Mission-centric projects and programs to begin in North Dakota, Kansas and Washington
Pheasants Forever is proud to announce a trio of new chapters helping kickstart 2023 for The Habitat Organization. The local volunteer groups are spread out across the country’s historic pheasant range, and each will provide a welcomed boost to habitat work, hunter recruitment and fundraising efforts in their respective areas.
Unique among national conservation organizations, chapters of Pheasants Forever retain 100 percent decision-making control over their locally-raised funds. This allows chapter volunteers to develop wildlife habitat projects and conduct youth conservation events in their communities, while belonging to a national organization with a voice regarding state and federal conservation policy.
For anyone interested in getting involved with their local chapter or attending a banquet, check out our chapter locator and find-an-event pages.
Mooney Creek Chapter - Northeast Kansas
The Mooney Creek Chapter is based in northeast Kansas. The chapter has plans to host learn-to-hunt activities and pollinator planting days in the coming months, followed by their first banquet in fall 2023.
“It's exciting stuff and their head is in the right spot -- their motivations to do good work for our mission is what it's all about,” said Hunter Moore, a Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever regional representative in Kansas. “I couldn't be more excited and thankful that they're getting ready to make a big impact.”
For more information on the Mooney Creek Chapter, contact chapter president Casey Willyard at casey.willyard@gmail.com. To learn more about Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever in Kansas, contact Hunter Moore at (479) 322-8308 or hmoore@pheasantsforever.org.
Tri-Cities Chapter - Washington
The Tri-Cities Chapter is taking off on the western edge of the pheasant range in south-central Washington. The Tri-Cities chapter is based in Benton and Franklin counties and is looking to make a big impact on local habitat.
“The Pacific Northwest is where pheasants were originally introduced to the U.S., so our new Tri-Cities chapter is excited to continue celebrating the history of pheasant hunting in the region,” said Chad Harvey, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s regional representative in Washington. “They’ve got a solid core group of members and are off to a great start. I can’t wait to see what the rest of 2023 brings for them.”
For more information on the Tri-Cities chapter, contact chapter president Bob Parks at bobparks70@aol.com. To learn more about Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever in Washington, contact Chad Harvey at (503) 957-2634 or charvey@pheasantsforever.org.
Souris Valley Chapter - North Dakota
The Souris Valley Chapter is headquartered in Minot, N.D., but will cover all of the surrounding counties. The chapter is helmed by Tyler Webster of the Birds, Booze and Buds podcast, who said he’s excited for what’s to come.
“We’re hoping to hold an event every six weeks or so once we get things going,” he said. “We have a lot of passionate hunters and bird dog owners in the chapter, and we want to focus heavily on both habitat work and youth events in 2023.”
The chapter’s first event will be a pint night on April 21 at the Buffalo Wild Wings in Minot. They’re also hoping to hold a youth shooting event an area hunt club as well as a mentored hunt during North Dakota’s youth pheasants season this fall.
“The support to fledge a chapter in Minot has been incredible and I'm excited to see our mission take root in the community,” said Renee Tomala, a senior field representative in North Dakota. “The charter members of Souris Valley are hitting the uplands running and will undoubtedly have a great impact in their local area through public access efforts, outreach events focused on diverse audiences, youth and Women on the Wing, as well as creating more quality habitat by working in tandem with our NW precision ag & cconservation specialist.”
For more information on the Souris Valley chapter, check them out on Facebook and Instagram.
Tomala and other Pheasants Forever staff in North Dakota are also looking to start chapters in both Valley City and Bottineau. If interested in starting or joining a chapter, or for more information on Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever in North Dakota, contact Renee Tomala at (701) 220-8769 or rtomala@pheasantsforever.org.