Pheasants Forever Blogs

PF Backing N.D. Clean Water, Lands and Outdoor Heritage Amendment

Field Notes — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:00:03 +0000

[caption id="attachment_8540" align="aligncenter" width="576" caption="Much of North Dakota's CRP - like this grassland - lies in the Prairie Pothole Region, a wildlife producing factory for waterfowl and pheasants. Photo by Anthony Hauck / Pheasants Forever"][/caption] Pheasants Forever is part of a coalition strongly supporting the proposed Clean Water, Lands and Outdoor Heritage Amendment in North Dakota. The measure would establish dedicated funding for water, land and wildlife conservation in North Dakota. Pheasants Forever says a dedicated conservation funding source is the only mechanism that can stem the tide of prairie and grassland losses in North Dakota. Approximately 145,000 acres of North Dakota native prairie were converted to cropland between 2002 and 2007, and North Dakota has lost about 1 million acres of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land, with another 1.2 million acres scheduled to expire by the end of 2012. These reductions not only threaten soil and water quality, but the state’s pheasant population, which has historically been among the top three in the country. Bird hunting has always been an economic driver for the rural communities of North Dakota. The massive habitat losses not only threaten the future of upland and waterfowl hunting in the state, but will lead to increased soil erosion and degraded water quality. The state constitutional amendment would establish a Clean Water, Lands and Outdoor Heritage Fund that will receive five percent of the total revenues generated from taxes collected from the production and extraction of oil and gas. The coalition estimates the fund could generate million annually, based on current state oil production and price projections. Other states have passed similar dedicated funding initiatives for conservation, including Arkansas and Missouri and, most recently, Minnesota’s Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in 2008 and Iowa’s Water and Land Legacy Amendment in 2010. “Wildlife and hunting are part of the North Dakota culture. This amendment aims to keep it that way during this time of great change on the North Dakota landscape,” says Jesse Beckers, Pheasants Forever’s North Dakota Regional Representative, “Development and loss of CRP acres have and will continue to negatively affect wildlife populations unless sweeping action is taken. Pheasants Forever prides itself as ‘The Habitat Organization,’ and is committed to the Clean Water, Lands and Outdoor Heritage Amendment in North Dakota as the right step for aggressively supporting conservation in North Dakota.” Pheasants Forever, with its 31 local chapters and 4,100 members in North Dakota, and its five coalition partners – Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, National Wildlife Federation, Audubon and the North Dakota Natural Resources Trust – are working to gather 26,904 qualified signatures before August 8, 2012, in order for the measure to be placed on the November 6, 2012, general election ballot. For more information about Pheasants Forever’s efforts in North Dakota, contact Jesse Beckers at (701) 202-8120 / jbeckers@pheasantsforever.org. Field Notes are compiled by Anthony Hauck Pheasants Forever’s Online Editor. Email Anthony at AHauck@pheasantsforever.org and follow him on Twitter @AnthonyHauckPF.

Naming my Second Bird Dog, Part 2 of 2

Bob St. Pierre — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:13:00 +0000

[caption id="attachment_8496" align="aligncenter" width="599" caption="Introducing our second bird dog pup. Photo Courtesy of Kreig Jacque."][/caption] As I reported in the first installment of this blog, my wife and I will pick up our second bird dog this weekend. The pup will be a 10-week old female German shorthaired pointer from the same bloodlines as my five-year old GSP, “Trammell.” Trammell is named in honor of my childhood hero, Alan Trammell, who played baseball for the Detroit Tigers during my formative years growing up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Truth be told, my wife used her veto power to overrule my favored name for this new pup. Had I the sole vote in the matter, the new GSP would be named “Fidryich.” You see, Fidrych references Mark “The Bird” Fidrych, the deceased Detroit Tigers pitcher, 1976 American League Rookie of the Year, Yankee killer, and pop culture transcending character. “The Bird” was known for his quirky personality, which included grooming the mound and talking to the baseball between pitches. To me, Fidrych’s nickname – The Bird – made it a perfect fit for a bird dog’s name. [caption id="attachment_8492" align="alignright" width="240" caption="Mark "The Bird" Fidrych graces the June 6, 1977 cover of Sports Illustrated."][/caption] My wife’s veto was used because of the tragic nature of “The Bird’s” life and untimely death. You see, Fidrych flamed out after a torn rotator cuff injury ended his career after only a few shortened seasons. Then in 2009, Fidrych died while working underneath his 10-wheeled dump truck. In the best interest of a happy marriage, her veto ultimately ended this name’s contention. And in all honesty, I can see her point. It’s probably bad karma for the new pup to name her after such a tragic character. So, back to the drawing board I went. Finalists included:

