Teaming Up, Tackling the Tiger

By John Wartman

On April 4, 2024, more than 50 volunteers participated in the third annual Habitat Day at the Tiger Lake Wildlife Complex located in Carver County, Minnesota.

The complex, just west of the Twin Cities, includes both Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and Waterfowl Production Area (WPA) public lands.

The Carver County chapter of Pheasants Forever, under the guidance of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) land managers, organized a Habitat Day to improve local wildlife habitat and enhance pheasant populations.

The community event focused on several key habitat restoration tasks:

1. Removing Trees and Brush

A large area of encroaching trees was removed to help maintain open grassland areas preferred by pheasants and other prairie birds and wildlife. Volunteers used chainsaws, and brush removal hand tools of both the gas-powered and hand varieties, to eliminate remove targeted trees and brush. This e areas were then treated with herbicide to keep the unwanted plants at bay, creating a more suitable habitat structure.

2. Removing Old Telephone Poles

Obsolete telephone poles were removed to eliminate perches for predatory birds and improve the esthetic quality of the habitat. This task was performed by our partner organization, Hamburg Hunt and Fish Club, and required using heavy equipment and skilled operators too safely cut down and move the poles from the complex.

3. Removing Old Fence

Approximately one mile of old, unnecessary fencing and posts was removed. This action will reduce potential injuries to individuals and pets on the property, and further improve the esthetics.

4. Controlling Invasives

Invasive weed control teams worked to identify and remove invasive plant species that compete with native vegetation. This included manual removal, marking particular species, targeted herbicide application, and other appropriate control methods depending on the species present.

The benefits to the properties from all this work include:

• Improved nesting and brood-rearing habitat for pheasants
• Enhanced biodiversity by promoting native plant communities
• Increased habitat connectivity for wildlife movement
• Opportunity for community engagement in conservation efforts

Volunteers were organized into teams, each focusing on a specific task. Safety briefings and proper equipment was provided prior to the start of the day. The event concluded with a group lunch and discussion on the importance of habitat conservation.

By participating in this Hand-On Habitat Day, community members made a tangible difference in improving local wildlife habitat while learning about conservation practices. In fact, a representative from the Minnesota DNR stated that our efforts on the state property alone would have taken two individuals over 2 months to complete. The teams accomplished the work in one habitat day.

John Wartman is President of Carver County Pheasants Forever.

Hunting Cedars, Helping Wildlife

By Rusty Stroschein

On May 11, 2024, spring weather luck shined down on members of the Sakakawea Pheasants Forever Chapter and their families. They met on a sunny morning at the Audubon National Wildlife Refuge for a Hands-On Habitat day.

Nine youths walked around the visitor center, learning about local wildlife, while Refuge Manager Kelly Madsen spoke with the seven adults about the day’s task: removing cedar trees from the edge of Lake Audubon.

Kelly explained to the group that the eastern red cedar trees are an invasive “pioneer” species that choke out native grasses and destroy the local prairie ecosystem.

While the cedar trees may remind us of the holidays, they don’t belong on the prairie. They take over areas by spreading quickly and eliminating good wildlife habitat, an unfortunate consequence for an area designed to protect native flora and fauna of the grasslands.

According to the United State Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Audubon National Wildlife Refuge comprises more than 14,500 acres of habitat for migratory birds and waterfowl, endangered birds such as the whooping crane and piping plover, and year-round wildlife like the ring-necked pheasant, shar-tailed grouse and white-tailed deer. Established in 1956, the federal refuge protects wetland, grassland and island resting and nesting areas for more than 200 species of birds migrating the Central Flyway, along with native prairie birds.

It is notable that walk-in hunting for upland game and deer is allowed on refuge lands.

Due to its massive acreage, the Audubon National Wildlife Refuge is delighted to have volunteer assistance in the Visitor Center, education and outreach programs, trail checks, and hands-on opportunities like invasive species removal.

