“My friend is new to hunting, he passed hunters Ed a few years ago and wanted to go out and get his first rooster. My young lab and I worked extremely hard to get him the perfect bird and shot, we did it! Opening day in Eastern Washington for pheasant, he harvested his first one over a beautiful flush in thick cattails.” “Shoutout to Zach Schneider in Washington for mentoring a new hunter! Zach submitted his story to our annual Hunter Mentor Pledge contest and you can do the same at the link: https://form.jotform.com/231584435880159 Rules are simple – take someone new (or lapsed) into the field with you at least once this season in pursuit of any legal game species then submit a photo from the field and the story! Mentoring new hunters like Zach has is so important but not without challenges – what’s the biggest mentoring barrier that you face? a. Finding the time b. Finding someone to mentor c. Feeling like I’m not accomplished enough to teach someone else I don’t see the need for mentoring new hunters

On The Wing Podcast Ep. 295: Rooster Road Trip 2025 Recap, is live. Listen now at the link below, or wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.pheasantsforever.org/BlogLanding/Blogs/Rooster-Road-Trip/Podcast-Ep-295-Rooster-Road-Trip-2024-Recap.aspx This is the fifth and final episode of Pheasants Forever’s 15th annual Rooster Road Trip. Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by PF’s Vice President of Marketing Andrew Vavra, PF’s North Dakota State Coordinator Emily Spolyar, and PF’s Social Media Coordinator Nate Akey to put a bow on this year’s adventure across North Dakota. Episode Highlights: - For gear junkies, each member of the crew talks about their favorite piece of gear from this year’s hunt. Vavra also talks about features of the new Browning 825 making it a shotgun he’s planning to add to his own personal gun safe. - The group also fields crowd-sourced questions from PF & QF’s social media channels about Rooster Road Trip, hunting North Dakota public lands, gear questions, and bird hunting strategy. - Find all four companion videos accompanying the trip at RoosterRoadTrip.org. While there, enter to win a Browning Citori 825 shotgun and join/renew/extend your Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever membership featuring the new Browning Bird & Buck knife. DEADLINE is December 16, 2024. The On The Wing Podcast is fueled by Purina Pro Plan Thank you to our Rooster Road Trip Sponsors: Garmin Fish & Hunt, Orvis, Browning, SoundGear, YETI, Irish Setter Boots, Federal Premium, Ruff Land Performance Kennels

Today, PF & QF are encouraging private landowners and public land managers to help identify innovative strategies to restore quality pollinator habitat in the United States in light of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposed threatened status of the monarch butterfly under the Endangered Species Act. Eastern migratory populations of monarch butterflies have declined by more than 80% since the 1980s, and western migratory populations by more than 95% in the same timeframe. Loss of breeding, migratory, and overwintering habitat, including food sources along established migration corridors and throughout the blooming season, remain among the top threats for monarch butterflies. PF & QF’s mission to create high-quality habitat for pheasants, quail, and other upland species directly intersects with the monarch butterfly. That very same habitat, filled with diverse grasses and forbs (flowering plants) is critical for all pollinators, but essential for the monarch. PF & QF have been among the nation’s leaders in pollinator-friendly habitat, implementing 392,864 acres of high-quality habitat for pollinators and planting more than 1.3 billion milkweed seeds – an essential component for the monarch lifecycle and migration habitat – over the past decade. Read more at the following link to learn how you can help: https://pheasantsforever.org/BlogLanding/Blogs/Pheasants-Forever/USFWS-Proposes-Threatened-Status-for-Monarch-Butterfly-Under-Endangered-Species-Act.aspx

While I love the first month of pheasant season, the true hunter in me longs for the short, colder days of late-season pheasant hunting after Thanksgiving when the birds are bunched up in the thick stuff and fewer hunters are afield. In fact, part of me believes more people should be aware of the benefits of hunting late-season roosters. Selfishly, the other part of me wants to keep it a secret. As another South Dakota winter settles in and the crowds thin out, I'm reminded why late-season hunts have become my favorite tradition. Sure, the weather can be unpredictable and you'll work harder for your birds — but that's exactly what makes it special. There's an intimacy to winter pheasant hunting that October just can't match. If you think you’ve missed your chance to hunt South Dakota this year simply because the first month of the season passed you by, think again — the season is just beginning. So while others have hung up their vests for the year, feel confident knowing that some of the season's best hunting still lies ahead. See the full article "South Dakota's Pheasant Season is Just Getting Started" and learn why late season in South Dakota might just be the best time to hit the field at the link below. https://tinyurl.com/bd7m6czy Sharing on behalf of our partners in conservation Travel South Dakota Author Bio: South Dakota native Andrew Johnson lives for pheasant hunting, capturing the thrill of the chase through his gun, camera and words. Connect with him on X, Instagram, and YouTube: @DakotaPheasantHunt