Whitaker (call name Whit) – referencing Trammell’s double play partner with the Detroit Tigers, Lou Whitaker.

Yooper (pronounced You Pur) - I grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and some would say I’ve never left either. Ultimately, this name didn’t make the cut because it also happens to be my nickname with some circles of friends.

Bine (pronounced BeNay) - The Ojibwa word for ruffed grouse was a contender for a moment, but ultimately it seems odd for a Pheasants Forever guy to have a dog name referencing a bird other than a pheasant.

So ultimately, I circled back to a name I’d penciled in years ago for bird dog number two: [caption id="attachment_8493" align="alignright" width="265" caption="Steve Yzerman on the cover of Sports Illustrated"][/caption] Yzerman (pronounced I zer man / Call Name Izzy) Steve Yzerman is my generation’s Gordie Howe. The retired center and captain of the Detroit Red Wings, Yzerman was to hockey fans from Michigan what Alan Trammell was to Tigers fans during my childhood years of the ‘80s. Ultimately, the call name of Izzy will be an easy two syllable pronunciation in the field, I’ve never encountered another hunting dog with the name and it personalizes the pup to me while adding on to the story of my Michigan upbringing with Trammell as my bird dog tag team. Did we make the same choice you would have made in selecting our second bird dog’s name? The Pointer is written by Bob St.Pierre, Pheasants Forever's Vice President of Marketing. Follow Bob on Twitter @BobStPierre. [caption id="attachment_8505" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="At 10 weeks, Izzy is already looking "birdy." Photo courtesy of Kreig Jacque."][/caption]

SportDOG Conservation Fund Grant Applications due Aug. 1

Field Notes — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:11:51 +0000

Pheasants Forever chapters or members with a wildlife habitat project or program in need of support are encouraged to apply for the ,000 grant from the SportDOG Brand Conservation Fund program. Applications must be submitted by August 1st, 2012. For more information about the grant application process, click here. The selection process for this year’s applications has changed so that fans and conservation supporters will have the final say. From SportDOG: We are turning it over to you all to pick the winner of the biggest grant to date! This year we are asking that all applications be submitted by August 1, 2012. On September 1, 2012, we will announce seven (7) qualifiers selected by the SportDOG Conservation Committee. At this point, we will turn the voting over to you. You all will have the chance to vote for your favorite of these seven projects, and at the end of the contest, the applicant with the most votes will be awarded a ,000 grant. The project with the second most votes will receive a ,000 grant. This is a great opportunity to garner support for your application, your organization and your conservation goals. Get those applications in soon, and please check back often to find updates on the applicants and contest. SportDOG will also be awarding one (1) ,000 youth grant to lead support to and recognize a group or individual whose efforts are focused on a better tomorrow for wildlife. Learn more about the SportDOG Brand Conservation Youth Grant program here. SportDOG Brand created its Conservation Fund program in 2007, and introduced the annual grant program in 2008. Field Notes are compiled by Anthony Hauck Pheasants Forever’s Online Editor. Email Anthony at AHauck@pheasantsforever.org and follow him on Twitter @AnthonyHauckPF.

