Pheasants Forever and Minnesota DNR: 25 Years of Habitat Enhancement Partnership
DNR will have strong presence at PF’s National Pheasant Fest 2008
Saint Paul, Minn. – January 11, 2008 – Pheasants Forever (PF) and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are celebrating 25 years of partnering to improve wildlife habitat in the state. PF will formally celebrate its 25th Anniversary at National Pheasant Fest 2008 presented by Cabela’s at the Saint Paul RiverCentre in downtown Saint Paul on January 18th, 19th and 20th, 2008.
PF formed in Saint Paul in 1982. “It’s only fitting that Pheasants Forever’s 25th Anniversary celebration is in Minnesota, where the organization began,” said Mark Holsten, MN DNR Commissioner, “The DNR is proud to have been partners with Pheasants Forever all these years, and we look forward to continuing that partnership for the benefit of wildlife across this great state.”
“To really make an impact on wildlife habitat, you need great partnerships,” said Howard Vincent, PF President and CEO, “Since our first goal of passing the Minnesota Pheasant Habitat Stamp, Pheasants Forever and the DNR have been closely involved. We couldn’t have had near as much of an impact on Minnesota wildlife without the DNR, and we’re looking forward to accomplishing even more in the next 25 years.”
Some highlights accomplished in tandem by Pheasants Forever and the DNR
include:
Minnesota Pheasant Habitat Stamp
PF’s first-ever goal was passing the Minnesota Pheasant Stamp to help raise funds for pheasant restoration. PF’s first publication, a newsletter entitled “Rooster Tales,” encouraged the then 500 PF members to push for passage of the Stamp. The support worked, and today the Pheasant Stamp is required of all Minnesota pheasant hunters ages 18 through 64. Pheasant Stamp sales generate money for habitat enhancement efforts on both public and private lands in the pheasant range of Minnesota. In its 25 years of
existence, total sales of the Minnesota Pheasant Stamp have surpassed 2.6 million, and the Stamp has raised over $14.6 million for habitat enhancement impacting over 200,000 acres of private & public habitats.
Today, PF is renowned for working with private landowners. The Minnesota Pheasant Stamp policy was also a hint of things to come in the form of the federal Conservation Reserve Program – a 39-million acre grassland conservation initiative many credit PF with continuing and expanding. “PF remains steadfast in its goal to put grassland habitat on the ground,” Holsten said, “Their leadership in forging active partnerships to
accomplish this goal is known across the nation. The proof of their efforts is written on the land in the pheasant range of MN and enjoyed by many.”
WMA Partnership
Since 1989, Pheasants Forever has donated over 5,500 acres of land valued at $5.8 million to Minnesota’s State Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Program. These lands involved 88 different WMAs in 32 counties across the pheasant range. PF has also contributed over $770,000 in cash to help purchase WMA lands. In addition, PF chapters have provided $96,000 through the RIM Match program to develop native prairie, winter cover, and other needed habitat enhancements on WMA lands. PF has been successful in
securing millions of state and federal dollars to help purchase WMA lands through such programs as the North American Wetland Conservation Act and the Habitat Corridors Project. PF has donated or helped fund over 27,000 acres of new public hunting land in Minnesota, and has been the biggest supporter of the WMA acquisition program.
Farm Bill Assistance Partnership
Beginning in FY 2003 the DNR, Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), and local Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) entered into a partnership with PF to hire 35 outreach technicians in the pheasant range of MN. These technicians, located in local SWCD offices, assisted individual private landowners in first understanding, and then enrolling their lands into federal and state conservation programs. By 2006, farm program enrollments had grown to over 1 million acres of habitat in Minnesota’s pheasant range. Much of this growth can be attributed to the efforts of these local technicians, thanks in large part, to this partnership with PF.
Heritage Enhancement Grants
PF chapters in Minnesota have completed over 300 habitat projects on state Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) through The Heritage Enhancement Grant program since 2002. The Heritage Enhancement Grant program is administered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and provides funding to conservation groups in an effort to accelerate habitat management on public lands. This partnership takes on projects that are in addition to the field work already being completed by DNR field staff. Since the HE Grant program began in 2002, PF has received over $1M in grant funds for grassland enhancement, prescribed burning, and woody cover development work. This work has resulted in habitat improvement on more than 8,000 WMA acres.
National Pheasant Fest 2008 and 25th Anniversary Convention
National Pheasant Fest 2008 presented by Cabela’s will combine a national consumer show, habitat seminar series, and family event complete with puppies, tractors, shotguns, and art. In fact, the Fest promises to be the country’s largest event for upland hunters, sport dog owners, and wildlife habitat conservationists.
Dave Schad, DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife Director, said the DNR will have a strong presence at National Pheasant Fest 2008. “We’ll be reaching out to landowners, families and youth,” said Schad, “We’ll be offering archery, laser shooting and other hands on activities in the youth village. Similarly, our habitat staff will be on hand to help people who want to improve their lands.” The DNR is one of the sponsors of the Landowner Habitat Help Room at National Pheasant Fest 2008, where landowners will have the opportunity to receive free one-on-one advice from expert wildlife biologists.
National Pheasant Fest 2008 Adult admission tickets are $10 per person, per day. Admission tickets for youth ages 6-16 are $5 and children under the age of 5 are free. Attendees may also purchase a three-day weekend pass at the door for $30. This daily pass includes a year’s membership to Pheasants Forever and a PF hat. National Pheasant Fest opens at 1 PM on Friday, closing at 9 PM. Saturday hours are 9 AM to 6 PM, while Sunday hours are 10 AM to 5 PM. For more information about National Pheasant Fest 2008 presented by Cabela’s, please contact Pheasants Forever toll free at (877)773-2070 or log onto www.NationalPheasantFest.org.
