We wish you Merry Christmas from the uplands! As part of the upland conservation community, you have given many gifts to the “Habitat Organization,”, and the gift that matters to us most is you. From all of us at Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever, and on behalf of the uplands, a heartfelt Merry Christmas! Thank you for your commitment and your support. The uplands are a better place, and have a brighter future, because of you. We humbly ask you to consider a gift to the uplands during the year-end giving season.. Learn more below on our various ways to give. Merry Christmas! Quailforever.org/waystogive

On The Wing Podcast Ep. 297: Late Season Hunting Tips for Pheasants and Bobwhite Quail, is live. Listen now at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts. https://quailforever.org/BlogLanding/Blogs/Quail-Forever/Podcast-Ep-297-Late-Season-Hunting-Tips-for-Pheasants-and-Bobwhite-Quail.aspx Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Pheasants Forever Journal Editor Tom “Carp” Carpenter and Quail Forever Journal Editor Ryan Sparks for a back-and-forth conversation about late season bird hunting. Carp breaks down his six tips for late season roosters as they appear in his article “PhD Roosters” from the Winter edition of the PF Journal, while Sparks adds color to his six tips for late season bobwhite quail hunting from his article, “In the Thick of It.” Episode Highlights: - As listeners have come to expect, Carpenter drops classic “Carpisms,” like tootles and hellholes, while providing veteran hacks for finding skittish late season roosters when your hands are cold and the snow is blowing. - As a Nebraska native, Sparks focuses on late season bobwhites in the Great Plains by providing terrific tips for finding late season coveys, while also treating them with respect to survive harsh winter conditions. The On The Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan

This week, Congress passed several wildlife habitat conservation and outdoor recreation bills important to upland birds and upland hunters. The America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act, Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experience (EXPLORE) Act and the Wildlife Innovation and Longevity Driver (WILD) Act have all been passed on to President Biden to be signed into law. Learn more about what these bills mean for conservation by reading the full blog "Congress Sends Home Holiday Gifts for Conservation" by PF & QF Vice President of Government Affairs Ariel Wiegard, at the link below. https://bit.ly/49U4KQ9 It takes good habitat to produce abundant wildlife and opportunities to hunt—but it also takes robust public funding and sound conservation policy. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s dedicated Government Affairs team works in Washington D.C. and state capitols across America to create and secure funding for programs that benefit the uplands, from the rugged backcountry to the neighboring farm’s “back 40.” Thank you to our chapters, volunteers and members for the generous grassroots and Legislative Action Fund (LAF) support that makes this work possible.

Quail Fact Friday!💡 This holiday season, let’s celebrate the mountain quail. These unique birds are adorned with a large top knot and sport a striking chestnut eye patch. Found in high-elevation coniferous forests of the western U.S., mountain quail are the largest quail species in North America and thrive in snowy habitat. Mountain quail typically live in small family groups, often consisting of a pair and their offspring. These family groups provide increased foraging efficiency, safety, and warmth – and isn’t that what we are all looking for during the holiday season? #quailforever #quail #mountainquail #quailfactfriday

Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QF) are proud to announce a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The MOU solidifies decades of partnership collaboration to mutually conserve quality wildlife habitat through 2034 via habitat management of grasslands and uplands, conservation promotion, workforce development, and education and outreach. As part of the MOU, a work plan will be developed between both organizations to promote fish and wildlife management practices on public, Tribal and private lands. These habitat improvements may be implemented on Waterfowl Production Areas and National Wildlife Refuges or on private lands through the Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program and Farm Bill conservation programs. Both PF & QF and USFWS will also collaborate to recruit, educate, train and retain wildlife professionals imperative to the successful conservation work being done across the country. Read the entire announcement on this partnership at the link below. https://bit.ly/4gHGAe0 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

"Late-season quail hunting isn’t for the faint of heart. As quail hunters and their dogs start to feel the wear of a long hunting season, bobwhites begin to adjust their behavior. With birds becoming warier and concentrated in select habitats, adapting your strategy and paying attention to your surroundings becomes essential. Success now isn’t about numbers — it’s about embracing the unique conditions of the late-season, establishing personal hunting ethics, and appreciating the challenge of the hunt. Here are six tips to make the most of your late-season quail adventures." Read the full article "IN THE THICK OF IT" by Quail Forever Journal editor Ryan Sparks at the link below. https://quailforever.org/Forwarding/In-the-Thick-of-It.aspx

On The Wing Podcast Ep. 296: What the Proposed 'Threatened' Status Means for Monarch Butterflies and Upland Birds, is live. Listen now at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts. https://bit.ly/3P4I2vg Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Chief Conservation Officer Ron Leathers for a conversation with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Sergio Pierluissi and AnnMarie Krmppotich about the Service’s announcement last week proposing the monarch butterfly be listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act. The group talks about what this proposed listing means, what it doesn’t mean, and what role PF & QF can play in creating habitat for monarch butterflies and upland birds. Episode Highlights: - The group discusses public land and private land opportunities to improve grasslands habitat for monarchs, as well as for pheasants, quail, and prairie grouse. - Learn more about the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s announcement about the status of monarch butterflies at https://bit.ly/4iJN7XC The On The Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan