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In case you didn’t know, Pheasants Forever is celebrating their 25th Anniversary as a non-profit organization. Remember this when you’re having an elevator conversation: More than 650 PF chapters have spent nearly $200 million on wildlife habitat projects and education, benefiting wildlife on 4.4 million acres across the U.S. Nice work if you ask me. And I’m sure the pheasant are happy. Pheasant hunters, too.
WI’s DNR is accepting applications until August 1 for one of 695 sharp-tailed grouse hunting permits. The season runs from October 10 thru November 11. Last fall, 403 applicants applied for 775 permits, and hunters harvested 28 birds. It’s though to find these birds and perhaps that’s the best part of the hunt. Why don’t you take on the challenge of WI’s sharp-tails. The chuck, chuck, chuck of their flush is enough to get even an old-time grouse hunter’s heart pumping.
Othmar hails from up north. Up north from Maine, Vermont, New York, and on the other side of the lakes from Wisconsin, Michigan--you get the picture--he's in British Columbia, Canada. Originally by way of Switzerland. His blog Outdoors With Othmar Vohringer is a must-read since Othmar knows no borders when hunting or blogging. I like him even if he does call grouse "Ditch Chickens." Click on his blog or any of the others he authors (when does he have the time?) and tell him Upland Feathers sent you.
Box end label.
Plain brown cardboard box with logo.
All component secured in foam within the cardboard box.
Can you say glossy stock?
Receiver retro fitted from a 12 gauge.
Three different choke tubes.
Trigger lock.
Twin action bars.
Wingmaster's Jesus nut and plug.
All dressed up.
Shooter's eye view.
"I am Darrell and I am an outdoorsman" is how Darrell describes himself and his blog alphatrilogy.com, which chronicles his adventures in the field and on the water. All Darrell needs is a bow or rod, a video camera,and an internet connection and he could be his own production company. Like I said we’re nepotistic and yes, we hunting bloggers can pronounce multi-syllabic words. Give Alpha Trilogy.com a click and tell Darrell, Upland Feathers sent you.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife has given the green light to OH’s early migratory bird hunting season. The woodcock hunting season opens October 12 and runs through November 25. The limit is three birds a day and a season limit of six birds. Of course you might want to loosen up on dove. The dove hunting season starts September 1 and ends October 14 and then starts again from November 10 through November 25. The daily limit is 15 birds and a season limit of 30 birds. Now I don’t know about you but the shotshell manufacturers will see a spike in business with me during dove season.
The MN DNR is taking applications for hunters wanting to hunt turkeys or prairie chickens, or both. Deadline is July 27. There will be 4,490 fall turkey permits offered and 182 permits for the prairie chicken. The prairie chicken season is two birds per hunter and remember you can also take sharp-tailed grouse while hunting prairie chickens. MN estimates the prairie chicken population at 1,760 adult male prairie chickens and expects four times as many in fall.
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever need your content for a book they are putting together to celebrate their 25th anniversary. They are requesting game recipes (not necessarily pheasant or quail specific), hunting stories, and hunting photos. PF/QU want submissions from as many states as possible from across the country. Let’s see which state represents the best. Send your submissions to pfcookbook@meredith.com, by Tuesday, July 17th.
The Newtown Bee in Connecticut ran a story about a lonesome pheasant rooster as it reminisced about how old CT used to be: pastureland and fields, dairy farms. The Bee suggests the landscape has changed along with the wildlife. Deer, coyote and even black bear are denizens of our quaint and McMansionish cul-de-sacs. The lone rooster, however, seems the odd bird out. You see pheasant are rarely seen after the fall hunting season because of northeast's harsh weather, loss of habitat and sustainable food, and predators. So how did this bird find its way to CT? States in the northeast run pheasant stocking programs. Pen-raised pheasant are release on public lands during small game season for pheasant hunters. These released birds are put-and-take, much like stocked trout, and are expected to be harvested. Few hold over for next year. That’s why it is such an oddity to find this rooster in a CT backyard crowing for some companionship while visiting a backyard birdfeeder. Some bird hunters don’t partake of pheasant stocking programs saying it isn’t true hunting, that it’s a canned hunt. I think this old rooster has a different story to cluck about. He’s the one that got away along with 30 others according to reports by the CT Audubon Society. And that is proof of fair chase. That's a good thing. I’ll continue to hunt CT’s public lands and fight to save any lands that may come under the developer’s bulldozer. I will also support rod and gun clubs purchasing land and releasing pheasant on those lands. And to use Gorham Cross' words we'll leave a seed bird or two for next year.
