvement of more than 1.3 million acres of land for wildlife.

“The establishment of three new Farm Bill biologists in eastern Colorado really builds on each partners’ ability to deliver conservation to the landscape. Wildlife, private landowners, and wildlife enthusiasts will benefit greatly from the fruits of this partnership,” added Ed Gorman, Colorado Division of Wildlife’s small game coordinator.

The new Colorado Farm Bill Biologists include:

• Holyoke: Jerry Miller is a native of Northeastern Colorado, having grown up on a farm near the North Sterling Reservoir. He graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in forest management and most recently was employed as a conservation technician for the Haxtun and Sedgwick County Conservation Districts. He’s also been an active volunteer in PF’s Leopold Education Project and a member of the Phillips County PF Chapter. Jerry can be emailed at jmiller@pheasantsforever.org.
• Burlington:Kraig Paulson is moving to Colorado this week. Paulson holds a biology degree from the University of Wyoming and has been employed by Pheasants Forever since 2006. He started out as a PF habitat specialist in Montana and has spent the last couple years working as Pheasants Forever’s regional biologist for Washington and Oregon. Kraig can be contacted at kpaulson@pheasantsforever.org.
• Lamar:An Iowa native, Nathan Schmitz graduated from Iowa State University. Prior to joining Pheasants Forever, Schmitz worked for the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the University of Wyoming studying sage grouse. Nathan can be reached at nschmitz@pheasantsforever.org.

Pheasants Forever

Saint Paul, Minn. --(Ammoland.com)- Pheasants Forever Television, produced by Ron Schara Productions, will be kicking off its sixth season on July 1st.

Airing on Outdoor Channel, Pheasants Forever Television is a half-hour, weekly series hosted by Ron Schara and his black Labrador “Raven,” along with “The Man Afield,” Bill Sherck. For the first time this season, Pheasants Forever Television will bring outdoor adventures into your home through high-definition television.

Season 6 of Pheasants Forever Television can be viewed at the following air times through the end of 2010 on Outdoor Channel:

• Thursdays at 1 AM CDT / 2 AM EDT
• Fridays at 7:30 AM CDT / 8:30 AM EDT
• Sundays at 3 PM CDT / 4 PM EDT

In this season’s premiere episode, Ron and Raven take a journey to New England, North Dakota with three generations of hunters on a very special pheasant hunt. The segment focuses on the eldest hunter in his twilight years of chasing pheasants, along with a youngster being coached on his inaugural entry into the sport.

The episode’s second segment showcases the conservation efforts of a South Dakota landowner. Steve Horning started out as a landowner focused primarily on improving his acres for pheasant hunting.

Today, he’s accomplished that goal, but has also improved his land for a variety of other wildlife species and the aquifer.

Pheasants Forever Television, produced by Ron Schara Productions.

Finally, a dream hunt comes true for Michigan native, Shawn Maxwell. Maxwell bought Pheasants Forever’s Print of the Year at his hometown chapter banquet, which automatically entered him into a nationwide raffle for a dream hunt with PF TV’s Ron Schara and Raven.

The lucky Maxwell was the nationwide winner for that trip for two to Oak Tree Lodge in Clark, South Dakota. This segment captures Shawn, and his brother Scott, on that once-in-a-lifetime hunt; a good-natured brotherly rivalry ensues.

Pheasants Forever Television’s sponsoring partners include: Federal Premium Ammunition and their new pheasant load – Prairie Storm, Polaris, Native Performance Dog Food, South Dakota Office of Tourism, Fausti, Purina, SportDOG, and Carlson’s Choke Tubes. Thanks to all the sponsors for bringing Pheasants Forever Television to viewers across the nation.

Pheasants Forever

Lincoln, Neb -(Ammoland.com)- Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever announce Jerry McDonald of Lincoln, Nebraska, as the organization’s new Regional Representative for eastern Nebraska. McDonald’s 25-plus years of marketing experience will help strengthen “The Habitat Organization’s” Cornhusker conservation mission.

McDonald will work to start new Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever chapters in eastern Nebraska and assist existing chapters with raising and expending funds on wildlife habitat and conservation education. He will also work with local, state, and federal natural resource agencies on wildlife habitat initiatives. In addition to serving as a point person for local Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever chapters, McDonald will assist in Pheasants Forever’s “Reload Nebraska” campaign, created last year to raise $20 million to establish and improve 1.1 million acres of wildlife habitat on private and public land in the state.

“The most important ingredient conservation requires is people with a burning passion for wildlife and the outdoors, and Jerry McDonald has that,” said Pete Berthelsen, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever Senior Field Coordinator and an Elba, Nebraska, resident. “That passion will help engage more people in our mission in an area where there is a great deal of potential for habitat projects.”

McDonald grew up hunting and fishing with his dad around Geneva, Nebraska, and continues to hunt every chance he gets. Recently, his Brittany passed away and he’s begun the search for another hunting dog to take its place. “Hunting pheasants and quail without a bird dog isn’t nearly as rewarding for me,” McDonald said, “I love the work, the point, the shot and the retrieve. Of course, may favorite activity wouldn’t be possible without quality and quantity of habitat. I’m as excited about getting to down to work for Pheasants Forever as I am about my next pup.”

McDonald earned a B.S. at the University of Nebraska in Omaha. He joins Pheasants Forever after three years with Alegent Health at Home where he operated as a marketing representative. McDonald can be reached at (402) 440-9613 and JMcDonald@pheasantsforever.org.

Nebraska is home to 60 Pheasants Forever chapters, 4 Quail Forever chapters and more than 9,700 members of “The Habitat Organization.” Since 1987, local chapters have spent over $26.7 million on habitat and youth education and impacted 2.8 million acres of habitat in the state. In 2010, chapters will celebrate working on their 3 millionth acre of habitat in the state, the first state within the organization to reach that mark. For more info on Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever in Nebraska, visit www.NebraskaPF.com.

Pheasants Forever and its quail division, Quail Forever, is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs.

Pheasants Forever

Saint Paul, Minn. --(AmmoLand.com)- On Monday morning, 150,000 acres were opened to landowner enrollment through the Conservation Reserve Program’s (CRP) State Acres For wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) practice.

By Tuesday morning, states were already reporting their allotted acreages were fully enrolled. U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the reallocation of these SAFE acres just over two weeks ago on February 27th at Pheasants Foerver’s National Pheasant Fest in Des Moines, Iowa.

Iowa, Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, and both Dakotas have reported extremely high demand for the newly reallocated acres. Iowa filled their 9,000 acre reallocation by the end of Monday. Idaho expects to fully enroll their new 16,000 acre reallocation by the end of this week. Minnesota has also experienced high demand and expects their 10,800 acres to be gone soon. Nebraska landowners have offered well over their available 4,500 reallocated acres to once again cap out their two SAFE programs. North Dakota’s 18,000 acres were committed by the end of Tuesday. And, South Dakota’s 18,000 reallocated acres are also expected to be fully enrolled by week’s end with 11,000 under contract by Wednesday morning.