Are you a refined quail snob who sips artisanal coffee while pondering the finer points of pointing dogs, or a pheasant slob grabbing gas station pizza and energy drinks at 9 a.m.? Does your sleek 28-gauge double gun gleam with care, or does your trusty 12-gauge semi-auto ride rugged and unwashed? Quail Forever Journal Editor, Ryan Sparks, digs into the stereotypes (and truths?) of these two upland hunting camps in “Odd Birds,” the latest story on our blog. Is your hunting camp all quail decorum or pheasant chaos? Drop your best stereotype (or roast) in the comments and read the full story here: https://pheasantsforever.org/BlogLanding/Blogs/Pheasants-Forever/Odd-Birds-Indeed.aspx

A message from Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever President and CEO Marilyn Vetter to kick off Elite Member week. Welcome to Elite Member Week! Life Members of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are a force like no other—they are the folks who go above and beyond for upland habitat. That is why we are celebrating the impact that Life Members have on our conservation efforts during our annual Elite Member Week! This week, we are rallying our members, supporters, and partners to band together for conservation and sign up as Life Members of “The Habitat Organization.” Our goal for Elite Member Week is to raise over $500,000 for upland wildlife and habitat conservation, and we need your help to do it! We are excited to offer those who join this elite group of conservationists an exclusive Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever YETI Tundra 45 cooler as a sincere token of our appreciation for those who go above and beyond for our mission. Become an Elite Member today at the link below. https://pheasantsforever.org/SpecialPages/Special-Memberships/Life-Membership.aspx

📸’s from Rooster Road Trip Ep. 4: Leks and Longtails in the Red River Valley|. Check out the full photo gallery and watch all 4 episodes of this year's Rooster Road Trip at the link below! Roosterroadtrip.org Roughly 13,000 years ago, a continental ice sheet began to disintegrate and its meltwaters created the massive proglacial Lake Agassiz. At its peak, this lake was larger than all of the Great Lakes combined. But what does a giant dried-up ancient lake have to do with the Rooster Road Trip? The Red River Valley consists of the lakebed of Lake Agassiz and that happens to be where we found ourselves on the last day of the trip. This area has been considered one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world, and nearly all land in the valley on both sides of the Red River has been converted from the original tall-grass prairie to cropland – but not all of it. There is an estimated 2-5 x 30-mile belt of grassland where conversion efforts failed due to the salinity of the soil and what the locals refer to as “The Alkali Flats.” This serendipitous salt created an opportunity for conservation groups and the Grand Forks County Prairie Partners to not only try to preserve what is left, but improve the habitat while also working with key stakeholders to conduct intensive prairie chicken and sharp-tailed grouse studies. University of North Dakota professor and Pheasants Forever National Board Member, Dr. Susan Felege, joined us for the day’s hunt as we navigated cattails, lowlands, more cattails, and raised beaches that marked the former boundaries of Lake Agassiz. With Susan by our side, we were quickly enrolled in a masterclass on prairie grouse. And in between cautionary history lessons and bold goals for the future of the area, we successfully moved around a few sharptails and Susan was able to bag her first limit of Grand Forks pheasants. It was truly a day to remember. Thank you to our Rooster Road Trip Sponsors: Orvis , Garmin Fish & Hunt, Browning, SoundGear, Irish Setter Boots, Federal Premium, YETI, Ruff Land Performance Kennels

Quail Forever is proud to announce a brand new habitat and access endeavor in Arizona. The Arizona Quail Initiative will expand quail habitat restoration and public access efforts across the state, with a particular focus in southeastern Arizona. The initiative will impact well over 100,000 acres of vital quail habitat, and will help restore a key part of North America’s vast grassland biome. Brush management is the primary goal of the initiative. Through this on-the-ground work, Quail Forever expects to impact over 30,000 acres of habitat. An additional 100,000 acres will be impacted by converting existing wells to solar and expanding water delivery and storage systems to provide year-round water for quail. It will also open 50,000 acres of private and land-locked public land. The project is made possible by an extensive list of partners, including The Arizona Game and Fish Department, the Bureau of Land Management, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Arizona Association of Conservation Districts, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, Intermountain West Joint Venture and the United States Forest Service. Learn more at the link below. https://quailforever.org/BlogLanding/Blogs/Quail-Forever/Quail-Forever-Announces-the-Arizona-Quail-Initiative.aspx

