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Public Lands Stage reaches into the very hearts of PF & QF members

By John Laux

The Public Lands Stage at 2025’s National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic features an exciting lineup of dynamic speakers. Find the stage in the Public Lands Pavilion, an exhibitor area celebrating our country’s 800 million acres of publicly accessible land that are open to all Americans for hunting, hiking, birding, exploring, and other recreation of many descriptions.

The 2025 National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic will take place at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Missouri on March 7-9, 2025.

Here is a highlights preview of the impressive roster of sessions we have scheduled on the Public Lands Stage:

Jump to Stage Schedule

“Public Access to Habitat” (P.A.T.H.) National Program Launch

Occurs: Saturday at 11AM

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever (PF&QF) is unveiling a new and exciting national initiative that aims to expand public hunting access on private lands and facilitate access to land-locked public lands. Building on the proven success of pilot programs in South Dakota and Nebraska, PF&QF is teaming up with onX Hunt to take P.A.T.H. to the next level — helping to ensure the uplands are open to everyone!

Panel Discussion: State Legislative Updates - 2025 Trends in Conservation Funding

Occurs: Sunday at 11AM

Dedicated state conservation funding remains a top legislative priority to help ensure successful conservation policy from habitat protection, public land access, and a wide variety of efforts that are vital to protecting our natural resources and hunting heritage. Join Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever government affairs staff along with fellow top policy partners for the latest updates from your state capitals.

Panel Discussion: Missouri/Kansas “State-of-the-States”

Occurs: Saturday at 12:30PM

Ever wonder what’s being done in your home state to conserve upland bird populations? Look no further! Moderated by MeatEater’s Ryan Callaghan, this panel features leadership from MDC, KDWP, PF & QF, and NRCS. Join conservation leaders from Kansas and Missouri to discuss current trends in bird numbers, habitat, and access. This panel will highlight key initiatives and partnerships that are working to improve upland bird habitat and create more public hunting access in the Show Me and Sunflower States.

Panel Discussion: Public Land Quail from Coast-to-Coast

Occurs: Sunday at 12PM

Join renowned quail hunting enthusiasts from across the country to learn public land quail hunting tips and tactics for the 6 quail species that inhabit North America’s diverse landscapes. Moderated by PF & QF’s Tim Caughran, this panel features Georgia DNR’s Dallas Ingram, onX Hunt’s Ben Brettingen, PF&QF’s Levi Day, and Tyler Webster of the Western Wingshooter Podcast.

Public Land Strategies for Bobwhite Quail

Occurs: Friday at 1PM / Saturday at 5PM / Sunday at 10:30AM

Join seasoned public land hunters (and MDC biologists) Frank Loncarich and Kyle Hedges to learn how coveys move in relation to seasonality, social dynamics and hunting pressure. The speakers will discuss what specific habitat types to look for, tips for finding pressured birds on public land, and how to adjust your hunting strategies as the season progresses. This information is based on several years of radio telemetry research on wild bobwhites that examined their interaction with hunters and bird dogs.

Anatomy of a Public Land Pheasant Hunt (+7 Tips for Success)

Occurs: Friday at 2PM / Saturday at 2PM / Sunday at 1PM

Join Pheasants Forever Journal Editor Tom “Carp” Carpenter, a veteran of 52 years’ worth of public land pheasant hunting, as he breaks down a day’s hunt. Success starts with good strategy. But it doesn’t happen without specific tips, techniques and approaches for cornering birds, once you and your dog are on the ground.

onX Hunt 101 MasterClass

Occurs: Friday at 2:30PM / Saturday at 2:30PM / Sunday at 2:30PM

Geared for novice onX users, this 1-hour seminar will provide an introductory tutorial on how to use the Hunt App to its full potential both at home and in the field. OnX Hunt's Jack Hedlund will provide a live demonstration and Q&A session that will unlock a whole new way of learning, giving you the confidence and tools you need to be a better upland bird hunter.

Come celebrate YOUR public lands at this year’s Public Lands Pavilion. The stage schedule following gives you the full line-up. Sorry to say, it might be hard to pull yourself away from the Public Lands Stage!

Seminar Schedule

2025 National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic:
Public Lands Stage

The 2025 National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic will take place at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, MO on March 7-9. Passes and more information can be found at: PheasantFest.org.