The Permanent, “Poor Man’s” Food Plot

Field Notes — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:05:39 +0000

By Pete Berthelsen, Pheasants Forever Senior Field Coordinator [caption id="attachment_8472" align="aligncenter" width="576" caption="Giant Ragweed is a naturally occurring plant through the pheasant and quail range that will produce seeds of excellent value, as well as the type of growth that provides brood-rearing and fall cover that birds will benefit from. Photo courtesy Pete Berthelsen / Pheasants Forever"][/caption] Throughout the year, I’m often contacted by landowners that have questions about their food plot projects and their frequent frustrations over not producing the food plot results they originally had in mind. When those discussions happen, I run the landowner through the “Food Plot Test,” which consists of the following questions. 1. Do you lack the time or equipment to perform cultivation, fertilizing and spraying your food plot? 2. Do you have a hard time getting traditional food plot mixes to grow in your soil conditions? 3. Do you struggle getting traditional food plot mixes to grow in your moisture conditions? 4. Do you typically plant your food plots and then walk away? 5. Do you want to place food plots in the same location each year? 6. Are your management goals to provide great pheasant and quail habitat? 7. Are you interested in food plots that will naturally reoccur year after year once established? 8. Are you interested in food plots that can be established by broadcast seeding? 9. Do deer often eat your food plots before they can provide the desired benefit to birds? If your answer was “Yes” to at least four of these questions, you should consider planting your next food plot to Giant Ragweed. Giant Ragweed is a native, annual plant that grows from 3’ to 12’ tall. It goes by many names, but this plant common across most of the country is a powerhouse when it comes to producing seeds that are valuable to wildlife, especially upland game birds like pheasants, quail and prairie chickens. A food plot of Giant Ragweed offers the following advantages: 1. Provides a food source that has some of the highest usable energy values for wildlife: a key bonus to getting birds through the winter in better physical condition to produce increased nesting results the following spring. 2. A food plot that can be established with simple disking and broadcast seeding as well as traditional planting with a drill. 3. Once planted, you can walk away and not have to cultivate, fertilize and spray. The plant is an early succession species and will perform well in conditions with minimal attention and management. In addition, it will do well in many soil types including sandy and poor soil types. 4. While an annual plant, Giant Ragweed can be encouraged to return year after year as your food plot with a simple light disking. In personal habitat projects, Giant Ragweed plots have consistently maintained themselves for 6 years with little to no management. 5. Giant Ragweed is typically not attractive to deer, so these food plots should easily be around in the fall and through winter for upland game birds. 6. When you consider the savings associated with time, spraying, fertilizing and multiple years of benefits, it’s probably the least expensive food plot you can plant! Give this ‘Permanent’ Food Plot option a try this year. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to make this one of the most productive food plots on your property. Giant Ragweed seed is available through Pheasants Forever. Orders can be placed by calling (308) 428-3062. Field Notes are compiled by Anthony Hauck Pheasants Forever’s Online Editor. Email Anthony at AHauck@pheasantsforever.org and follow him on Twitter @AnthonyHauckPF.

Naming my Second Bird Dog, Part 1 of 2

Bob St. Pierre — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:41:48 +0000

[caption id="attachment_8451" align="alignright" width="336" caption="Pictured here is Hope, my new pup's dam. Photo courtesy of Top Gun Kennels"][/caption] Bird dog names are a big deal to me. Admittedly, they’re probably too big of a deal. However, as I’ve written about in previous posts about dog names, a bird dog’s name says a lot about the owner as well as what you hope the bird dog will become. In naming a bird dog, there are two qualities I hold as important guidelines: creativity and personalization. Creativity Although you may not realize it at first blush, a creatively named dog is an advantage in the field. I’ve often been in hunting groups with multiple dogs named the exact same way. Not only are the owner’s commands confusing for the dogs, they’re confusing for the other hunters too. Under this guideline, I personally throw out the nation’s most popular dog names as well as a few names commonly popular to other bird hunters. The names “Drake” and “Hunter” fall in this second category, as does any name referencing your favorite brand of shotgun. If you’re struggling to find a creative name, consider a different language to fit the breed of dog you’re getting. There are lots of fun ways to connect a dog's German, French, Spanish, English or Irish heritage through their name. Personalization For me, a bird dog’s name should tell a story about the owner. Read some of the comments at the bottom of my Please Don’t Name Your Bird Dog That post and you’ll find fantastic examples of dog names in honor of people’s heroes, favorite book characters and idolized musicians, as well as fun stories of the circumstances surrounding the dog’s personality. Admittedly odd for some to understand, I named my now five-year old female shorthair “Trammell,” in honor of a male Detroit Tigers baseball player, Alan Trammell, who retired two decades ago. However, naming my pup “Trammell” immediately personalized that pup to me. Her name has also always served as a conversation starter about my love of baseball and my roots as a grouse hunter from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. [caption id="attachment_8454" align="alignright" width="360" caption="Pictured here is Fletcher, my new pup's sire. Photo courtesy of Top Gun Kennels"][/caption] Later this month, my wife and I will be adding our second bird dog to the family. The new pup comes from the same Top Gun Kennel bloodlines as Trammell. In the sequel to this post, I’ll finally spill the beans on our new pup’s name. Got any guesses? The Pointer is written by Bob St.Pierre, Pheasants Forever's Vice President of Marketing. Follow Bob on Twitter @BobStPierre.

