Hunting & Heritage  |  02/10/2016

National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic 2016 from A to Z


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Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever’s biggest event of year, National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic 2016 presented by Federal Premium Ammunition, will take place in Kansas City on February 19, 20, & 21. The event has something for everyone and is a “can’t miss” event for hunters, dog lovers, foodies, farmers, and prairie lovers. Here’s an “A to Z” look at some of the events biggest attractions.
 
All German Gun Dog Aisle (Booth 946 - 938). Bird dogs of all shapes, sizes and breeds are always the favorite attraction of attendees young and old. This brand new attraction features Deutsch Drahthaar (German Wirehaired Pointer), Deutsch Kurzhaar (German Shorthaired Pointer), Deutsch Langhaar (German Longhaired Pointer), Deutscher Wachtelhund (German Spaniel) and Kleine Münsterländer (Small Munsterlander).
 
Birds and Bees (The Bee Hive). A new exhibitor area devoted exclusively to the connection between honey bees, monarch butterflies, pheasants, quail and quality habitat. The Bee Hive is sponsored by Bayer CropScience.
 
CRP General Signup (Landowner Habitat Help Room). If you own land anywhere in the country, be sure to visit with one of our biologists at the Landowner Habitat Help Room where they can walk you through conservation options on your property to improve habitat and earn cost share for conservation. The Landowner Habitat Help Room is presented by Polaris Ranger.   
 
Drake White (Saturday Banquet). The emerging country star will headline our Saturday night banquet entertainment. Tickets are still available to this exclusive fundraiser and intimate concert for only $75 which includes braised beef short rib dinner. Drake White is a dot records recording artist being sponsored for the evening by Federal Premium Ammunition.
 
Exceptional. That’s the word Charity Navigator used to characterize Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever’s performance as a non-profit organization. Rest assured that your attendance, membership, and donations at National Pheasant Fest will help us continue to deliver our wildlife habitat mission.
 
Federal Premium Ammunition (Located in Vista Outdoors Booth 2026+). Thanks to our organization’s longest running national sponsor and the presenting sponsor of National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic 2016.
 
Guns. Browning to Benelli. 28 gauges to air rifles. Franchi to Caesar Guerini. We’ve got all the 2016 makes and models for you to get a look well before it’s time to head back to the fields, forests, and ranges.

Hank Shaw (Wild Game Cooking Stage). Made his first Pheasant Fest appearance in Kansas City back in 2012 and Hank returns by popular demand to bring his James Beard award-winning take on wild foods to life on the Wild Game Cooking Stage presented by Gander Mountain.
 
Johnny Cash Tribute Concert (Friday Night Banquet). If you love “The Man in Black’s” music, then you won’t want to miss Gary West’s performance following Friday night’s Bird Hunter’s Banquet. Tickets are still available for this unique fundraiser and private concert which includes a smoked bbq chicken dinner for $55.
 
Kansas Pavilion (Aisles 2225-2241 & 2226-2242). We’re thrilled to be returning to a city with world-renowned barbecue, an exciting night life, and home to the 2015 World Champion Royals.
 
Last Buffalo Outfitters (Booth #2315). These fine folks hosted Quail Forever’s 2015 media hunt in Oklahoma last autumn. The outdoor reporters are still raving about the bird numbers, hospitality, and habitat. Plan your own destination hunt or fishing adventure with one of our many lodges and outfitters.
 
Monarch Butterflies (The Bee Hive). Help our country’s plummeting monarch populations by visiting the Save Our Monarchs.org booth #1941 to pick up a packet of milkweed seed. Not only is milkweed important to monarchs, but valuable to pheasants, quail, and honey bees as well.
 
National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative (Booth #2204). The brightest bobwhite quail minds from across the country have joined forces to write the quail recovery plan known as NBCI. Find out what’s happening in your state to turn the tide for quail.
 
Outstanding PF Merchandise Deals (Pheasants Forever Merchandise (2000 aisle). We’ll have a great combination of close-out merchandise that will fly off the racks and some of the newest 2016 items never before seen in our catalog.
 