“There is obviously pent up demand for available SAFE acres from farmers and ranchers. That’s great news for wildlife,” reported Dave Nomsen, Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever’s Vice President of Government Affairs. “The wildlife success stories that SAFE has delivered, coupled with the landowner demand we are currently experiencing are certainly our two strongest allies as we go back to Secretary Vilsack and request additional SAFE acres.”

SAFE acres focus on environmentally sensitive land, as well as species that have suffered significant population declines and/or are considered to be socially or economically valuable. This is the newest CRP practice (CP 38). States and target species include North Dakota pheasants, South Dakota grassland birds, Idaho Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, Minnesota pheasants, Mississippi bobwhite quail, Nebraska upland habitats, Iowa pheasants and upland birds, Illinois pheasants and upland habitat, and Georgia bobwhite quail.

“Local Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency employees, along with Pheasants Forever Farm Bill biologists, deserve a tremendous amount of credit for turning these newly allocated SAFE acres into landowner contracts in such a short window of time,” added Nomsen.

Also during his National Pheasant Fest visit last month, Secretary Vilsack announced the reallocation of 100,000 acres for CRP’s “Bobwhite Buffers” practice (CP 33), 50,000 acres for CRP’s “Duck Nesting Habitat Initiative” practice (CP 37), and plans for the first general CRP signup in four years.

Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever

Saint Paul, Minn. - -(AmmoLand.com)- Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have honored three local chapters for their efforts to introduce youth to the outdoors and create the next generation of hunters and conservationists.

Recipients of the third annual No Child Left Indoors® National Awards include the Mahaska County (Iowa) Pheasants Forever chapter, the Illinois Pioneer Pheasants Forever chapter and the Great River Area (Illinois/Iowa) Quail Forever chapter.

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s No Child Left Indoors initiative is the organization’s national effort to engage youngsters in outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing and camping. The No Child Left Indoors® National Awards recognize chapters for their youth habitat projects, youth and family community events and youth outdoor education programs.

“These chapters have shown the ultimate commitment to promoting youth activities and getting kids involved in the outdoors,” said Cheryl Riley, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Vice President of Education and Outreach.

Great River Area Quail Forever Chapter
This chapter does youth work on both sides of the Mississippi River – in Illinois and Iowa. From presentations to high school kids, an FFA banquet, hunter safety programs and youth fishing tournaments, Great River Area Quail Forever chapter members engaged youth and talked about habitat and the needs of quail. The chapter also held its first mentored youth hunt last September.

Mahaska County Pheasants Forever Chapter
Each spring, the Mahaska County Pheasants Forever chapter sponsors an outdoor day that includes every 5th grade student in the county, 350-plus students. In the fall, the chapter hosts a field day which over 200 youth attend and everyone goes home with a Pheasants Forever Ringnecks (youth) membership. The chapter also sponsors an Iowa Youth Hunter Education Challenge Team as well as a scholastic shooting team that had 60 participants this past year. Last year, chapter expenditures on youth programs topped $16,000.

The Mahaska County Pheasants Forever chapter’s youth coordinator is Mahaska High School student Brooks VanDerBeek. Brooks’ dad, Jeff, is president of the chapter. Brooks serves on Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s National Youth Leadership Council and recently helped form the first-ever high school student Pheasants Forever chapter in the country, the Oskaloosa Pioneering Ringnecks. Brooks’ efforts have earned him the Izaak Walton Iowa Youth Conservationist of the Year award, and he was named a “Hero of Conservation” in the current issue of Field and Stream magazine.

Illinois Pioneer Pheasants Forever Chapter
The Illinois Pioneer Pheasants Forever chapter held 11 events in 2009 as part of its “Young Guns” program, involving members, women, FFA, scouts and families in trap and skeet shoots, a fishing derby, a hunter safety course, a rifle shoot and a youth mentor hunt. In 2009, the Illinois Pioneer chapter spent approximately $31,000 on youth programs. There are 290 youth members in “Young Guns” and this year they will be working on an 80-acre habitat restoration project. The chapter credits the “Young Guns” program in making its annual fundraising banquet last spring the largest in its 25-year history. Original “Young Guns” Ben Magers and Kirstin Blackford helped create and serve on the newly formed Illinois Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever State Youth Leadership Council, and each was recognized as a 2009 Environmental Hero by the Illinois Governor.

For more about Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s No Child Left Indoors® initiative, contact Cheryl Riley at criley@pheasantsforever.org and 651.209.4975.

Pheasants Forever and its quail division, Quail Forever, is a non-profit conservation organization is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs. Pheasants Forever has more than 120,000 members in 700 local chapters across the United States and Canada.

For additional information please visit www.PheasantsForever.org and www.QuailForever.org

Pheasants Forever

Des Moines, Iowa - -(AmmoLand.com)- Today at Pheasants Forever’s National Pheasant Fest, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced plans for a new Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general signup.

Secretary Vilsack also announced increased acreage allotments for three CRP practices significant to wildlife, and then signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Pheasants Forever.

The new general CRP signup slated for later this year will be the first general signup since 2006. It arrives in time to address the 4.4 million acres of CRP expiring on September 30, 2010. An additional 14.2 million acres of CRP are slated to expire between 2011 and 2013.

“Last week at a Pheasants Forever event is southern Minnesota, Secretary Vilsack indicated his intent to keep CRP at, or nearly fully enrolled at, the program’s authorized level of 32 million acres. Today the Secretary outlined just how he intends to accomplish that by utilizing both a general signup and increased allocations for continuous CRP practices targeted at benefitting pheasants, quail, and waterfowl,” reported Dave Nomsen, Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever’s Vice President of Government Affairs. “Considering the severity of this winter and sizeable number of acres set to expire from CRP this year, the Secretary’s announcement is very welcome news for wildlife and hunters. USDA’s actions today will benefit birds tomorrow with newly allocated CP-33’s, 37’s, and 38’s (SAFE) being available on March 15, 2010.”

During his keynote address in front of 800 attendees, Secretary Vilsack outlined the new acreage caps for three critical CRP practices at or approaching current limits.

• Conservation Practice 33: Known as the “Upland Bird Habitat Buffers” or “Bobwhite Buffers” practice, more than 219,000 of the 250,000 acres allocated in the program have been enrolled nationwide. The newly announced 100,000 acres will be distributed among Midwest and Southern states
• Conservation Practice 37: This “Duck Nesting Habitat Initiative” practice has 87,000 acres currently enrolled in the Prairie Pothole Region states of Montana, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa. Today’s newly announced 50,000 acres includes 25,000 acres for North Dakota, and an additional 15,000 acres for South Dakota.
• Conservation Practice 38: Also known as the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement program (SAFE), this conservation practice focuses on environmentally sensitive land, as well as species that have suffered significant population declines and/or are considered to be socially or economically valuable. This is the newest CRP practice, but states like Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota were already maxed out or were quickly approaching their acreage caps. An additional 150,000 SAFE acres have been allocated benefitting a wide array of species. States and target species include North Dakota pheasants, South Dakota grassland birds, Idaho Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, Minnesota pheasants, Mississippi bobwhite quail, Nebraska upland habitats, Iowa pheasants and upland birds, Illinois pheasants and upland habitat, and Georgia bobwhite quail. Currently, more than 253,000 acres are enrolled in 34 states.

