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On The Wing Podcast Ep. 257: Lighting Fires for Wildlife and the New Book “Ignition” is live. Listen now at the link in our bio, or wherever you get your podcasts. Host Bob St.Pierre is joined Ben Wheeler, a Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever wildlife biologist and prescribed fire expert from Nebraska, for a conversation with author Maura O’Connor. The discussion focuses on O’Connor’s new book, Ignition, which is subtitled “Lighting Fires in a Burning World.” The trio talk about the importance of prescribed fire for wildlife habitat, as well as the importance of regular burning of prairies and forests to prevent massive wildfires. Episode Highlights: - Wheeler recounts famed biologist Herbert Stoddard’s advocacy for fire as a critically important wildlife habitat management tool, as well as Stoddard’s dubbing of the bobwhite quail as “the fire bird.” - O’Connor explains the role prescribed fire plays in protecting grasslands from woody encroachment, mitigating climate change, and protecting water resources. Check out O’Connor’s book, Ignition, on Amazon.

National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic came to the Sioux Falls community during the first weekend of March 2024. Before the festivities began, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever team members spent a day at Harrisburg High School, just outside of Sioux Falls, helping over 200 students learn about potential career pathways in the world of wildlife conservation. “We want to help students learn about the wide variety of job opportunities, beyond being a biologist or conservation officer,” said Levi Day, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s conservation leadership programs manager. “Introducing students to our Journey to Conservation Careers program is a great way to get started in this field.” The Journey to Conservation Careers program was developed in partnership between Pheasants Forever, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Bellevue University. This self-paced, online program features lessons around biology, ecology and upland habitat. Additionally, students will learn about the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, the Pittman Robertson Act and the role Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever play in conservation. To learn more about this event or get information on the Journey to Conservation Careers program, head to the link below. https://pheasantsforever.org/BlogLanding/Blogs/Pheasants-Forever/Exploring-Careers-in-Conservation-at-Harrisburg-High-School.aspx

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Attention landowners! The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is now open and ends Friday March 29th! CRP is a great opportunity for those hard-to-farm acres. It also helps improve a farm’s profitability, delivers high quality wildlife habitat, cleaner water, and healthier soils. The CRP general sign up is going on right now through March 29th. Find a local Pheasants Forever biologist at the link in our bio or visit your local USDA service center. FARM THE BEST, CRP THE REST! #pheasantsforever #wildlifehabitat #farming #crp

Pheasant Fact Friday!💡 What is the preferred grass of nesting pheasants? Who knows? Often what grass works in your state, does not grow well in another state, so the hen uses a different grass in that other state. But whether a hen uses brome, wheatgrass, timothy, fescue, switchgrass, or native grasses is determined by the grass’s growth habits. Hens would rather nest in fields that were not cut or grazed the previous year. They prefer a grass that can stand the winter snows well. In spring, hens actively seek idle grassy fields where the grass has not been crunched by snow. Sod grasses are often chosen over bunch grasses. Grasses that quickly (2-3 years) form a thick (2-3 inches) layer of dead litter will not be as attractive to hens as grasses that form the layer slowly (5-6 years). More hens will nest in a square field than in a rectangular field, and prefer a 20-acre field to anything smaller or larger. #pheasantsforever #pheasants #pheasantfactfriday

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You asked. We answer. Ask a Vet Series Ep. 7 “How Can I Prevent Bad Dog Breath?” is available now. Read the entire blog and watch the full video featuring Purina Pro Plan veterinary experts Dr. RuthAnn Lobos and Dr. Seth Bynum at the link in our bio. Much like a wagging tail or a boop from a cool, wet nose, dog breath can be a reliable indicator of the overall health of your four-legged hunting companion. It’s often a surprise to many of my clients that good oral hygiene is closely linked to a healthy dog overall. Conversely, a diseased mouth can contribute to issues in other parts of the body, most notably the heart, joints and kidneys. For hunters who rely on our dog’s superior noses to find game, I’ll go so far as to say a clean and healthy mouth will help keep that nearby bird-finding organ in top shape as well. If your hunting dog’s breath has taken a turn for the worse, it may be time for a peek inside. Dental disease, which can include gingivitis from an excess of plaque and tartar, is incredibly common. It’s estimated that as many as 70 percent of pets over three years old have some degree of dental disease. The accompanying bad breath stems from a bouquet of oral bacteria that have thrived around a gumline plagued with tartar. If left untreated, the tooth roots can be affected, leading to painful root infections or oral abscesses. Not only do these issues contribute to a great deal of discomfort in your hunting dog, you’ll feel the sting in your wallet as well when a veterinarian gets involved for a tooth extraction or root canal. The “Ask a Vet” series is brought to you in partnership with @proplansportingdogs

