Individuals and groups recognized from Arizona, Georgia, South Carolina, and South Dakota. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever recently presented four respected wildlife professionals with Conservation Service Awards during the 88th North American Wildlife & Natural Resources Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. The award winners were selected for their distinguishing contributions to wildlife habitat conservation efforts nationwide, including landscape-level habitat improvements through cooperative partnerships and direct mission delivery of critical programs for upland birds, pollinators, and other wildlife. Read about the recipients and learn more at the 🔗 link below.

Support for Bird Dogs For Habitat continues to provide great places for your four-legged friend to roam, and all of that beautiful habitat means there’s plenty of opportunities for them to perhaps range a little too far. Luckily, the SportDOG Brand® SportTrainer® 1275 has a ¾ mile range and waterproof technology that allows you to communicate and correct your bird dog safely in any situation. Learn more about the SportDOG Brand SportTrainer® 1275 at the 🔗 link below! Now through Sunday 4/9 when you vote for your favorite bird dog breed through Bird Dogs for Habitat you'll be ENTERED TO WIN the SportDOG Brand SportTrainer® 1275. So go vote while there is still time! 🔗 Link can be found within this article or at our website! https://bit.ly/40Sa953

Bird Dogs for Habitat is in full swing, don't forget to vote for your favorite breed (🔗Link Below)! Here are just a few of the PF & QF employee bird dogs that love to adventure in the places we love to protect! In Order: 🐶 Huckleberry - English Setter, Handler: Wesley Hanks 🐶 Mojo - Lab, Handler: Will Clayton 🐶 Buda - Viszla, Handler: Dave Schwarz 🐶 Theodore - GSP, Handler: Jess Mannion 🐶 Crosby - Cocker Spaniel, Handler: Ethan Boertje 🐶 Millie - Drahthaar, Handler: Rachel Bush 🐶 Leuven - GSP, Handler: Phil Bastron 🐶 Jaxon - English Pointer, Handler: Jared Wiklund 🐶 RLee - Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Handler: Josh Hobbs 🐶 Reese - GSP, Handler: Marissa Jensen Which breed will be crowned champion of Bird Dogs for Habitat this year?! Go vote, and see all the great prizes and ways to win at the 🔗 link below! https://quailforever.org/bd4h A thanks to all of our Bird Dogs For Habitat sponsors: SportDOG Brand, Purina Pro Plan,Ruff Land Kennels, Orvis, & NAVHDA International

Sorghum for BIRDS: A Kansas Collaboration for Wildlife, Water, and Profitability
Sorghum is The Grain that Gives™. When paired with conservation practices across sprawling landscapes, this resource-conserving crop plays a critical role for the connection between wildlife populations, soil health, water quality & quantity, and farm-level profitability.

The Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act of 2023 was introduced by Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) earlier this week. The new bill, touted by conservation groups as a critical investment for the future of hunting and fishing in America, would strengthen the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP) – a popular component within the federal Farm Bill helping create public access for outdoor endeavors on private lands. VPA-HIP offers competitive grants to states and tribal governments to be used as incentives for private landowners to voluntarily open their lands for public use, while upholding private property rights. The “Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act” would reauthorize VPA-HIP and increase funding from $50 million to $150 million over five years, a legislative priority supported by more than 30 hunting, fishing, and conservation organizations. 🔗 Learn more at the link below. https://quailforever.org/BlogLanding/Blogs/Quail-Forever/Voluntary-Public-Access-Improvement-Act-Introduced-in-U-S-Senate.aspx?

On The Wing Podcast EP. 209: Properly Starting a Puppy on the Path to Becoming a Bird Dog, is live! link below to listen now! Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Mike Wieben, head dog trainer at Dokken’s Oak Ridge Kennel, for a conversation with PF & QF’s Logan Hinners, the proud new owner of a young Labrador retriever puppy named “Trek.” Over the course of the episode, Wieben coaches Logan on properly introducing Trek to birds, gunfire, water, and electronic dog training tools. Episode Highlights: - Logan describes his hopes for Trek to become a “5-tool” bird dog who will accompany him in the uplands, in the duck blind, and in search of shed antlers - Wieben explains the importance of separating obedience training from bird & gun introduction to build a puppy’s prey-drive and foster a pup’s connection to fun associated with birds - Wieben also discusses the various SportDOG BRAND® e-collars available for training and hunting REMINDER: Bird Dogs for Habitat is happening now! Bird Dogs for Habitat is an online popularity contest with a purpose. From April 1st through 30th we’re challenging people to cast a vote and make a donation on behalf of their favorite bird dog breed. Every dollar donated equals one vote and every donation will help create more permanently protected and publicly accessible places for our bird dogs to roam via our Build a Wildlife Area program. learn more at the link below. This episode of the On The Wing Podcast is brought to you by SportDOG Brand

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.