“When President Obama took office, we asked his Administration for a new general CRP signup, new SAFE acres, and new CP 33 acres for quail,” explained Nomsen. “Today, Secretary Vilsack and President Obama delivered us these critical tools needed to put habitat back on the ground, birds in the air, and hunters in the field.”

Secretary Vilsack also signed a first ever MOU between the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, and Pheasants Forever. The MOU establishes the framework for the three groups to work together in partnership toward common goals; specifically the implementation of Farm Bill conservation programs. The MOU facilitates the free flow of information among the groups and provides a foundation for Pheasants Forever to deliver conservation technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, and landowners.

The MOU will allow Pheasants Forever to facilitate expansion of its current Farm Bill Biologist program, which has proven an effective method for assisting landowners in implementing conservation practices on their property. Pheasants Forever, along with other state wildlife partners, currently employ 50 Farm Bill and Partner Biologists in eight states. To date, Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologists have contacted and consulted 30,000 landowners, resulting in the improvement of 1.3 million acres of land for wildlife.

National Pheasant Fest 2010 wraps up on Sunday, February 28th with show hours of 10AM to 5PM. Tickets are available at the Iowa Events Center.

For additional information about Pheasants Forever, visit www.PheasantsForever.org

Pheasants Forever's National Pheasant Fest 2010

Des Moines, Iowa --(AmmoLand.com)- There’s never been a better time for pheasant hunters and wildlife enthusiasts to become a Pheasants Forever member than National Pheasant Fest 2010.

Pheasants Forever and Cabela’s are giving attendees a special show membership offer, exclusively for the Fest’s final day. National Pheasant Fest 2010 is February 26-28 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.

With the help of Cabela’s, there’s never been a more attractive offer for attendees to join Pheasants Forever. Attendees who purchase new, or renew existing, Pheasants Forever memberships on Sunday, February 28th ONLY will receive:

• 1 (one) year membership to Pheasants Forever (5 magazines, decal, member card & calendar)
• Sunday admission to National Pheasant Fest
• Pheasants Forever hat And
• Cabela’s Gift Card – redeemable in stores or online!

That’s more than a $70 value! “The final day of National Pheasant Fest finishes strong with a full slate of bird dog, hunting and wildlife habitat seminars and attractions, but it also provides an excellent chance for visitors to join Pheasants Forever’s efforts,” said Brad Heidel, PF’s Director of Special Events Sales. ”

Thanks to Cabela’s, which is always looking to help Pheasants Forever connect people to the wonderful world outdoors.”

Following is a list of special memberships offers during National Pheasant Fest:

• Weekend Special – $30 ($70 value) 1 (one) year membership to Pheasants Forever (5 magazines, decal, member card & calendar)
• Weekend (3-day) admission to National Pheasant Fest Pheasants Forever hat
• Sunday ONLY Special – $30 ($70 value) 1 (one) year membership to Pheasants Forever (5 magazines, decal, member card & calendar) Sunday admission to National Pheasant Fest Pheasants Forever hat AND Cabela’s Gift Card – redeemable in stores or online!
• Ringnecks Youth Membership – Limited Free Memberships

Limited free memberships – Donated by Minnesota Hunting Spaniel Association (Receive membership by visiting Rudy’s Youth Village at the show).

Life Membership – 2010 Life Member Sweepstakes – Life Member Gun Drawings
Become a Life Member of Pheasants Forever at the show, and you’ll automatically be entered in the 2010 Pheasants Forever Life Member Sweepstakes for a chance to win a SCAG SFZ Freedom Z zero-turn riding lawnmower, valued at over $7,100. And for every 10 Life Members that sign up at the show, we’ll draw one Fausti Stefano Over / Under 12 gauge shotgun (MSRP $1,489)!

Patron Membership – Special Gun Offer
Make the ultimate commitment ($10,000) to “The Habitat Organization” and you’ll not only receive standard Patron-level thanks (Patron Plaque, Pheasants Forever Jacket & recognition in Pheasants Forever Journal), but for joining at National Pheasant Fest 2010, you’ll also receive a Fausti Stefano Over / Under 12 gauge shotgun (MSRP $1,489)!

National Pheasant Fest 2010
The Country’s Largest Event for Upland Hunters, Sport Dog Owners and Wildlife Habitat Conservationists, combining a national outdoor tradeshow, wildlife habitat seminar series, and family event complete with puppies, tractors, shotguns, and art.
www.PheasantFest.org

For additional information about Pheasants Forever, visit www.PheasantsForever.org

Pheasants Forever's National Pheasant Fest 2010

Des Moines, Iowa -(Ammoland.com)- Pheasants Forever has confirmed U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will attend National Pheasant Fest 2010. Vilsack, the former Governor of Iowa, is slated to give the keynote address at the Pheasant Fest luncheon on Saturday, February 27th at noon. Immediately following the luncheon, Secretary Vilsack will sign a first-ever Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, and Pheasants Forever.

“We are very pleased to have the Secretary joining us at National Pheasant Fest and see this MOU with the NRCS and FSA as an excellent step toward accelerating the delivery of conservation policy to on-the-ground habitat acres,” reported Dave Nomsen, Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever’s Vice President of Government Affairs.

The MOU establishes the framework for the three groups to work together in partnership toward common goals; specifically the implementation of Farm Bill conservation programs. The MOU allows for the free flow of information between the groups and provides a foundation for Pheasants Forever to deliver conservation technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, and landowners. In this capacity, Pheasants Forever, along with other state wildlife partners, currently employ 50 Farm Bill and Partner Biologists in eight states. The Farm Bill Biologist program is designed to assist landowners in implementing conservation practices on their property. To date, Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologists have contacted and consulted 30,000 landowners, resulting in the improvement of 1.3 million acres of land for wildlife.

The Future of CRP
“We are also optimistic that Secretary Vilsack will be bringing us some much needed good news about the Conservation Reserve Program’s future,” added Nomsen. “Every pheasant hunter, particularly our Iowa members, looks across the snow covered landscape today and clearly sees the need for returning significant acres back to the program.”

Originally established in 1985, CRP is in its 25th year. There are currently 31.1 million acres enrolled in the program nationwide, which has seen 6.5 million acres expire in the last three years. Of significant concern is that another 15.4 million acres more are set to expire by the autumn of 2012 without any new sign-ups currently upcoming.

