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» South Dakota State-of-the-State in the Nation's Pheasant Capital
Occurs Saturday at 3PM
With a pheasant hunting harvest averaging more than 1 million roosters annually, there is no doubt South Dakota holds the distinction as our nation’s “Pheasant Capital.” During this panel discussion, representatives will talk about the work being done by each organization to improve habitat for pheasants and create more access for public land hunters. The panel includes:
» Kevin Robling, South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department Secretary
» Todd Frerichs, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
» Matt Gottlob, Pheasants Forever’s South Dakota State Coordinator
» MODERATOR: Ryan “Cal” Callaghan, MeatEater’s Director of Conservation

» P.A.T.H.: South Dakota's Newest Access Program for Public Land Hunters
Occurs Friday at 5:30PM* and Saturday at 4:30PM*
Quality habitat, healthy wildlife populations, and an abundance of publicly accessible lands create a formula providing tremendous dividends for hunters, families, and communities throughout “Pheasant Country.” In South Dakota, Pheasants Forever has expanded the successful model of community-based conservation with the launch of its Public Access to Habitat (PATH) initiative. During this panel conversation, representatives will discuss the program, landowner enrollment options, and how to find available properties. The panel includes:
» Kevin Robling, South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department Secretary
» Ben Brettingen, onXHunt
» Sam Soholt, Public Land Tees
» Jake Hanson, Pheasants Forever’s Director of Development in South Dakota
» MODERATOR: Ryan “Cal” Callaghan, MeatEater’s Director of Conservation

*Immediately followed by a Happy Hour sponsored by Leinenkugel’s, YETI, South Dakota Game Fish & Parks, and onXHunt.

» Public Land Quail from Coast-to-Coast
Occurs Friday at 4PM, Saturday at 1PM & Sunday at 11AM
Quail Forever is the fastest growing segment of our organization with members representing the Southeastern United States, Great Plains, Desert Southwest, and Pacific Northwest. Our panel will cover public land quail hunting tips and tactics for the variety of quail species across all of these geographies. The panel includes:
» Michael Hook, South Carolina DNR Small Game Program Coordinator and Chair of National Bobwhite Technical Committee
» Tyler Webster, Host of Birds, Booze, and Buds Podcast
» Levi Day, PF & QF’s Conservation Leadership Program Manager
» Casey Cardinal, Resident Gamebird Biologist, New Mexico Game and Fish and Chair of Western Quail Working Group
» Ryan Sparks, Quail Forever Journal Editor
» MODERATOR: Andy Edwards, Quail Forever’s Program Manager

» Hunter Access on America’s Public Lands
Occurs Friday at 1PM
Every day, decisions are made in Washington DC that impact upland birds and habitat—as well as access and opportunity for upland hunters. We are pleased to welcome officials from across the federal government to discuss the ways in which policy is opening new upland and grassland acres for hunting pheasants, quail, and other game species.

» Public Land Creators
Occurs Friday at 3PM, Saturday at 12PM & Sunday at 1PM
Since the organization’s 1982 creation, PF & QF has helped to permanently create more than 1,810 projects representing 229,846 acres of public land for wildlife and hunters. Additionally, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s efforts have helped expand state walk-in programs throughout the country. This exciting session will pull back the curtains on the variety of ways “The Habitat Organization” is working to create more access for the public land bird hunter. Presenters include:
» John Laux, PF & QF’s Permanent Habitat Protection Programs Manager
» Eric Sytsma, PF & QF’s Habitat Protection Officer

» Wings and Wanderlust: A Guide to Successful Pheasant Hunts on Public Lands
Occurs Friday at 5PM, Saturday at 4PM & Sunday at 12PM
Keng Yang will share personal insights and expertise as he demystifies the art of successfully finding pheasants on public lands. Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or a novice explorer, join Keng for this enriching experience into the uplands empowering you to navigate the vast landscape and ensure a triumphant pheasant hunt.

» Do It Yourself Sage Grouse
Occurs Saturday at 2PM & Sunday at 12:30PM
Seasoned sage grouse enthusiast Michael Peyton shares tips on pursuing the icon of the West. Plan out your next upland hunting adventure by learning more about this species’ unique biology and preferred habitat. Peyton has hunted sage grouse in multiple states and his talk will cover population trends, hunting regulations, and public land opportunities.

» Grouse Trail & Grouse Conversations
Occurs each day
We’re excited to bring back the Grouse Trail featuring our partners in grouse conservation which includes a grouse viewing blind of all 12 grouse species displaying and door prizes for everyone that visits all three grouse organization booths! In conjunction with these groups having booths on the show floor, we’re also excited to have these groups providing sessions on their respective grouse species on the Public Lands Stage throughout the weekend. The 2024 Grouse Trail partners include:
» Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society
» North American Grouse Partnership
» Wisconsin Sharp-tailed Grouse Society

» Ask the Editors: Public Land Hunting Tips & Tricks
Occurs Saturday at 11AM
Join a trio of editors representing three of the largest publications in the uplands for a conversation about public land bird hunting tips covering the pheasant range of the Midwest to the quail range of the Great Plains to mixed-bag adventures in the West. The panel includes:
» Tom Carpenter, Pheasants Forever Journal Editor
» Kali Parmley, Gun Dog Editor
» Ryan Sparks, Quail Forever Journal Editor
» MODERATOR: Ryan “Cal” Callaghan, MeatEater’s Director of Conservation

» Public Access To Habitat (PATH)
As part of the Public Lands Pavilion, we’ll be raising funds for our Public Access To Habitat (PATH) program. PATH provides an additional sign-up incentive ($25 per acre) for landowners to open quality habitat to public recreation. Consequently, each $25 donation will result in a new acre of public access and every $250 contribution leads to 10 new acres of access. As part of the Public Lands Pavilion, the following businesses have agreed to donate 10% of their revenue to our PATH program to open more public access in South Dakota
» Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society
» Public Land Tees
» North American Grouse Partnership
» Wisconsin Sharp-tailed Grouse Society

Learn more about our Public Access to Habitat program at pheasantsforever.org/PATH.