Hunt, Gather, Cook Pheasant Pasta

Bob St. Pierre — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:35:11 +0000

One of my absolute favorite new books of the last year is Hank Shaw’s Hunt, Gather, Cook. Shaw skillfully blends his personal narrative with unique recipes in this creative exploration of foraging, hunting, and fishing for nature’s “forgotten feast.” If you made it to National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic last February, then you hopefully had the chance to catch Hank’s fantastic presentations on the Outdoor Channel Cooking Stage. It was with Hank’s ethos in mind that I prepared this evening’s meal. My cluttered countertop included one rooster from a memorable December pheasant hunt in Kansas, a few dozen wild morel mushrooms scored with the assistance of my FAN Outdoors radio partner “The Captain” Billy Hildebrand, and a few stalks of wild asparagus snipped at my secret railroad tracks spot not far from the Pheasants Forever national offices. Here’s the skinny on my Hunt, Gather, Cook Pheasant Pasta

Ingredients 1 Cubed whole pheasant 4 Cups of fresh morel mushrooms 1 Cup of fresh wild asparagus 2 Cups of angel hair pasta 1/2 Cup of heavy cream ½ Stick of butter 1 tsp flour Olive Oil Salt to taste

Directions 1) Sauté the cubed pheasant in olive oil until brown, lightly salt 2) Sauté the morel mushrooms in ¼ stick of butter till reduced (approximately 5 minutes on medium heat) 3) Boil the angel hair pasta till tender 4) Melt ¼ stick of butter over low heat, add flour and whisk until blended, add cream, simmer on low heat. 5) Boil asparagus al dente, so they are crisp 6) Combine pheasant, mushrooms and pasta 7) Pour cream sauce over the top 8) Add asparagus 9) Serve

Thanks to my sous chef and wife, Meredith, for helping me out in the night’s finished dish. The Pointer is written by Bob St.Pierre, Pheasants Forever's Vice President of Marketing. Follow Bob on Twitter @BobStPierre.

What’s Unique about a Western Pheasant Hunt?

