How CRP Can Help Save a Prairie Icon
The performance begins at first light on a windswept expanse of northwestern Oklahoma prairie. First one, then two, then a half-dozen birds glide into the small clearing, each staking out its own small piece of territory. Then - as if on cue - they begin a ritual as old as the prairie itself.

‼️Giveaway Alert‼️ Each week during this years Bird Dogs for Habitat competition our generous sponsors will be giving away fantastic prizes to those who vote. During week one, everyone who votes for their favorite bird dog breed is entered to win a SportDOG Brand SportHunter 1275 E-Collar! To enter, go vote now through Sunday for the bird dog breed you think should be crowned champion! Winner will be announced Monday 4/10. 🔗Link Below! https://quailforever.org/bd4h Be sure to check back each week throughout the month of April for more chances to win! . . . and help us raise money for public lands through our Build a Wildlife Area program!

The upland conservation community's most provocative popularity contest, BIRD DOGS FOR HABITAT is back! If you’re not familiar, Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever's Bird Dogs for Habitat campaign challenges you to cast a vote on behalf of your favorite bird dog breed. The breed sitting atop our leaderboard at the end of April will be crowned champion and have bragging rights for all of 2023 so vote early, and vote often! HEAD TO THE LINK BELOW TO VOTE NOW! https://quailforever.org/bd4h HOW IT WORKS: Every vote is a dollar, and every dollar will support our upland wildlife habitat mission. New for this year, we’ll be directing your Bird Dogs for Habitat donations to our Build a Wildlife Area program. Habitat protection, enhancement and public access are at the core of this program and we know this is what will make your four-legged best friend happy - because good bird habitat is good bird dog habitat! WHEN YOU DO VOTE YOU’LL EARN PRIZES, here’s a breakdown of what you’ll receive: 10 VOTES – Limited-Edition Bird Dogs for Habitat Decal 20 VOTES – Limited-Edition Bird Dogs for Habitat Decal + Exclusive Orvis Bird Dogs for Habitat Bandana 500 VOTES – Bird Dog Life Membership to PF or QF (with choice of SportDOG collar or Yeti Dog Bowl) Limited-Edition Bird Dogs for Habitat Decal + Exclusive Orvis Bird Dogs for Habitat Bandana BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE! Thanks to our generous sponsors Purina Pro Plan, SportDOG Brand, Ruff-Land Kennels, Orvis, and NAVHDA International we’ll be giving away weekly prizes – so make sure to check the Bird Dog Leaderboard and learn what you can win each week Each week there is a giveaway, and each vote you submit enters you into that giveaway! Today through Sunday, anyone who submits a vote will be automatically entered to win a SportDOG® Brand SportTrainer®1275. The winner of the giveaway will be announced every Monday! NOW GO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE BIRD DOG BREED!

“When push comes to shove, all Invitational handlers rely totally on their gunners. Many (most) are not running dogs, often buy their own shells, walk their butts off, are under serious pressure, get little credit for great shots, and occasionally get grief for their rare misses. In my opinion, they are the under-acknowledged backbone of the test.” The above words, spoken by Tim Otto, president of NAVHDA and an Invitational judge, couldn’t be more true. To learn more about the unsung heroes of the invitation head to the link below. This article brought to you in partnership with NAVHDA International

The bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) was re-introduced this week by Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Thom Tillis (R-NC). If signed into law, RAWA would provide states, territories, and tribes $1.39 billion annually to help restore habitat and protect threatened species. Learn More at the link below. 🔗: https://bit.ly/3K3vuBt

On The Wing Podcast EP. 208: Introducing PF & QF’s New President & CEO Marilyn Vetter, is live! 🔗 Link below to listen now. Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Marilyn Vetter for her inaugural podcast interview as the organization’s new president and chief executive officer. The conversation starts off fast and fun with Vetter explaining how she was tapped for jury duty her first week on the job at PF & QF, then moves into a wide range of topics from bird dogs to volunteerism to her SWOT analysis of the organization and her vision for The Habitat Organization’s future. Episode Highlights: - Vetter talks about developing a passion for the uplands while growing up on the family cattle farm in North Dakota, then becoming a bird hunter with her high school sweetheart and now husband, Clyde - She also explains the role bird dogs have played in her personal life and volunteer ethos - This must-listen episode lends important insight into our new leader’s perspective on how our habitat mission won’t change. The vision of how we accomplish those habitat goals, however, must constantly evolve to be successful.

No matter what species you are managing, the question is always the same, “What does the data say?” Quail Forever’s own “Quail Hunting Forecast” relies on data that is reported by state small game biologists. Monitoring is critical for measuring success, and bobwhites are no exception. Bobwhite quail are an “R-selected” species that have high reproductive rates coupled with high mortality rates. Populations can fluctuate widely from year to year depending on weather, habitat, predation, and other factors. so yearly monitoring is needed to effectively track changes. With most animals, it is impossible to count every individual, so we use multiple methods to help track population changes. Some methods only provide an indication of presence or absence of the species and others give us an estimation of population structure and size, but all methods allow us to track trends over time. This information can be used to gauge effectiveness of management programs, identify areas that are lacking, and to direct state wildlife agencies in setting harvest regulations. 🔗 To learn more about the different methods used for quail monitoring head to the link below to read "Keeping the Eye on the Prize," by state quail biologist for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division Dallas Ingram, and Working Lands For Wildlife Bobwhite Framework Coordinator for Quail Forever Dr. Jessica McGuire