Ten Rivers Habitat/Conservation Efforts
Pheasants Forever's members are truly passionate about conservation and creating, preserving and restoring habitat that benefits pheasants, quail and other wildlife. That's why Pheasants Forever provides the most efficient conservation model of any organization. PF's unique model empowers local chapters with the responsibility to determine how 100 percent of their locally-raised conservation funds will be spent. Whether it's through improving habitat, informing the public about land management or educating future generations of hunting enthusiasts, conservation is the underlying principle in all we do at the grassroots level of our chapters all the way to Washington, D.C. when we fight for strong conservation policy.
Creating, restoring and maintaining habitat is a constant battle. We invite you to join Pheasants Forever in our quest to ensure a country rich in natural resources and long on people willing to work to preserve them. After all, natural resources - pheasants, quail and other wildlife and the land, air and water on which they live - are our greatest resources.
In the five or so years the Ten Rivers Chapter has been around, we've accomplished quite a bit in terms of on-the-ground habitat conservation. Here are just a couple of the projects we've assisted with...
A couple months ago I met with a landowner, Joe, who had heard about the CP33 program and inquired about the specifics of the "quail buffer." After telling Joe that this continuous CRP practice paid landowners annual rental payments to establish native grass buffers along the edges of their crop fields, I made sure to throw in that there was cost-share to cover the establishment expenses. But Joe was still apprehensive.
So I threw the best sales pitch I could muster - I pointed out that the farm operators would benefit from higher average yields, that the program paid guaranteed annual rental payments for ten years, that there was a $100/acre signing bonus, and that the establishment costs were up to 90% cost-shared. I was sure that with a pitch like that, he'd sign up right there on the spot...He didn't.
He was interested, yes, but he told me that if he was going to convince the rest of the family (co-owners of the farm) to agree to sign up, he needed real numbers. So we sat down and started figuring costs and incomes and I realized that there was a serious flaw in my sales pitch earlier. Due to recent increases in native grass seed prices, the establishment costs weren't anywhere near 90% covered. That was almost the deal breaker, until I offered a potential solution - Pheasants Forever.
I told Joe that through the Ten Rivers PF chapter, I would be able to provide some additional cost share to help offset the establishment costs. After going over some more numbers, Joe was confident that we had come up with a working solution that the rest of the farm owners would buy into.
Turns out, he was correct. They signed up for the program and now have better than a mile of buffer established on their farm. It has turned out to be a beneficial program all around. Joe is already seeing more quail and other wildlife, the other owners of the farm are satisfied with the income the program generates, and the crops just beyond the buffers are faring far better than those along field edges that lack buffers. Joe recently commented, "[my farmers] should be paying me for this program. Where there are no buffers, at least the first dozen rows of corn are knee-high and don't even have measurable ears. Where there are buffers, the corn is eight-foot tall and has two big, full ears."
And he is already discussing the possibility of enrolling more acres once the crops are out. This is a perfect example of how a little creativity with cost-share can go a long way toward healthier fields, healthier incomes, and healthier quail populations. For more information on CP33, cost-share programs, or how to get healthier quail populations on your own property, contact me any time.
- We helped with a rather costly native grass restoration project on the David/Ryan Keith farm near Ewing, MO. This was nearly a $1,000 project and we provided much of the funding for it. We also purchased the native grass drill the Keith's used to plant the grasses. That drill, along with several other pieces of habitat management equipment, is available for rent to any landowner looking to manage his property. For descriptions and rental rates of all available equipment, check out the Rental Equipment page.
- We have helped with numerous other projects as well, often supplementing government programs with chapter cost-share funding. Conservation Practice 33 (CP33), otherwise known as "Habitat Buffers for Upland Birds" is growing in popularity in Lewis County. This program pays annual rental payments for producers to retire the edges of their crop fields and plant them to wildlife-friendly native grasses. Since the edges of fields are generally low-yielding anyway, producers are finding this program very beneficial to their farming operation. To find out more about CP33, call our PF Private Lands Specialist, Chris Lee, at (660) 216-2520.
We also believe that one of the key components to conserving habitat is educating the public. Thus, we also help put on numerous programs and sponsor numerous events and activities throughout Lewis County and the surrounding area such as...
- We sponsored the 3rd Annual Lewis County Conservation and Wildlife Field Day which took place June 2nd at Deer Ridge Conservation Area north of Lewistown, MO. Over 250 people attended the event that featured instructor-led shooting sports, habitat tours, and a free meal. At the event, we gave away 5 youth memberships and one Lifetime Hunting License. The winner...Ryan Waterman, 11, from Durham, MO. Check out the Education page to read more about that.
- This spring, we hosted a youth turkey hunt. Though we didn't harvest any turkeys, we still had a pretty good time. Mark Herwig, editor of PF Journal, came down to do a story on it for the Upland Tales magazine.
- We also sponsored several youth in their trip to the National 4-H Shooting Sports Competition in South Dakota this year. Our Missouri competitors did quite well, finishing 2nd overall.
Check back occasionally for updates on what the chapter has been up to. If you have a project or event you'd like us to help out with, contact any chapter member. We'd love to help out.
Recent Press Releases
Pheasants Forever Plugs In Outdoor Channel as New National Sponsor
July 24, 2008
Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QF) are proud to announce that Outdoor Channel is the organization's newest national corporate sponsor. The partnership teams the organization's conservation mission with Outdoor Channel's goal of delivering a conservation message to sportsmen and women across the country.
...morePF Brings Upland Bird Enthusiasm to America's Original Game Fair
July 24, 2008
Bring the family and enjoy the newest equipment and advice the upland game world has to offer at Pheasants Forever Hill. Taking place at the 2008 Game Fair from August 8-10th and again from August 15-17th, Pheasants Forever Hill will be packed with action sure to entertain and inform people of all ages. From 9 AM to 6 PM daily, people will have the opportunity to meet knowledgeable experts in dog training, pheasant hunting, and conservation. PF Hill will also have exciting activities for young attendees.
...morePheasants Forever Supports Minnesota's Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment
July 21, 2008
Pheasants Forever (PF) strongly endorses voting YES for The Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment on the November 4th ballot. The Saint Paul-based national non-profit conservation organization has also recorded public service announcements (PSAs) in support of voting YES for the Amendment critical to ensuring Minnesota's outdoor future.
...moreHabitat Keys Highest Minnesota Pheasant Harvest Since 1964
July 21, 2008
Minnesota's 2007-2008 pheasant harvest of 655,000 roosters is the highest-recorded total since 1964, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Pheasants Forever (PF) notes the critical role quality habitat has played in the ring-necked pheasants' resurgence across Minnesota's farm country.
...moreProposed $14 million Budget Cut for Illinois DNR Threatens Conservation Efforts
July 18, 2008
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich recently unveiled a proposal to cut the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) budget by $14 million. Illinois Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QF) fear the cuts could severely hamper the IDNR's conservation efforts and their ability to partner with conservation organizations.
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