Mark Herwig — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:07:28 +0000

I’ve hunted 30 states for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever magazines in my 14 years as editor – some east, but most west of the Mississippi River. For those of you who have never hunted upland birds west of the Mississippi, here are a few tips. It’s dry out west, so bring your drinking water. As for the dog, if the prairies are dried up, bring water for them too or carry it in your truck in a large cooler. If the prairies potholes and cattle ponds are full, I don’t worry about the dogs finding enough water to drink and dunk in. Because the ground is often dry, it usually is hard and often rocky, making walking on 50-year-old legs an ordeal if you go too long. Bring good boots, socks and know your limit. [caption id="attachment_8401" align="aligncenter" width="576" caption="Access, variety and stunning sunsets await the western pheasant hunter. Photo by Anthony Hauck / Pheasants Forever"][/caption] Bring a field lunch. It takes too long and gas is too expensive to drive to any far away town, and many don’t have restaurants or grocery stores anyway. Why waste time driving, bring some chow. The sun can also be brutal out west where dry air, high altitudes and sunny skies can fry your eyes and exposed body parts…I wear a brim hat, sunglasses and kerchief for my neck. By and large, you’ll eventually find birds, so don’t lose your cool: take your turn, slow down. While hunting near Winner, S.D., I once saw a flock of wild birds fly from corn into a grass field for a night roost that was some 20 yards high and about half mile long. Some folks might come unglued, start salivating and run at such a sight, but in the land of Great Faces and Great Places, this ain’t all that unusual. Be ready to shoot at any number of other upland birds (if they’re in season) such as Hungarian partridge, sharp-tailed and pinnated grouse (prairie chickens), doves, waterfowl (non-tox shot only) and quail…..bobwhites in the near west, valley quail in the northwest. Speaking of diverse wildlife, bring some field glasses. The west is great for spotting game or just birding or looking for big deer because of few trees and unobstructed views go further than you can see. Once, on my way home through Montana, I stopped and glassed some rimrock country and spotted a big mule deer bedding on a high ridge; on a butte in Wyoming, I came upon a family of red fox romping around; on South Dakota’s Badlands Loup (a great break from I-94), I glassed trophy bighorn sheep, antelope and bison. Western landscapes are big and potentially dangerous: I’ve hunted such remote areas of Wyoming and other states that if the truck broke down, we probably would have died if unprepared. Tell folks where you’re going; bring survival supplies. The Great Empty is great until you keel over from exposure. By and large, western licenses are cheaper, come in 1-3-7 day tags (if you prefer) and there aren’t as many regulations to remember – a welcome reprieve from red tape. Hey, this fall, try something adventurous……and go west young man, go west. The Nomad is written by Mark Herwig, Editor of the Pheasants Forever Journal and Quail Forever Journal. Email Mark at mherwig@pheasantsforever.org.

Your Fido is Fat

Andrew Vavra — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:49:12 +0000

[caption id="attachment_8355" align="alignright" width="353" caption="This "Sting Phenomena" takes place across millions of households each night."][/caption] Okay, so maybe your bird dog isn’t fat, but if you happen to live in Minneapolis, Minn., there’s a good chance this blog post’s title is accurate, at least according to the people at Banfield Pet Hospital. In their recent State of Health 2012 Report, Banfield revealed there has been a 38 percent increase in the number of dogs residing in Minneapolis that were considered obese after analyzing data from 2 million dogs cared for at their hospitals. This is no statistical drop-in-the-bucket. This new found information certainly won’t help the jokes running around the office that I just have another “overweight yellow Lab” (she’s a slender 55 lbs., by the way) and that all she’s good for is finding rabbit pellets and cheeseburgers. But all good natured ribbing aside, did a recent email from the AKC really have to use a graphic of a yellow lab to explain pet obesity?

Luckily I can take solace in the fact that my beloved Labrador retrievers aren’t alone in America’s obesity epidemic. Over the past five years, the overall national average for pooches packing on too many pounds has increased an astounding 37 percent. Before you call up your Lab-owning friends to poke fun at them, turn your pup for a cold-hard-look in the mirror.

If those statistics, coupled with the prospect of finding birds in the fall, aren’t enough to get you and your pup off the couch and away from the pantry for spring training sessions, I don’t know what will. Just keep in mind, people always say you look like your pet… well, maybe your bird dog is trying to tell you something. The Over/Under blog is written by Andrew Vavra, Pheasants Forever’s Marketing Specialist.