Pheasant Fact Friday!💡 December brings freezing temperatures and snow. A pheasant’s lower legs are not covered with feathers. So does he get cold legs and feet? Yes, but why? Some believe cold legs are caused by so much of the blood’s heat being lost through the bare legs. Others believe that some mechanism in the upper leg (feathered thigh) conserves heat by removing some blood heat before going to the lower leg - so cooler blood makes them colder then the rest of the body. Too bad the pheasant does not have the willow ptarmigan’s feathered legs. Ptarmigan live in much colder climates than pheasants, and need the added protection. Mother always said if your feet were cold you should put on a hat. The pheasant has no hat, so he will, under cold conditions, sleep and rest with his head partially placed under his wing feathers. It helps cut his loss of body heat. Ptarmigan with warm, feathered legs need not sleep so. Sleeping ducks always seem to partially cover their heads even in mild temperatures. The duck’s bare legs in water losses 4 times more heat than pheasant legs, so the duck has more need to conserve heat loss from the head (bill). #pheasantsforever #pheasants #pheasantfactfriday

🌟 Fuel Up for Conservation: Final Total! 🌟 Thanks to our amazing customers and team members, we’re thrilled to present a grand total of $29,465.90 raised for wildlife habitat and outdoor traditions! 🐦🌾 This incredible achievement wouldn’t have been possible without your generosity and support. Together, we’re making a meaningful difference for wildlife conservation in Kansas. Stay tuned for photos of the Big Check Presentations happening at each of our 24/7 Travel Store locations this week! 💚 #FuelUpForConservation #PheasantsForever #QuailForever

Regional Field Representative of Eastern Iowa, Lexi Ashbrook, inviting you to the 2025 Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic Women on the Wing Brunch. Learn more about the event, and get your passes now at the link below! https://pheasantsforever.org/BlogLanding/Blogs/Pheasants-Forever/Women-on-the-Wing-Brunch-2025.aspx This year’s 2025 Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic Women on the Wing Brunch is going to be an event you won’t want to miss! In honor of the 20th anniversary of Quail Forever, our theme this year is Rise Together. We will encourage participants to make connections as we discuss all things quail conservation with women who are experts in their field. This year’s event will be held on Sunday, March 9 from 9:30-11:30am. The event will showcase an inspiring line-up of women speakers: former director of Missouri Department of Conservation, Sara Parker-Pauley, keynote speaker, will be joined by a panel of speakers including Dr. Jessica McGuire, Dallas Ingram, Bridget Costanzo, Dr. Susan Felege, and other dynamic experts!

On The Wing Podcast Ep. 294: A Masterclass in Prairie Grouse, is live. Listen now at the link below, or wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.pheasantsforever.org/BlogLanding/Blogs/Rooster-Road-Trip/Podcast-Ep-294-A-Masterclass-in-Prairie-Grouse.aspx This is the fourth episode of Pheasants Forever’s 15th annual Rooster Road Trip. Host Bob St. Pierre is joined by PF’s Vice President of Marketing Andrew Vavra and University of North Dakota’s Dr. Susan Felege. Dr. Felege is a professor of wildlife biology & management and is also a member of PF & QF’s National Board of Directors. Episode Highlights: - Dr. Felege recounts the history of prairie grouse populations across North Dakota and provides a status report for how sharp-tailed grouse and greater prairie chickens are currently doing in the state. - Vavra talks about “the pucker factor” of hunting in a region where greater prairie chickens and hen pheasants are illegal to shoot, while sharp-tailed grouse and sharpie/chicken hybrids are both legal. - Dr. Felege also shares her enthusiasm for working with the Grand Forks County Prairie Partners and how the collection of non-profit groups, state and federal agencies, farmers, and volunteers are helping conserve this very special tall grass prairie. - Find the companion video accompanying this podcast episode at RoosterRoadTrip.org. While there, enter to win a Browning Citori 825 shotgun and join/renew/extend your Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever membership featuring the new Browning Bird & Buck knife. The On The Wing Podcast is fueled by Purina Pro Plan Thanks to our Rooster Road Trip Sponsors: Federal Premium, Garmin Fish & Hunt, Orvis, Browning, Irish Setter Boots, SoundGear, YETI, Ruff Land Performance Kennels