Fueled by water, coffee and donuts, the Sakakawea Pheasants Forever adults and family members joined Kelly alongside the Audubon shore. Kelly instructed the adults and older youths on what to remove, proper shears and pruners usage, and then accompanied them on the walk.

The day began cool and windy, but the sun was out, and as the group enjoyed nature as they worked, the need for jackets lessened. Cedar trees were hunted and removed by all, with the estimation afterward of nearly 500 encroaching saplings cleared and treated.

For me, the best part of the day was watching the young members participate.

Cohen, Liam and Lucie Bittner snipped trees with their parents Randy and Katie Bittner and their aunt, Chapter Treasurer Alicia Bittner.

My kids — Anson, Iver, and Declan — worked with me and mom Nyssa, as well as Habitat Coordinators Lynn and Sue Glock, and fellow McLean County Spartans wrestlers Brock and Hayden Skraba.

The Sakakawea Pheasants Forever Chapter was proud to partner with the Audubon National Wildlife Refuge in this Hands-On Habitat Initiative, and looks forward to many future endeavors.

Rusty Stroschein is President of Sakakawea Pheasants Forever.

Picking Up a Public Area

By Eric McManaman

Ninnescah Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, based out of Pratt, Kansas, held a spent shot shell and trash pick-up event on Saturday April 13, 2024 at Texas Lake Wildlife Area. Texas Lake is a diverse, 7,000-acre collection of habitats administered by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP).

Despite some extremely hot weather, we were excited to have 21 attendees for the event. There was a stiff south wind, and a large amount of smoke in the air due to some prescribed burns going on to our southwest.

The main focus of this event was to clean up the areas arounds Pools #1, #3, and #4. Pool #1 is always a hotspot for both waterfowl and mourning dove hunts, and is frequented by many local and regional hunters during those respective seasons. Pools #3 and #4 are small potholes that are surrounded by vast areas of native grasses and food plots designed for upland birds (pheasant and quail).

We picked up these respective areas as the most impacted by spent shot shells, trash and other debris.

This was our second year conducting this event at Texas Lake. We gathered many thousands of spent shells along with trash that had either been carried in by the consistent winds prevalent in this area, or left behind by those less respectful of public lands.

At the end of the day, we had accumulated more than five large trash bags of items!

All told, our group impacted more than 150 acres of prime habitat. The trash and shells were collected and disposed of into appropriate trash containers at the area’s headquarters.

During the event, we held a drawing for a shotgun using raffle tickets sold by chapter members prior to the event and on-site that day. A lucky winner was drawn, and the shotgun was later delivered to him thru our Federal Firearms License (FFL) partner. The net proceeds of this raffle will be utilized to further our chapter goals of youth involvement, education, habitat improvement projects and other events.

Our chapter is going on only three years old, but we have already impacted a large area in this region and work hard to continually bring new PF and QF members on board.

Next year, we hope to receive onX Hunt grant funding to stablish additional food plots in or around public wildlife areas, and trash removal on additional public lands.

Eric McManaman is President of Ninnescah Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever.

A Family Affair

By Cayla Bendel

Our group is the Capital City Lady Birds, a chapter of Pheasants Forever located in Bismarck, North Dakota.

As part of the Women on the Wing initiative, our chapter focuses on engaging more women in outdoor activities. Throughout the year, we organize a variety of events including pheasant hunts, fundraisers, habitat projects, shooting clinics, and other specialized activities such as feather craft nights.

Hands-On Habitat Month holds significant importance for our chapter. Each May, we eagerly anticipate participating in activities such as cleaning up and enhancing habitats, educating the community about the importance of these wild places, and exploring local ecosystems.

For Hands-On Habitat in 2024, the Capital City Lady Birds decided to host a clean-up project at a local Wildlife Management Area (WMA) — the Wilton Mine WMA located just east of Wilton, North Dakota.

We chose Wilton Mine because it represents accessible public land for many people in our community as well as out-of-state visitors, and is a WMA that our chapter members frequent.

The Wilton Mine WMA encompasses just over 300 acres. Despite our small chapter size, we managed to cover approximately half of this area during our project.