CRP is a voluntary program offering landowners annual payments for 10-15 year contracts for establishing grass, wetlands, shrub, and/or tree cover on their environmentally sensitive lands. Not only have these CRP lands been shown to improve pheasant populations, but CRP is also responsible for improvements in water quality, soil erosion prevention, and the creation of critical habitat for a wide variety of other wildlife species. CRP also helps stabilize farmer’s incomes through annual payments and contributes billions of dollars to the economy annually from hunting expenditures; much of which benefits rural communities.

Pheasant Notes
At a press conference on March 9, 2006, then Governor Vilsack helped Pheasants Forever announce National Pheasant Fest’s first visit to Des Moines in 2007. Iowa bird hunters set an all time low pheasant harvest during the 2008 season with 383,000 roosters bagged. It’s expected the 2009 season total will be even lower than 2008. In the last three years, 389,426 acres of CRP have expired in Iowa. There are currently 1.6 million acres of CRP under contract in Iowa. However, another 422,041 acres are slated to expire in the next three years.
Secretary Vilsack will become the third Secretary of Agriculture to attend National Pheasant Fest. Mike Johanns attended the Des Moines event in 2007 and Chuck Connor attended the Saint Paul event in 2008.
National Pheasant Fest 2010
Pheasant Fest is the country’s largest event for upland hunters, sport dog owners and wildlife habitat conservationists, combining a national outdoor tradeshow, wildlife habitat seminar series, and family event complete with puppies, tractors, shotguns, and art.

Adults – $10 Daily * Ages 6-16 – $5 Daily * Ages 5 and Under – FREE
Weekend Special – $30 (Includes annual Pheasants Forever membership & hat, over $80 value)
To purchase tickets for the Saturday luncheon at Pheasant Fest where Secretary Vilsack will be the keynote speaker, please call Stacy at Pheasants Forever toll free 877.773.2070. Tickets are $30 each. www.PheasantFest.org

Pheasants Forever's National Pheasant Fest 2010

Des Moines, Iowa – -(AmmoLand.com)- February 16, 2010 – In conjunction with Pheasants Forever’s National Pheasant Fest, the Iowa Machine Shed restaurant in Des Moines, Iowa, has added pheasant to its menu for the weekend of the event.

National Pheasant Fest 2010 is February 26-28 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.

After taking in all that National Pheasant Fest has to offer and working up an appetite, attendees can enjoy a home-cooked quarter pheasant pan roasted and served in country gravy at the Iowa Machine Shed, located at Living History Farms in Urbandale, just minutes from downtown Des Moines.

“Our five word constitution is ‘Dedicated to the American Farmer,’” said Cat Penton, Executive Staff for the Machine Shed chain of restaurants. “We want everyone who comes to our restaurant to receive the Machine Shed experience of made from scratch, home-cooked meals served in the traditions of the farming community. For many in town that weekend, those traditions center on days afield pheasant hunting followed by fantastic pheasant dishes.”

The Iowa Machine Shed will serve pheasant on February 25-27 from 3PM to 10PM and on Sunday, February 28 from 11AM to 9PM. Additionally, if you’d like to know how to make this fantastic dish, Machine Shed Chef Roger Johnson will show Pheasant Fest attendees how he prepares the Machine Shed’s special pheasant recipe. The demonstration will be at 2PM on Friday, February 26 in seminar room 5 at the Iowa Events Center.

MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc is the supplier of the pheasant to be served at the Machine Shed. MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. was also supplier of the pheasant served at the Presidential Inaugural luncheon in 2009. The Machine Shed was started 31 years ago in Iowa by Mike Whalen, founder and CEO.

Attend National Pheasant Fest 2010
The Country’s Largest Event for Upland Hunters, Sport Dog Owners and Wildlife Habitat Conservationists, combining a national outdoor tradeshow, wildlife habitat seminar series, and family event complete with puppies, tractors, shotguns, and art.

Adults – $10 Daily * Ages 6-16 – $5 Daily * Ages 5 and Under – FREE
Weekend Special – $30 (Includes annual Pheasants Forever membership & hat, over $80 value)
www.PheasantFest.org

Pheasants Forever

Des Moines, Iowa –-(AmmoLand.com)- Ever wish your bird dog could be on the cover of the Pheasants Forever Journal? For the first time ever, Pheasants Forever is opening up the coveted space, to be auctioned off at the National Pheasant Fest 2010 Banquet on Saturday, February 27th in Des Moines.

National Pheasant Fest is February 26-28 at the Iowa Events Center.

Tickets still remain for the National Pheasant Fest Banquet, which will be the largest event in Pheasants Forever’s 28-year history, but they are going fast!

An unprecedented live auction features the opportunity to purchase the rights to have your hunting buddy professionally photographed for the cover of one issue of the Pheasants Forever Journal, the organization’s signature publication that’s received by more than 100,000 Pheasants Forever members five times annually.

Quail enthusiasts, take note, as the same goes for Pheasants Forever’s quail division, Quail Forever, and your bird dog on the cover of the Quail Forever Journal!

Staying on point with the bird dogs, Iowa’s own Top Gun Kennels has donated a German Shorthaired Pointer to the live auction for the banquet.

To come from an upcoming litter (male or female), the $5,000-valued pup will be completely trained for the hunting enthusiast:

• All commands of here, heal, sit, whoa, and kennel completed.
• E-collar conditioned to commands and beeper collar completed.
• Retrieve training to hand completed on land and water.
• Hold point and steady to wing and shot.
• Honor another pointing dog’s work.

Combined with a year’s supply of Native performance dog food and a 3-day, 4-night hunting trip for 4 to the Highland Hideaway near Riverside, Iowa, this dog/dog food/hunting package is unbeatable.

Other live-auction items include South Dakota guided pheasant hunts, an Argentine dove hunt, a Maine coast getaway, firearms, custom-built furniture by Iowa craftsmen/artists more.

To see the entire auction lineup, visit www.IowaPF.org. To reserve your space for Pheasants Forever’s National Pheasant Fest Banquet, CLICK HERE.

Attend National Pheasant Fest 2010
The Country’s Largest Event for Upland Hunters, Sport Dog Owners and Wildlife Habitat Conservationists, combining a national outdoor tradeshow, wildlife habitat seminar series, and family event complete with puppies, tractors, shotguns, and art.

Adults – $10 Daily * Ages 6-16 – $5 Daily * Ages 5 and Under – FREE
Weekend Special – $30 (Includes annual Pheasants Forever membership & hat, over $80 value) www.PheasantFest.org

Cowley County Quail Forever plans spring habitat projects, fall banquet

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

Arkansas City, Kansas — -(Ammoland.com)- Hunters and conservationists from Cowley County have formed the state’s newest Quail Forever chapter, Cowley County Quail Forever. The group has plans to protect, restore, and enhance bobwhite quail habitat in southcentral Kansas.

The Cowley County group will use Quail Forever’s approach to wildlife habitat conservation, which allows local chapters to decide how 100 percent of their fundraising dollars are spent.

This local control gives chapters and members the ability to make things happen for habitat in their communities, while belonging to a national organization that gives wildlife and conservation a voice in Washington, D.C.