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are proud to introduce Austin Roby as the new regional representative for Ohio and West Virginia. With his leadership skills and conservation experience, Roby will work with local chapters to further the organization's goal of improving public and private lands habitat for pheasants, quail, and other wildlife. “Austin is armed with a steadfast commitment to environmental stewardship and a proven track record of executing impactful initiatives,” said Matt Christensen, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s director of chapter and volunteer services. “He is eager to contribute his expertise to further advance the mission of PF and QF.” Learn more about Austin and his new role at the link below.

On The Wing Podcast Ep. 256: Introducing the Women on the Wing Podcast Series! Is live. Listen now at the link in our bio or wherever you get your podcasts. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are excited to introduce a special Women on the Wing podcast series focused on highlighting the women who make up “The Habitat Organization.” During this exciting kick-off episode, our host and Hunting Heritage Program Manager Ashley Chance is joined by Senior Farm Bill Biologist and co-host Britta Petersen to introduce themselves as hunters and conservation professionals while also sharing what inspired them to tell the stories of other women in this series. Episode Highlights: - Exploring the myth of man the hunter and woman the gatherer. - What it means to have other women to go hunting with and learn from. - Hear about the third consecutive year of an all-women buckthorn and honeysuckle murder squad. - Upcoming adventures: prescribed fire, shed hunting and being pregnant during turkey season! - SPOILER ALERT: 36% of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever staff are women and sharing their professional conservation journeys through this series is going to be impactful, educational, and a whole lot of fun. #pheasantsforever #quailforever #womenonthewing

This year, for the first time, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever recognized a national “Volunteer of the Year.” The award celebrates the very best the organization has to offer — the members and volunteers who optimize the Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever mission, who seek to protect and grow our wildlife habitat, and who help ensure our heritage continues for generations to come. During National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic on March 1-3, Maryland native Eddie Beck became the first ever Quail Forever National Volunteer of the Year. In Beck’s tenure of less than three years, The Chesapeake Bay Chapter of Quail Forever has grown exponentially, as has banquet attendance and the amount of money raised for local habitat. The chapter is contributing to two Farm Bill biologist positions (MD & DE) and were recently able to provide $20,000 in native seed to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources for the establishment of a new Wildlife Management Area in the quail focus region. Eddie’s love for the outdoors and his incredible success in bringing people together for a common goal, making him the ideal candidate for this award. Read more about Eddies outstanding work as a volunteer at the link below. https://quailforever.org/BlogLanding/Blogs/Quail-Forever/Quail-Forever-National-Volunteer-of-the-Year.aspx

This year, for the first time, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever recognized a national “Volunteer of the Year.” The award celebrates the very best the organization has to offer — the members and volunteers who optimize the Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever mission, who seek to protect and grow our wildlife habitat, and who help ensure our heritage continues for generations to come. During National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic on March 1-3, Nobles County standout Scott Rall became the first ever Pheasants Forever National Volunteer of the Year. Rall is in his 39th year with the Habitat Organization. His initiation into the uplands began with Pheasants Forever and has grown into a lifelong passion. A voracious pheasant hunter, Rall also generously lends his time and expertise to others looking to get involved. Over the years, Rall has helped spearhead over 45 public land acquisitions across Minnesota, adding thousands of acres for hunters new and old to roam. Rall is bold and outspoken. When he walks in a room you know he’s there — and what better person to have speaking on behalf of conservation. His life seems inundated by the uplands, from the way he dresses to the wall packed with habitat awards at his office. The weekend of Pheasant Fest was filled with handshakes and congratulations, but rather than seeing this award as the capstone of four decades of hard work, Rall talked about the future — what he wants his chapter to accomplish in the years to come and how to make an even bigger impact. And just to double down on his forward-thinking mentality, Rall capped off the weekend by proposing to his longtime girlfriend Joan Holles. Learn more about Scott and his incredible work as a volunteer at the link in our bio. #pheasantsforever #volunteer #wildlifehabitat #wildlifeconservation

