Pheasants Forever, Forever

                    Posted by Wayne G. Barber

The conservation organization celebrates 33 years of fighting the good fight.
   On August 5, 1982, something clicked in the minds of several hunters. Upland habitat was being destroyed or converted and pheasant populations were declining. Hunters were losing both the game birds and the land to hunt them on, and quickly. The connection was duly noted, and the group of hunters set about creating Pheasants Forever to improve pheasant habitat. The organization concentrated on working at the grassroots level to improve the areas pheasants call home. Pheasants Forever continues that local-level effort today by working with property owners to implement better land management techniques. Known as "The Habitat Organization," the non-profit has spent more than $500 million on habitat projects, encompassing 10 million acres in North America. Pheasants Forever participates in land acquisitions to ensure upland habitat is permanently protected, making Pheasants Forever a real possibility and not just a catchy name.
The organization relies on increasing the quality and quantity of land in order to increase the amount of birds. It opposes pen-raised bird stocking into wild populations, and works to instruct the public in more sound management practices. Much of their energy is focused on education, including youth conservation and public awareness. There are more than 700 Pheasants Forever chapters with a total membership of more than 140,000. Each chapter is able to control the money it raises and see the benefits of its hard work at the local level. Only the annual membership dues of $35 go to the organization's headquarters, which works to advocate for pheasants at the state and national level. Improving pheasant habitat has fringe benefits as well. Pheasants Forever's efforts provide better land practices for quail and other upland birds, too. Pheasants Forever formed its own quail division, Quail Forever, in 2005 to combat the similar decline in quail that pheasants had suffered.
With 33 years down and countless upland birds aided, the future of upland hunting looks bright thanks to Pheasants Forever.
Source: Sporting Classics Daily