“In our first year as a Quail Forever chapter, our focus is to establish ties with surrounding communities and get people to help improve quail habitat,” said Justin Nulik, an Arkansas City resident and president of Cowley County Quail Forever. “In particular, we look forward to having conversations with area farmers and private landowners because they are the real keys to creating upland bird habitat.”

Other chapter leaders include Dan Durbin, treasurer, Winfield; Bret Pudden, habitat chair, Arkansas City; and Jeff Swanson, youth/education chair, Arkansas City.

Several specific events are planned for the year ahead. Spring 2010 projects will include establishing food and cover plots and prescribed burns and conducting a trap shoot at Dexter City Club (dates yet to be finalized). The first fundraising banquet will be held in Winfield on Saturday, Oct. 23.

To join Cowley County Quail Forever or for more information about the chapter, phone Nulik at 620-441-7745 or email Justin.Nulik@BNSF.com, or phone Pudden at 620-660-2918 or email bpudden@rangerecorces.com. For additional information, go online to www.PheasantsForever.org or www.QuailForever.org.

Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever

East Peoria, Ill. –-(AmmoLand.com)- Illinois Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever recognized chapters and individuals from across the state for their wildlife habitat conservation efforts at its recent state convention.

The Vermilion County Pheasants Forever chapter was named the Illinois Pheasants Forever Chapter of the Year, and Gary Laurent of Donnellson was named the organization’s Volunteer of the Year.

Illinois Pheasants Forever Chapter Awards

The Vermilion County Pheasants Forever chapter was recognized as the Illinois Pheasants Forever Chapter of the Year. The chapter worked with many local partners and donors to complete a 108-acre land acquisition in 2009, which is open to public hunting and outdoor recreation.

Other Illinois Pheasants Forever Chapter Awards include:

• “Banquet of the Year” – Pioneer County Pheasants Forever
• “Conservation Excellence – $100K Spending on Habitat” – Kendall County Pheasants Forever, Woodford County Pheasants Forever, Piatt County Pheasants Forever
• “Conservation Excellence – $250K Spending on Habitat” – DeKalb County Pheasants Forever

Illinois Pheasants Forever Overall Awards

Gary Laurent, who volunteers as the habitat chairperson with four local chapters (Montgomery County Pheasants Forever, Little Bluestem Quail Forever, Illinois Pioneer Quail Forever and Southern Illinois Claybird Quail Forever) and serves as the vice president of the Illinois Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever State Council, has been named the 2009 Illinois Pheasants Forever Volunteer of the Year.

• “Dedication Award” – Chuck Eiben, LaSalle County Pheasants Forever; and Scott Hopkins, Dewitt County Pheasants Forever.
• “Wildlife Professional of the Year” – Marc Miller, Director, Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
• “Brood Booster Award” – Bruce Stikkers- Champaign Soil and Water Conservation District Resource Conservationist
• Long Spur Society Inductees – Honored for decade or more of significant volunteer service were Bill Bryan and Larry Schaefer from McLean County Pheasants Forever; Scott Hopkins from Dewitt County Pheasants Forever; Steve Tondi from Rock Island / Henry Pheasants Forever; and Russ Lusador from the Edgar County Pheasants Forever chapter.

Find Illinois Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever online at www.IllinoisPF.org. For more information about Pheasants Forever, contact Matt Bradshaw, Pheasants Forever regional field representative, at 217.386.4324 and mbradshaw@pheasantsforever.org; and for Quail Forever, contact Tim Caughran, Quail Forever regional wildlife biologist, at 618.467.2586 or via email at tcaughran@quailforever.org.

Pheasants Forever's National Pheasant Fest 2010

Des Moines, Iowa –-(AmmoLand.com)- It’s open season for all upland, waterfowl, small game and big game hunters at Pheasants Forever’s National Pheasant Fest 2010.

The event, being held February 26-28 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, will feature a mixed bag of hunting how-to’s at the Hunter Help Room presented by Cabela’s.

“National Pheasant Fest will have the top-names in outdoor gear, apparel and firearms exhibiting at the show, and once you’ve got the gear, you need to know how to use it,” said Bob St.Pierre, Pheasants Forever’s Director of Marketing and Public Relations.

How-to seminars at the Hunter Help Room will run on-the-hour through the entire three-day weekend. Highlighted presenters include:

Parker Gun Collectors Association – Using Classic American Double Guns for Upland Birds
Side by Side upland game guns made by the top makers – Parker, L C Smith, Ithaca, A H Fox and the Winchester Model 21. Come learn and put your hands on – yes, fingerprints allowed! – some of the finest firearm models ever crafted. “They are useful articles, well made and in upper grades, artistically engraved,” says Bruce Day, associate editor for Parker Pages magazine, the official publication of the Parker Gun Collectors Association.

Barnie Calef – World Class Calling to put Ducks and Geese in Your Bag
Cedar Rapids’ own Barnie Calef will present Friday and Saturday. A Big Foot Pro Staffer and member of Drake’s Waterfowl Systems Elite Team, Calef was the first person to ever win back-to back-World Duck Calling Championships and is one of only five callers to have won three world titles.

Coyote Doctors – Up Close and Personal -Prescriptions for Predator Hunting
Right in the thick of predator hunting season, Merris Miller from the Coyote Doctors will show you what it takes to be successful in this fast-growing sport.

To see the entire lineup for the Hunter Help Room presented by Cabela’s, CLICK HERE.

Attend National Pheasant Fest 2010

The Country’s Largest Event for Upland Hunters, Sport Dog Owners and Wildlife Habitat Conservationists, combining a national outdoor tradeshow, wildlife habitat seminar series, and family event complete with puppies, tractors, shotguns, and art.

Adults – $10 Daily * Ages 6-16 – $5 Daily * Ages 5 and Under – FREE

Weekend Special – $30 (Includes annual Pheasants Forever membership & hat, over $80 value)

www.PheasantFest.org

For additional information about Pheasants Forever, visit www.PheasantsForever.org

Own land in the U.S.? National Pheasant Fest offers wildlife habitat management consulting

Pheasants Forever's National Pheasant Fest 2010

Des Moines, Iowa –(Ammoland.com)– If you own land anywhere in the country, you can receive free land-use management consultation at Pheasants Forever’s National Pheasant Fest 2010. The Landowner Habitat Help Room, presented by Best Buy & Geek Squad, will feature state-of-the-art technology and is free with paid admission to the show. National Pheasant Fest runs February 26-28 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.

Thanks to Best Buy, the official Technology Partner of National Pheasant Fest 2010, the Landowner Habitat Help Room will offer a dozen work stations featuring large-screen monitors providing a detailed look at each piece of property. Accompanied by a trained Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever biologist, or partnering biologist from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, landowners will be educated on ways they can improve their acres for wildlife and even what local, state, and federal conservation programs they qualify for enrollment.