To the Moms Who Get Us Outdoors

Cheryl Riley — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:16:53 +0000

[caption id="attachment_8371" align="alignright" width="333" caption="Did my mom introduce me to the outdoors? You bet, and look at me now! Pheasants Forever File Photo"][/caption] Too often in this “manly” world, we recognize fathers, grandfathers, uncles for taking us hunting or fishing when we were young, but Mom gets little or no mention – or credit. But Moms are frequently the unsung heroines, who feed the dog, pack the lunches, maybe cook an early breakfast or are right there with shotgun or fishing pole in hand. Women are the fastest growing population in the shooting sports these days. And we’re hearing more from women hunters too. Programs aimed at introducing women to the outdoors have been popular and supported by conservation organizations. Women are having fun going out in their own “packs” too – just a bunch of gals getting together for a hunting trip. In my experience I have found that women enjoy helping other women, are a little less competitive, enjoy the social aspects as well as the hunt and can hold their own in the field or the forest. When I once asked my mother (now 91) if I could take her anywhere or do anything with her, her response was, “Well, I’d really like to go fishing. I never had a chance.” So fishing we went. My sister and I took her for a weekend and we had the best time. We mostly caught fish the size of bait, but we laughed and told stories and enjoyed the time outdoors. In Mom’s time, men went off to camp and the women stayed home. Did my mom introduce me to the outdoors? She did as much or more than my dad . . . in all kinds of little ways. She took us on picnics and cooked out in the summers. We visited parks and went camping. I was free to ride my bike anywhere I wanted and spent most of the summer outdoors. I didn’t grow up in a hunting family, but my joy of being outdoors certainly led to my interest in going hunting when I had a chance. Yep, mom was a definite influence on me. I’d like to hear your favorite Mom stories. Celebrate Mother’s Day with the gift of Pheasants Forever membership. Sign up and that special mom will receive a special Pheasants Forever ladies cap. Get ‘em Outdoors is written by Cheryl Riley, Pheasants Forever’s Vice President of Education and Outreach. Email her at CRiley@pheasantsforever.org.

What’s your Rooster Shooting Percentage by Shot?

Field Notes — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:00:03 +0000

Naming my Second Bird Dog, Part 2 of 2

Bob St. Pierre — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:13:00 +0000

Whitaker (call name Whit) – referencing Trammell’s double play partner with the Detroit Tigers, Lou Whitaker.

Yooper (pronounced You Pur) - I grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and some would say I’ve never left either. Ultimately, this name didn’t make the cut because it also happens to be my nickname with some circles of friends.

Bine (pronounced BeNay) - The Ojibwa word for ruffed grouse was a contender for a moment, but ultimately it seems odd for a Pheasants Forever guy to have a dog name referencing a bird other than a pheasant.

SportDOG Conservation Fund Grant Applications due Aug. 1

Field Notes — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:11:51 +0000

The Permanent, “Poor Man’s” Food Plot

Field Notes — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:05:39 +0000

Naming my Second Bird Dog, Part 1 of 2

Bob St. Pierre — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:41:48 +0000

Hunt, Gather, Cook Pheasant Pasta

Bob St. Pierre — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:35:11 +0000

What’s Unique about a Western Pheasant Hunt?

Mark Herwig — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:07:28 +0000

Your Fido is Fat

Andrew Vavra — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:49:12 +0000

To the Moms Who Get Us Outdoors

Cheryl Riley — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:16:53 +0000

What’s your Rooster Shooting Percentage by Shot?