Over the next 30 days, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forest Service will hold an online public forum to solicit comments on the proposed annual work plans for Green Ridge, Pocomoke, Potomac-Garrett and Savage River State Forests. You can review and comment on the proposed plans by going online from June 25 through July 24, 2007. Here’s your chance to comment and make a difference all from the comfort of your home. So after you are done reading this blog and your other favorites go the DNR website and add your $.02.
Pheasants Forever (PF) and the National FFA Organization have teamed up on a national level to focus on building student leadership and instill a conservation ethic in young adults. Through a variety of projects and programs, like habitat projects, a local PF chapter hooks up with their local FFA chapter. The new collaboration gives young adults the opportunity to satisfy their interest in conservation and wildlife management specifically in such areas as natural resources, habitat, land stewardship and activities beyond production farming. The collaboration seems like a natural fit.
Ruffed grouse in Minnesota are not to be out drummed by Wisconsin ruffs. You may recall a recent post about the increase in the WI grouse population for a second straight spring. MN ruffs are not to be out done and are at their highest level in seven years, according to the Star Tribune in Minneapolis. In fact MN’s grouse population has jumped 30% and grouse hunters and their dogs have silly grins on their faces. The Star Tribune says the increase, which is calculated during Department of Natural Resources spring drumming counts, follows a 25% rise last year. This two-year spike fits in with the typical 10-year grouse cycle the population. If the population was at its lowest in 2005 then now the DNR predicts that grouse action should be hot and heavy for at least the next four or five years. On average, hunters harvest 545,000 ruffed grouse per year. The Saint Cloud concurs and says the DNR suspects the population cycle will peak between 2008 to 2010. It’s the DNR’s goal to have the harvest level increase to 600,000 to 650,000 birds per year. Not only do the grouse have something to crow about, sharp-tailed grouse counts in both the northwest and east-central regions have increased. And prairie chickens counts at their leks in western MN spiked 45% from 2006.
When you hear about land grabs it is usually bad news. Some developer buys your favorite covey grounds and once again you need new spots to hunt old ruff. Well this land grab in PA benefits bird hunters. The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners approved funding four options that could increase the State Game Lands system by more than 340 acres. The four areas include:
MassWildlife totaled a record 2,480 birds taken by turkey hunters this spring season. Worcester County led the harvest with 640, Berkshire County came in second with 465, and coming in third with 425 was Franklin County. Last year's spring final total was 2,204.
The Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) will hold its 6th Annual New York Sporting Clays Challenge in Millbrook, NY on Friday, July 13. For $250 you get 100-target, 15 station shoot. Plus four boxes of shells, lunch, and complimentary raffle ticket on a shotgun.
As any waterfowl hunter knows, the federal government via the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, produces the yearly Federal Duck Stamp, and requires hunters to purchase the stamp in order to hunt any waterfowl species. Duck Stamp sales raise about $25 million in revenue to help purchase wetland habitat for the National Wildlife Refuge System. The stamps also serve as an entrance pass to National Wildlife Refuges with admission fees. The new stamp was unveiled on June 22nd at Bass Pro Shops’ Springfield, MO, flagship store in partnership with Ducks Unlimited (DU). If you are interested in habitat conservation, but not necessarily a duck or goose hunter you should still purchase a stamp for conservation sake. Two ring-necked ducks in full breeding plumage are featured on this year’s stamp, which was created by Delaware artist Richard Clifton.