“Iowa pheasants are in dire need of some positive habitat news when you look at the string of wet springs, snowy winters, and massive CRP losses across the state,” explained Bob St.Pierre, Pheasants Forever’s Director of Marketing & Public Relations. “The Landowner Habitat Help Room is one of the many ways we hope to make Pheasant Fest the focal event for turning Iowa’s habitat needs into new acres.”

Landowner Habitat Help Room presented by Best Buy & Geek Squad

With the most current streaming data available, the Landowner Habitat Help Room will offer topographic and aerial maps on any piece of property in the entire country. All you need to do is:

• Attend National Pheasant Fest 2010 and visit the Landowner Habitat Help Room inside HyVee Hall.
• Bring the legal description of your property (township, range, and section) or the ability to pinpoint that property’s exact location on the map.
• That’s it! You’ll leave with a free wildlife habitat management plan for your land.

Landowners have seen the value of the Landowner Habitat Help Room at National Pheasant Fest, as more than 1,000 of them have taken advantage of this service at past shows, leading to over 65,000 habitat acres that have been evaluated for management recommendations by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever wildlife biologists during Pheasant Fest events since 2005.
Attend National Pheasant Fest 2010

The Country’s Largest Event for Upland Hunters, Sport Dog Owners and Wildlife Habitat Conservationists, combining a national outdoor tradeshow, wildlife habitat seminar series, and family event complete with puppies, tractors, shotguns, and art.
Adults – $10 Daily * Ages 6-16 – $5 Daily * Ages 5 and Under – FREE
Weekend Special – $30 (Includes annual Pheasants Forever membership & hat, over $80 value)
www.PheasantFest.org

For additional information about Pheasants Forever, visit www.PheasantsForever.org

Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever

Salina, Kan - -(AmmoLand.com)- Kansas Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever will hold its 2010 State Habitat Meeting on Saturday, February 6th at the Ramada Inn in Salina, Kansas.

The event is filled with seminars covering land management, bird dogs and upland hunting.

The meeting will conclude with the Kansas Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever State Banquet at 6:30PM.

The Kansas Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever 2010 State Habitat Meeting will offer seminars throughout the day, including:

• Conservation Reserve Program Maintenance and Management
• Natural Resources Conservation Service Landowner Help Desk
• Hunting Dog Health and Care
• Estate Planning Help Desk
• Hunting Tips & Wild Game Cooking

“Upland hunting continues to grow in Kansas, and that can be attributed to the work Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever do,” said Jordan Martincich, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever regional representative in eastern Kansas.”We have an excellent arrangement of seminars at this year’s banquet and we encourage anyone interested to come and see what it means to be a part of this organization. It’s a great chance to meet fellow conservationists and to also become part of something which will preserve wildlife habitat in the state of Kansas for many years to come.”

“The Habitat Organization’s” 2009 Kansas Wildlife Habitat Work

The 42 Pheasants Forever chapters, 9 Quail Forever chapters and 5,300 members of “The Habitat Organization” totaled over 500 wildlife habitat projects in 2009, benefitting pheasants, quail and other wildlife on 31,700-plus acres.

For more information about Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever in Kansas, including the 2010 Kansas State Habitat Meeting, contact one the organization’s regional representatives: Devon Walter in western Kansas at (785) 524-4033 / dwalter@pheasantsforever.org and Jordan Martincich in eastern Kansas at (785) 242-3175 / jmartincich@pheasantsforever.org.

For additional information please visit www.PheasantsForever.org and www.QuailForever.org

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA –-(AmmoLand.com)- The Board of Game Commissioners today gave preliminary approval to a continue a major change in pheasant hunting designed to be a major step toward re-establishing wild pheasant populations in Pennsylvania.

The agency’s Ring-necked Pheasant Management Plan calls for restoring self-sustaining and hunt-able populations of wild pheasants in suitable habitats called “Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas” (WPRAs). In 2009, the Board created three such areas, defined as the Pike Run, Somerset and Central Susquehanna WPRAs. The agency is releasing wild-trapped pheasants into these areas, with a goal of achieving a density of 10 hen pheasants per square mile.

To give these wild pheasants the best opportunity to establish naturally reproducing populations, the Board has continued its ban on releasing of any artificially propagated pheasants – including Game Commission raised pheasants –within these WPRAs. Also, to limit disturbances to nesting hen pheasants, dog training of any manner will continue to be prohibited in these WPRAs from the end of small game season in early February through July 31 each year.

“Working with major partners, such as Pheasants Forever, the California University of Pennsylvania and local landowners, we already have a jump-start on creating WPRAs,” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. “These groups have invested in creating the necessary pheasant habitat in three areas of the state. To make the best use of the agency’s resources, and with the support of these partners, we are going to identify these areas as the first WPRAs in the state.

“While we hope to identify more, the Game Commission will continue to raise and release pheasants on public lands with suitable pheasant habitat each fall. And, should we receive additional revenues, we plan to increase our pheasant production level to 250,000 birds, as noted in the Ring-necked Pheasant Management Plan.”

For the 2010-11 seasons, the WPRAs continue to be defined as follows:

(1) Pike Run WPRA: The portion of Washington County, WMU 2A, bounded on the east by the Monongahela River, on the north by I-70, on the west by PA Rt. 917 to Swagler Rd. to Spring Valley Rd. to PA Rt. 2015 to Lone Pine Rd. to the intersection with Tenmile Creek in West Zollarsville, and bounded on the south by Tenmile Creek.

(2) Somerset WPRA: That portion of Somerset County, WMU 2C, bounded on the western side starting at the intersection of Coleman Station Rd. and Stutzmantown Rd. proceeding south on Coleman Station Rd., crossing SR 31, to Brotherton Rd., continuing south to Round Hill Rd., then east onto Wills Church Rd., then to Archery Rd. The boundary then follows Berlin Plank Rd. (US Rt. 219) south into the town of Berlin where it joins the Mason Dixon Hwy. (US Rt. 219) proceeding south to Pine Hill Rd. to Walker School Rd. then east on Maple Valley Rd., to Sawmill Rd. to the Cumberland Hwy. (SR 160). The boundary then follows the Cumberland Hwy. (SR 160) south to Salco Rd. and then proceeds north on Salco Rd. to Huckleberry Hwy. (SR 160) in the town of Berlin. The boundary follows Huckleberry Hwy. (SR 160) north, crossing SR 31, to the intersection of Roxbury Rd., then north to Shanksville Rd. The boundary then proceeds north to Stutzmantown Rd., then west to the beginning at the intersection of Coleman Station Rd.