Pheasants. In 1982, a group of Minnesota pheasant hunters formed Pheasants Forever to turn the tide for habitat. Today, the organization is the nation’s most effective and efficient force improving upland habitat for pheasants, quail, and other wildlife.   
 
Quail Summit (Saturday at 9:30AM in Room 2215B). Our first-ever Quail Forever Quail Summit brings together policymakers, biologists, hunters, landowners, and the public to discuss long-term habitat solutions for the recovery of America’s bobwhite quail.
 
Ranger from Polaris (Feed the Breed). Do you believe your bird dog breed is the best breed of bird dog and are ready to prove it? Visit the FEED THE BREED raffle on the show floor to prove your breed loyalty and you may also win a brand new Polaris Sportsman 570 EPS.
 
South Dakota Pavilion (Booths 1519 -1499 & 1520-1500). After a 42 percent increase in pheasant numbers this past year, “The Pheasant Capital” is positioned well to make another leap if the winter continues to be relatively mild. Plan your 2016 pilgrimage to the pheasant promise land by visiting the lodges and outfitters located in booths 1519 -1499 & 1520-1500.

Tom Bruno’s Major League Adventures (Booth #1504). Once upon a time, Tom was a right-handed pitcher for the Royals, Cardinals, and Blue Jays. Today, he takes aim at South Dakota roosters instead of catcher’s mitts. Talk baseball, bird dogs and birds in booth 1504.
 
U.S. Bank’s Pheasants Forever Visa Card (Booth #1120). Since 2005, people who use the Pheasants Forever Visa Card have generated $750,000 for habitat through their everyday purchases. Help us create more habitat by signing up for a PF Visa Card at the show and you’ll receive a special gift from U.S. Bank.
 
Vizsla (Bird Dog Bonanza Stage). The Bird Dog Parade opens the weekend festivities at noon with more than four dozen different breeds participating and dozens more breed clubs on the floor to show off their favorite breed of bird dogs. From puppies to pros and pointers to retrievers, learn from the best dog trainers in the country on the Bird Dog Bonanza Stage presented by Purina and SportDOG.
                                                                                                                                     
Wild Game Chefs (Wild Game Cooking Stage). As hunters, preparing and serving flavorful wild game dishes connects us to the land, conservation, and hunting memories. Award winning wild game chefs Stacy Lyn Harris, Hank Shaw, and Mark “Uncle Millie” Millis will headline this popular demonstration stage presented by Gander Mountain.   
 
X Marks Your Next Upland Hunting Spot. In addition to the tourism divisions from states like Kansas and South Dakota, you’ll find regional tourism representatives, guides and outfitters to help you book your dream trip.
 
Youth Village. Learn biology, dog training, firearms safety, fishing skills and more in this hands-on, interactive feature focused on getting the family outdoors and into nature.
 
Zoom Dog Supplements (Booth #1400). Gear junkies will find everything they need on the show floor. From human hunting vests to bird dog vests and dog supplements to hand lotion, there is something for everyone.
 
The trade show is open to the public all three days with a $10 admission ticket. Tickets are also available for the Friday Night Bird Hunter’s Banquet featuring Gary West’s “For the Love of Cash” Johnny Cash Tribute Show and Saturday night’s banquet featuring Dot Records Recording Artist Drake White.
 
The event will also highlight Pheasants Forever's accomplishments in the states of Missouri and Kansas, home to a combined 39 Pheasants Forever chapters and 30 Quail Forever chapters. Local chapters in the two states account for a combined 10,823 members who have spent over $7 million to complete 15,966 wildlife habitat projects impacting 327,895 acres for wildlife habitat conservation efforts.

The Pointer is written by Bob St.Pierre, Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever’s Vice President of Marketing. Follow Bob on Twitter @BobStPierre and listen to Bob and Billy Hildebrand every Saturday morning on FAN Outdoors radio on KFAN FM100.3.