This year, for the first time, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever recognized a national “Volunteer of the Year.” The award celebrates the very best the organization has to offer — the members and volunteers who optimize the Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever mission, who seek to protect and grow our wildlife habitat, and who help ensure our heritage continues for generations to come. During National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic on March 1-3, Nobles County standout Scott Rall became the first ever Pheasants Forever National Volunteer of the Year. Rall is in his 39th year with the Habitat Organization. His initiation into the uplands began with Pheasants Forever and has grown into a lifelong passion. A voracious pheasant hunter, Rall also generously lends his time and expertise to others looking to get involved. Over the years, Rall has helped spearhead over 45 public land acquisitions across Minnesota, adding thousands of acres for hunters new and old to roam. Rall is bold and outspoken. When he walks in a room you know he’s there — and what better person to have speaking on behalf of conservation. His life seems inundated by the uplands, from the way he dresses to the wall packed with habitat awards at his office. The weekend of Pheasant Fest was filled with handshakes and congratulations, but rather than seeing this award as the capstone of four decades of hard work, Rall talked about the future — what he wants his chapter to accomplish in the years to come and how to make an even bigger impact. And just to double down on his forward-thinking mentality, Rall capped off the weekend by proposing to his longtime girlfriend Joan Holles. Learn more about Scott and his incredible work as a volunteer at the link below. https://www.pheasantsforever.org/BlogLanding/Blogs/Pheasants-Forever/Pheasants-Forever-National-Volunteer-of-the-Year.aspx

The first section of our “Pheasant Habitat Essential Guide” is available now at the link below. This section discusses “Habitat Basics: Creating a Mosaic.” https://pheasantsforever.org/habitatessentials It is simple: The right habitat equals stronger and healthier pheasant populations. But good upland wildlife habitat is multi-faceted. Most pheasants live out their lives within a mile of where they were hatched, requiring all habitat components to be in close proximity. Those habitat components are nesting and brood-rearing cover, winter cover, and food sources. Ideally, all three occur near or next to each other on the landscape, creating a mosaic. Nesting and Brood-Rearing Cover: Herbaceous cover providing concealment from predators, that remains free from all disturbances from April to mid-July or after. Winter Cover: Cattail, woody or other stiff-stemmed cover which should remain snow-free and erect during and after a severe blizzard. Food and Cover Plot: A planting with winter pheasant food, with the vegetation also serving as cover for the birds. #farming4habitat

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The first section of our “Pheasant Habitat Essential Guide” is available now at the link in our bio. This section discusses “Habitat Basics: Creating a Mosaic.” It is simple: The right habitat equals stronger and healthier pheasant populations. But good upland wildlife habitat is multi-faceted. Most pheasants live out their lives within a mile of where they were hatched, requiring all habitat components to be in close proximity. Those habitat components are nesting and brood-rearing cover, winter cover, and food sources. Ideally, all three occur near or next to each other on the landscape, creating a mosaic. Nesting and Brood-Rearing Cover: Herbaceous cover providing concealment from predators, that remains free from all disturbances from April to mid-July or after. Winter Cover: Cattail, woody or other stiff-stemmed cover which should remain snow-free and erect during and after a severe blizzard. Food and Cover Plot: A planting with winter pheasant food, with the vegetation also serving as cover for the birds. 📸 #4: @bret.amundson #pheasantsforever #habitat #conservation #wildlifehabitat #farming4habitat

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