(3) Central Susquehanna WPRA: Portions of WMU 4E in Northumberland, Montour, Columbia and Lycoming counties from the West Branch of the Susquehanna River south to the intersection with PA Rt. 642 and the West Branch of the Susquehanna River in Milton. The southern boundary is defined by PA Rt. 642 east from Milton to Mausdale, then north on PA Rt. 642 to just south of Jerseytown, proceeding east on Eyersgrove Rd. to Eyers Grove at PA Rt.42. Proceeding south on PA Rt. 42 to Mordansville, northeast of Mordansville along Robbins Rd. (Rt. 600) to Mordansville Rd. (Rt. 541), south on Millertown Rd. (Rt. 4011), then continuing east to follow Mount Pleasant Rd. (Rt. 4020) and Mount Pleasant St. (PA Rt. 4034) to Orangeville at the southeast corner of the WPRA. PA Rt. 487 lines the eastern boundary from Orangeville north to Maple Grove/intersection with PA Rt. 254. The northern boundary begins with PA Rt. 254 west of Maple Grove to the intersection with Winters Rd. (Rt. 459) proceeding west to the intersection with Austin Trail (PA Rt. 4039). Continuing west on Owl Rd. (Rt. 599), north and west on Reese Rd. (Rt. 578), and north and west on Trivelpiece Rd. (Rt. 576). Eagle Rd. (PA Rt. 4037) then continues northwest to the intersection with Whitehorse Rd./Whitehorse Pike (Rt. 661) heading west to just south of Sereno, and then south on PA Rt. 42 to Millville. From Millville, proceeding southwest on PA Rt. 254 to Jerseytown. Then northwest on PA Rt. 44, north on Swartz Rd., west on Shultz Rd., north on Ants Hill Rd., west on Wolf Hollow Rd., then north on Katy’s Church Rd. Crossing into Lycoming County and proceeding northwest on G Wagner Rd., west on Ridge Rd., crossing into Montour County, southwest on County Line Rd., south on Muncy Exchange Rd. (PA Rt. 1003), west on Hickory Rd. (PA Rt. 1008), west on Mingle Rd. (Rt. 433), west on Hickory Rd. (PA Rt. 1008) for the second time, and proceeding north on Gearhart Hollow Rd. (Rt. 441). Continuing west on Showers Rd. (PA Rt. 1010), crossing into Northumberland County, proceeding north and west on Pugmore Lane, north on Hockley Hill Rd. (PA Rt. 1011), west on Miller Rd. (Rt. 653), continuing southwest on Balliet Rd. (Rt. 664). Proceeding northwest and west on Schmidt Rd. (Rt. 564). continuing north on Susquehanna Trail (PA Rt. 1007), continuing west on Hughes Rd. (Rt. 655), crossing under I-180, proceeding south on Crawford Rd. (Rt. 507) to PA Rt. 54. Proceeding northwest on PA Rt. 54 to the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.

A native of Asia, pheasants were brought to North America back in the mid 1700s, but these early attempts to introduce pheasants to the continent were unsuccessful. It wasn’t until 1881, in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, that pheasants first became established.

During the early 1890s, Pennsylvania citizens purchased pheasants from English gamekeepers and released them in Lehigh and Northampton counties. For several decades, many other small releases were made across the Commonwealth to establish pheasants for sport hunting.

In the early 1900s, the Game Commission set aside a special appropriation of funds to purchase and propagate game. Pheasant eggs were purchased and given to agency refuge keepers, sportsmen’s organizations and private individuals interested in raising pheasants. The first stocking of pheasants by the Game Commission occurred by 1915.

Habitat loss, from urban/suburban sprawl to changes in agricultural practices, had an impact on Pennsylvania’s naturally-reproducing pheasant populations. Additionally, budget constraints forced the Game Commission, in 2005, to reduce its annual pheasant stocking allocation from 200,000 to 100,000.

For more information on pheasants and the history of the agency’s pheasant management plan and propagation program, visit the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), select “Hunting” then click on the photograph of the pheasant.

Pheasants Forever

Wolsey, SD –-(AmmoLand.com)- South Dakota’s 33 Pheasants Forever chapters and 4,300 Pheasants Forever members completed 1,700 wildlife habitat projects in 2009, benefitting 16,600-plus acres for pheasants and other wildlife.

This includes 725 acres of land acquired and then opened to public hunting and recreation as state Wildlife Management Areas, federal Waterfowl Production Areas or county conservation areas.

South Dakota Pheasants Forever 2009 Wildlife Habitat Work

For more about Pheasants Forever in South Dakota, contact Ben Bigalke, Pheasants Forever Regional Wildlife Biologist, at 605.350.2409 and BBigalke@pheasantsforever.org.

For additional information please visit www.PheasantsForever.org

Pheasants Forever

Stratton, Colo. –-(AmmoLand.com)-  January 26, 2010 – Colorado Pheasants Forever is hosting its 1st Annual State Habitat Meeting on Saturday, Jan. 30th, at the Stratton Activity Building in Stratton, Colorado.

A wildlife habitat-themed weekend kicks off Friday, Jan. 29th, with a Landowner Workshop hosted by the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

The weekend is geared to landowners interested in improving wildlife habitat on their property.

The Landowner Workshop is from 8AM – 2PM.

This event includes presentations on:

• Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) enhancement and mid-contract management
• State and federal private lands conservation incentive programs

RSVP to Jenny McCassland at the Burlington Conservation District at (719) 346-7699 to attend.

Saturday seminars run 8:30AM – 4PM and will cover habitat opportunities for pheasants and quail, crop yields for wildlife and continuous CRP practices. Presenting organizations include Pheasants Forever, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

“Not only are we excited about the first annual state meeting, but the event is a step in the right direction for habitat conservation in our region,” said Bob Hix, Pheasants Forever Regional Representative for the state of Colorado. “The seminar speakers for our first event come from a variety of different organizations, and attendees are sure to gain valuable insights to successful habitat management.”

For more information about the Colorado Pheasants Forever 2010 Habitat Meeting, visit www.coloradopf.com or email Bob Hix, Pheasants Forever Regional Representative at bhix@pheasantsforever.org.

Colorado Pheasants Forever 2009 Wildlife Habitat Work

Colorado’s 18 Pheasants Forever chapters and 2,500 Pheasants Forever members completed over 200 wildlife habitat projects in 2009, benefiting pheasants, quail and other wildlife on over 4,700 acres.

For additional information please visit www.PheasantsForever.org and www.QuailForever.org

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA- (Ammoland.com) – Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe today announced the agency will be helping Commonwealth school students learn about the vital role of trees in the environment through its “Seedlings for Schools” program, in which students will be able to plant a variety of tree seedlings at home, on school grounds or in their community.

“There is no charge to schools participating in this project, as the seedlings are provided by the Game Commission’s Howard Nursery,” Roe said. “The cost of shipping seedlings is covered through the generous donations of Waste Management; Mealey’s Furniture; Wildlife for Everyone Foundation; USFWS-Partners for Wildlife; and Pheasants Forever Chapter 603.”

The program provides two levels of involvement based on the grade level, and the agency has been working with the state Department of Education to get the word out about the availability of seedlings.

“Seedlings for Your Class” is primarily for third grade students.  As part of this program, the Game Commission provides a classroom or one grade level with enough seedlings for each student to take a seedling home to plant.  Seedling choices are silky dogwood or white pine, and a teacher’s guide comes with the seedlings. Orders will be accepted Jan. 19-April 1.

