Last call for the Birds and Bucks on-line auction, time is of the essence if you’re hoping to claim the prize of your dreams. Auction end tonight at 8PM CST, go place your bids! Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have secured some amazing hunts and experiences and they could be yours. Chances to win a nonresident Iowa deer tag or a new Polaris Sportsman 570 don’t come around very often and your time to act is limited! Head to the link below to place your bid now and win big for conservation! https://pheasantsforeverquailforever.uplandfundraising.org/birdsandbucks24/Campaign/Details

On The Wing Podcast Ep. 275: Marilyn Vetter Recaps First Year as President & CEO and Unveils New Strategic Plan, is live. Listen now at the link below, or wherever you get your podcasts. https://bit.ly/46sDMNT Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever President & Chief Executive Officer Marilyn Vetter for a conversation in which she reflects on her first year in the organization’s top leadership role. The pair also detail the vision, mission, values, and four strategic priorities comprising the organization’s new strategic plan themed “Building Forever.” Episode Highlights: St.Pierre asks Vetter to share stories from her first year as “The Habitat Organization’s” leader; including the significant moments, times of frustration, best advice received, and favorite hunt. Despite the organization already having a strategic plan in place, Vetter explains her philosophy behind initiating a revitalized strategic plan with a larger collection of PF & QF employee executives focused on the following quote from business leader and inspirational speaker Simon Sinek, “If a movement is to have an impact, it must belong to those who join it not just those who lead it.” Vetter goes on to explain why the organization’s wildlife habitat mission isn’t changing, but how increasing a reliance on science-based decision-making and improving accountability sharpened the organization’s focus on four strategic priorities, which include: a. Increase & improve wildlife HABITAT on public and private lands b. Advance conservation POLICIES and program funding c. Expand public ACCESS to upland wildlife habitat d. Expand, educate and engage the upland conservation COMMUNITY

Entering a new fiscal year, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s National Board of Directors officially voted to instate new officers at the beginning of July including passionate conservationists and avid upland hunters Jerrod Burke (chairman), Dan Forster (vice chair), Brett Reber (treasurer), and Keith Schopp (secretary). The foursome brings a combined 23 years of PF & QF National Board experience to their new roles, helping guide a 16-member council which meets quarterly and oversees the operations of The Habitat Organization. “We are thrilled to have a new slate of dedicated officers helping guide the operations of the nation’s largest and most trusted upland conservation group,” said Marilyn Vetter, president and CEO of Pheasants Forever, Inc. and Quail Forever. “Jerrod, Dan, Brett, and Keith embody the strengths of PF & QF and our volunteers throughout the pheasant and quail ranges. Their backgrounds as landowners, farmers, biologists, and most of all, downright advocates for our habitat conservation mission, ensure the success of The Habitat Organization.” Learn more at the link below https://quailforever.org/BlogLanding/Blogs/Quail-Forever/New-Officers-Instated-for-Pheasants-Forever-and-Quail-Forever’s-National-Board-of-Directors.aspx

Quail Fact Friday!💡 Bobwhite quail are born to die! … well, sorta. Biologists call bobwhites “r-selected species,” meaning they experience high annual mortality rates. Bobwhites counterbalance this high mortality with prolific reproduction, known as fecundity. Factors like habitat quality, weather conditions, nest predator populations, and hunting pressure can influence their survival rates, with mortality sometimes reaching 70 to 80% annually. This is why bobwhites can seem sparse one year and bounce back the next. By ensuring high-quality habitat year-round, we can significantly reduce predation on bobwhites and support their population. Let’s work together to create habitat where bobwhites can thrive! #quailforever #quail #bobwhitequail #quailfactfriday

Helping to expand the upland conservation community, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are proud to announce new team member Karl Binns! In his role as community and inclusion program manager, Karl will work in collaboration with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and the organization’s employee team, volunteers, members, supporters, and future conservationists to attract a broader audience into upland wildlife conservation. He’s a proven leader with a seasoned résumé in agriculture and conservation including previous experience serving companies like Cargill, Merck Animal Health, and others. Learn more about Karl, and his new position at the link below. https://bit.ly/4foekgP

The Upland Newsroom, where we cover all things upland, Pheasants Forever, and Quail Forever. Here’s the latest from this past month. Topics discussed: - CDC regulations for importing a dog into the United States - Pheasant Nesting and Brooding Report - Quail Nesting and Brooding Report - New products and products for the summer Update: Since the time this was filmed, the CDC has made a change in the dog import regulations that go into effect on Aug 1st. You no longer need physical proof of rabies vaccine when coming into the US from countries that are considered rabies-free or low-risk in the past 6 months, the only new document you now need is verification of completion of completion of a CDC Dog Import Form online.

On The Wing Podcast Ep. 274: Chef Yia Vang on Wild Game Cooking and Outdoor Channel's "Feral" is live. Listen now at the link below, or wherever you get your podcasts. https://bit.ly/3WBmj2A Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Yia Vang, a Hmong American chef, restaurant owner, and host of Outdoor Channel’s television show “Feral.” Vang talks about growing up as a small game hunter, going on his first pheasant hunt in Wisconsin, and his perspective on the Hmong “balanced” approach to food. Episode Highlights: - Vang talks about his journey from college to chef and food truck operator to the owner of a new restaurant, Vinai, in Minneapolis. - Vang also explains how Andrew Zimmern’s producers “discovered” him, which led to “Feral.”

The Australian animated series about the six-year-old blue heeler puppy offers much to adult viewers – it is funny, poignant, thoughtful and silly. What you might be surprised to hear though, is it may also have something to teach us about farm bill politics. Join us now for something completely different, as we compare an episode of Bluey (yes, Bluey!) to the current situation surrounding the federal farm bill. We’re at a critical juncture—the year is more than halfway over and big elections are coming in the fall, but every moment that goes by before a new farm bill is passed means less possible money for conservation. We cannot afford to keep waiting, and neither can our favorite upland birds. Visit our blog below to read more. https://quailforever.org/BlogLanding/Blogs/Quail-Forever/Bluey-and-the-Farm-Bill.aspx