Field Notes — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:00:03 +0000

[caption id="attachment_8540" align="aligncenter" width="576" caption="Much of North Dakota's CRP - like this grassland - lies in the Prairie Pothole Region, a wildlife producing factory for waterfowl and pheasants. Photo by Anthony Hauck / Pheasants Forever"][/caption] Pheasants Forever is part of a coalition strongly supporting the proposed Clean Water, Lands and Outdoor Heritage Amendment in North Dakota. The measure would establish dedicated funding for water, land and wildlife conservation in North Dakota. Pheasants Forever says a dedicated conservation funding source is the only mechanism that can stem the tide of prairie and grassland losses in North Dakota. Approximately 145,000 acres of North Dakota native prairie were converted to cropland between 2002 and 2007, and North Dakota has lost about 1 million acres of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land, with another 1.2 million acres scheduled to expire by the end of 2012. These reductions not only threaten soil and water quality, but the state’s pheasant population, which has historically been among the top three in the country. Bird hunting has always been an economic driver for the rural communities of North Dakota. The massive habitat losses not only threaten the future of upland and waterfowl hunting in the state, but will lead to increased soil erosion and degraded water quality. The state constitutional amendment would establish a Clean Water, Lands and Outdoor Heritage Fund that will receive five percent of the total revenues generated from taxes collected from the production and extraction of oil and gas. The coalition estimates the fund could generate $50 million annually, based on current state oil production and price projections. Other states have passed similar dedicated funding initiatives for conservation, including Arkansas and Missouri and, most recently, Minnesota’s Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in 2008 and Iowa’s Water and Land Legacy Amendment in 2010. “Wildlife and hunting are part of the North Dakota culture. This amendment aims to keep it that way during this time of great change on the North Dakota landscape,” says Jesse Beckers, Pheasants Forever’s North Dakota Regional Representative, “Development and loss of CRP acres have and will continue to negatively affect wildlife populations unless sweeping action is taken. Pheasants Forever prides itself as ‘The Habitat Organization,’ and is committed to the Clean Water, Lands and Outdoor Heritage Amendment in North Dakota as the right step for aggressively supporting conservation in North Dakota.” Pheasants Forever, with its 31 local chapters and 4,100 members in North Dakota, and its five coalition partners – Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, National Wildlife Federation, Audubon and the North Dakota Natural Resources Trust – are working to gather 26,904 qualified signatures before August 8, 2012, in order for the measure to be placed on the November 6, 2012, general election ballot. For more information about Pheasants Forever’s efforts in North Dakota, contact Jesse Beckers at (701) 202-8120 / jbeckers@pheasantsforever.org. Field Notes are compiled by Anthony Hauck Pheasants Forever’s Online Editor. Email Anthony at AHauck@pheasantsforever.org and follow him on Twitter @AnthonyHauckPF.

Pheasants Forever Blogs

Field Notes — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:00:03 +0000

Naming my Second Bird Dog, Part 2 of 2

Bob St. Pierre — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:13:00 +0000

Whitaker (call name Whit) – referencing Trammell’s double play partner with the Detroit Tigers, Lou Whitaker.

Yooper (pronounced You Pur) - I grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and some would say I’ve never left either. Ultimately, this name didn’t make the cut because it also happens to be my nickname with some circles of friends.

Bine (pronounced BeNay) - The Ojibwa word for ruffed grouse was a contender for a moment, but ultimately it seems odd for a Pheasants Forever guy to have a dog name referencing a bird other than a pheasant.

SportDOG Conservation Fund Grant Applications due Aug. 1

Field Notes — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:11:51 +0000

The Permanent, “Poor Man’s” Food Plot

Field Notes — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:05:39 +0000

Naming my Second Bird Dog, Part 1 of 2

Bob St. Pierre — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:41:48 +0000

Hunt, Gather, Cook Pheasant Pasta

Bob St. Pierre — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:35:11 +0000

What’s Unique about a Western Pheasant Hunt?

Mark Herwig — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:07:28 +0000

Your Fido is Fat

Andrew Vavra — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:49:12 +0000

To the Moms Who Get Us Outdoors

Cheryl Riley — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:16:53 +0000

What’s your Rooster Shooting Percentage by Shot?

Bob St. Pierre — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:13:00 +0000

Whitaker (call name Whit) – referencing Trammell’s double play partner with the Detroit Tigers, Lou Whitaker.

Yooper (pronounced You Pur) - I grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and some would say I’ve never left either. Ultimately, this name didn’t make the cut because it also happens to be my nickname with some circles of friends.

Bine (pronounced BeNay) - The Ojibwa word for ruffed grouse was a contender for a moment, but ultimately it seems odd for a Pheasants Forever guy to have a dog name referencing a bird other than a pheasant.

Pheasants Forever Blogs

Field Notes — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:00:03 +0000

Naming my Second Bird Dog, Part 2 of 2

Bob St. Pierre — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:13:00 +0000

Whitaker (call name Whit) – referencing Trammell’s double play partner with the Detroit Tigers, Lou Whitaker.

Yooper (pronounced You Pur) - I grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and some would say I’ve never left either. Ultimately, this name didn’t make the cut because it also happens to be my nickname with some circles of friends.

Bine (pronounced BeNay) - The Ojibwa word for ruffed grouse was a contender for a moment, but ultimately it seems odd for a Pheasants Forever guy to have a dog name referencing a bird other than a pheasant.