“Seedlings to Develop Habitats” is primarily for middle and high school students.  As part of this program, the Game Commission provides a variety of seedlings to students interested in planting seedlings on school or community grounds to improve habitat, plant along a stream, develop a tree nursery, or create an environmental area. Orders will be accepted Feb. 26-April 26.

“Seedlings come in bundles of 25, and will be shipped directly to schools by UPS during the weeks of April 19 and 26, dependent on order receipt and weather, to be available for Arbor Day plantings,” said Cliff Guindon, superintendent of the Game Commission’s Howard Nursery.  “Once seedlings arrive, it is important to keep them moist.  Hand out seedlings with roots in plastic bags with moist shredded newspaper or plant them in juice/milk cartons for transplanting at home. ‘How to plant’ information and educational materials will be provided with seedlings.”

For more information, visit the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) and click on the “Seedlings for Schools” icon in the center of the homepage.

Pheasants Forever also opens over 8,300 acres for public hunting in last year

Pheasants Forever

Saint Paul, Minn. – (Ammoland.com) – The 621 Pheasants Forever chapters, 103 Quail Forever chapters and 125,000 members of “The Habitat Organization” nationwide completed over 22,000 wildlife habitat projects in 2009, benefitting over 500,000 acres for pheasants, quail and other wildlife. This includes over 8,300 acres of land acquired and then opened to public hunting and recreation as state-managed wildlife areas or federal Waterfowl Production Areas.

Pheasants Forever spent over $34.7 million on program expenses last year, including $4.9 on land acquisitions. In fact, since Pheasants Forever formed in 1982, the organization has spent $50 million on land acquisitions, opening 144,000 acres to public hunting and outdoor recreation. And in 2009, 9,942 youngsters took part in local Pheasants Forever mentored youth hunts that introduce them to hunting and wildlife habitat conservation.

“The past year was another testament to the ability of Pheasants Forever’s local approach to wildlife habitat conservation,” said Howard Vincent, Pheasants Forever National President and CEO. Pheasants Forever and its quail division, Quail Forever, empower county and local chapters with the responsibility to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds will be spent – the only national conservation organization that operates through this truly grassroots structure. “A half million acres is great, but we know with our model, we have the ability to do even more habitat projects on more acres and accomplish more for our favorite upland birds.”

Pheasants Forever’s 2009 Nationwide Wildlife Habitat Work

About:
Since 1982, Pheasants Forever has raised and spent over $365 million, which has helped benefit wildlife on over 5.8 million acres and provided for 68,000 youth to take part in youth mentored hunting and youth conservation education events.

To Feed or Not to Feed Pheasants?

Pheasants Forever

Saint Paul, Minn –-(AmmoLand.com)- From the Dakotas and Minnesota to Iowa and Illinois, much of the core pheasant range is experiencing winter’s first real test due to recent heavy snowstorms and extreme cold.

Naturally, many hunters and conservationists have found cause for concern regarding ring-necked pheasants’ ability to survive, and ask “Should we be feeding pheasants?” Pheasants Forever has some careful considerations.

Habitat is the Effective Long-Term Solution
The key to carrying pheasants through the winter is quality thermal habitat. While this may provide no consolation this winter, consider that resources spent on establishing high quality winter cover will yield far greater results and the best winter survival rates down the road. The lesson to be learned from a tough winter is the need to plant more high quality thermal cover this spring. Start your habitat planning now!

“More than anything, feeding is reactionary to the winter, when the best thing we can do is be proactive about improving quality habitat,” said Rick Young, Pheasants Forever’s Vice President of Field Operations. “Unfortunately, many well-intentioned people who provide corn and other grains as food sources actually harm pheasants more than they help them.”

Why NOT to Feed Pheasants

• The biggest reason to shy away from feeding pheasants is that feeders attract predators and expose pheasants to death by predation. Feeders give predators a focus point similar to a bait pile.
• In fact, it is rare for a pheasant to starve, but death by freezing can be common. Poorly-placed feeders may draw the pheasants out and away from their protective winter cover and cause birds to congregate and expend energy competing for food. Instead of saving birds, this actually adds to freezing deaths.

Contact Pheasants Forever Field Staff
To contact a Pheasants Forever representative in your area with your winter habitat or pheasant feeding questions, click here.

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are non-profit conservation organizations dedicated to the protection and enhancement of pheasant, quail, and other wildlife populations in North America through habitat improvement, land management, public awareness, and education. “The Habitat Organization” has over 125,000 members in 750 local chapters across the continent.

For additional information about Pheasants Forever, please visit www.PheasantsForever.org

Central Illinois Bobwhites Chapter of Quail Forever holding inaugural banquet on Sat., March 6

Quail Forever

Sherman, Ill. – January 6, 2010 – Quail hunters and conservationists in central Illinois have formed the state’s newest Quail Forever chapter. Known as the Central Illinois Bobwhites Chapter of Quail Forever, the chapter will focus on quail habitat restoration efforts in Menard and Sangamon Counties.

According to Lee Scott, an avid hunter from Athens, Illinois, and the chapter’s president, the Central Illinois Bobwhites chapter is a necessary tool for quail conservation in the area. “Habitat is the key to quail conservation,” Scott said, “By working with area farmers to implement financially sound conservation practices on their land, we can make an immediate impact on quail in central Illinois. Not only do these conservation efforts benefit bird hunters, but the natural resource improvements help the entire community.”

Helping the Central Illinois Bobwhites Chapter of Quail Forever make its local impact will be Quail Forever’s unique local model. Founded by Pheasants Forever in 2005 to address the nation’s quail population decline, Quail Forever applies the successful Pheasants Forever model of empowering local chapters with the responsibility to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds will be spent. As a result, the organization’s 125,000 members and more than 700 chapters see the fruits of their conservation efforts in their own communities, while belonging to a national organization with a broader voice on federal conservation policy in Washington, D.C.

“There is a long tradition of quail hunting in Illinois and these folks in the new Central Illinois Bobwhites chapter are dedicated to making sure that tradition continues,” reported Tim Caughran, Quail Forever Regional Wildlife Biologist in Illinois. “Habitat is the key to bringing back the area’s quail populations and this chapter is ready to get to work on habitat projects with local farmers and landowners.”

The Central Illinois Bobwhites Chapter of Quail Forever will hold its first fundraising banquet on Saturday, March 6th at St. John’s Vienne in Sherman, Illinois. The public and media are invited to attend. For more information and tickets to the banquet, contact Lee Scott at 217.636.7723.

About:
Quail Forever is a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to the conservation of quail, pheasants and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs. Its unique model ensures that 100% of all the funds raised locally is spent by the local chapter.  Illinois is home to 16 Quail Forever chapters. For more information, contact Tim Caughran, Quail Forever Regional Wildlife Biologist, at 618.791.3909 and/or tcaughran@quailforever.org.