We were joined by eight adults, including one infant (mine). While Fischer didn't directly contribute to the clean-up efforts, we believe it is essential as a Women on the Wing chapter to host family-friendly events. This inclusivity aims to support children's exposure to the outdoors. We encourage our members and event guests to bring their children when appropriate, fostering an early appreciation for wildlife and habitat conservation.

While at the WMA, we diligently filled numerous bags filled with garbage, boxes, bottles and even wood ticks! Like many heavily-frequented public areas, the Wilton Mine WMA always requires ongoing cleanup efforts.

Our aim with this project was to inspire and motivate others to take action in maintaining their public lands, and to encourage responsible use of shared spaces. The photos capture a small portion of the trash we removed, our incredible group of volunteers, and some of the rejuvenated land featuring our chapter family, including President Emily Schroeder.

Cayla Bendel is outreach coordinator for the Capital City Lay Birds Chapter of Pheasants Forever.

Adopting Public Areas for Benefit of All

By John Smedberg

Fond du Lac County Pheasants Forever participates in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Adopt A Wildlife Area program. This program is a three-year commitment of time and funds for habitat work conservation, maintenance and improvement.

Fond du Lac County Pheasants Forever participated the past three years on the Mullet Creek Wildlife Area in eastern Fond du Lac County. Our current commitment for Eldorado Marsh area started in 2024 with at least 50 work hours per year provided by the chapter. Our first big day was April 27, 2024.

Eldorado Marsh is a 6,300-acre public property located just five miles west of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The property consists of wetlands, small oak openings, shrubs and grasslands. It is popular with pheasant, waterfowl and deer hunters, as well as bird watchers, hikers and other nature enthusiasts. The West Branch of the Fond du Lac River flows through the wildlife area.

The main activities of our habitat workday included parking and public access maintenance on eight locations throughout the marsh. Work included trash pick-up and new sign placement.

Additionally, six wood duck houses, 3 kestrel houses and 2 mallard hen houses were constructed and placed throughout the marsh. These houses will be monitored and maintained by the chapter throughout the term of the chapter’s Adopt A Wildlife Area commitment.

In all, 24 volunteers participated, providing more than 100 hours of service. The volunteers consisted of Pheasants Forever chapter members, high school trap shooting team members and coaches (Fond du Lac County PF provides monetary support to several local high school trap teams), high school outdoor club members, and other community members.

Construction of the houses was provided by the high schools as well as chapter members, with some of the materials provided by a local business, Wisconsin Building Supply.

John Smedberg is Habitat Chair for Fond du Lac County PF.

What will your chapter do for The Uplands in 2025?

Hands-On Habitat projects deliver essential conservation work while building community

Getting hands dirty side by side. Creating conservation wins on public lands. Building community. Feeling that special and good kind of tired together at the end of the day.

Every Hands-On Habitat effort is critical. And while some projects are mighty big, none are ever too small.

May is officially Hands-On Habitat Month, but any time of year that works for your people and your project is the right time! And now is the time to start scheming and planning.

Through dedicated on-the-ground volunteerism and in-the-dirt habitat projects, we challenge our chapters, volunteers and supporters to find time to host or participate in a project devoted to improving our upland landscapes.

Hands-On Habitat workdays hit the center of the bullseye when it comes to promoting and executing the Pheasants Forever habitat mission while engaging with your community.

Pheasants Forever is the sharp end of the conservation shovel — a shovel whose handle you hold.

Let’s all get busy and make a real difference for uplands near you!

Hands-On Habitat Project Examples

* Invasive species removal * Pollinator plantings * Tree removal * Brush management and removal * Pollinator plantings * Tree/shrub planting * Food plots * Trash clean-up * Stream cleanup and restoration * Wildlife water guzzler installation * Sign restoration * Parking lot maintenance * Fence and barbed wire removal * You name it!

Get Your Hands Dirty!

Learn more and get your hands dirty!
pheasantsforever.org/handsonhabitat#Learn