SportDOG Conservation Fund Grant Applications due Aug. 1

Field Notes — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:11:51 +0000

The Permanent, “Poor Man’s” Food Plot

Field Notes — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:05:39 +0000

Naming my Second Bird Dog, Part 1 of 2

Bob St. Pierre — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:41:48 +0000

Hunt, Gather, Cook Pheasant Pasta

Bob St. Pierre — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:35:11 +0000

What’s Unique about a Western Pheasant Hunt?

Mark Herwig — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:07:28 +0000

Your Fido is Fat

Andrew Vavra — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:49:12 +0000

To the Moms Who Get Us Outdoors

Cheryl Riley — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:16:53 +0000

What’s your Rooster Shooting Percentage by Shot?

Field Notes — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:11:51 +0000

Pheasants Forever chapters or members with a wildlife habitat project or program in need of support are encouraged to apply for the $25,000 grant from the SportDOG Brand Conservation Fund program. Applications must be submitted by August 1st, 2012. For more information about the grant application process, click here. The selection process for this year’s applications has changed so that fans and conservation supporters will have the final say. From SportDOG: We are turning it over to you all to pick the winner of the biggest grant to date! This year we are asking that all applications be submitted by August 1, 2012. On September 1, 2012, we will announce seven (7) qualifiers selected by the SportDOG Conservation Committee. At this point, we will turn the voting over to you. You all will have the chance to vote for your favorite of these seven projects, and at the end of the contest, the applicant with the most votes will be awarded a $25,000 grant. The project with the second most votes will receive a $5,000 grant. This is a great opportunity to garner support for your application, your organization and your conservation goals. Get those applications in soon, and please check back often to find updates on the applicants and contest. SportDOG will also be awarding one (1) $1,000 youth grant to lead support to and recognize a group or individual whose efforts are focused on a better tomorrow for wildlife. Learn more about the SportDOG Brand Conservation Youth Grant program here. SportDOG Brand created its Conservation Fund program in 2007, and introduced the annual grant program in 2008. Field Notes are compiled by Anthony Hauck Pheasants Forever’s Online Editor. Email Anthony at AHauck@pheasantsforever.org and follow him on Twitter @AnthonyHauckPF.

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What’s your Rooster Shooting Percentage by Shot?

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Pheasants Forever Blogs

Field Notes — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:00:03 +0000

Naming my Second Bird Dog, Part 2 of 2

Bob St. Pierre — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:13:00 +0000

Whitaker (call name Whit) – referencing Trammell’s double play partner with the Detroit Tigers, Lou Whitaker.

Yooper (pronounced You Pur) - I grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and some would say I’ve never left either. Ultimately, this name didn’t make the cut because it also happens to be my nickname with some circles of friends.

Bine (pronounced BeNay) - The Ojibwa word for ruffed grouse was a contender for a moment, but ultimately it seems odd for a Pheasants Forever guy to have a dog name referencing a bird other than a pheasant.

SportDOG Conservation Fund Grant Applications due Aug. 1

Field Notes — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:11:51 +0000

The Permanent, “Poor Man’s” Food Plot

Field Notes — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:05:39 +0000

Naming my Second Bird Dog, Part 1 of 2

Bob St. Pierre — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:41:48 +0000

Hunt, Gather, Cook Pheasant Pasta

Bob St. Pierre — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:35:11 +0000

What’s Unique about a Western Pheasant Hunt?

Mark Herwig — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:07:28 +0000

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What’s your Rooster Shooting Percentage by Shot?

Bob St. Pierre — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:41:48 +0000

Pheasants Forever Blogs

Field Notes — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:00:03 +0000

Naming my Second Bird Dog, Part 2 of 2

Bob St. Pierre — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:13:00 +0000

Whitaker (call name Whit) – referencing Trammell’s double play partner with the Detroit Tigers, Lou Whitaker.

Yooper (pronounced You Pur) - I grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and some would say I’ve never left either. Ultimately, this name didn’t make the cut because it also happens to be my nickname with some circles of friends.

Bine (pronounced BeNay) - The Ojibwa word for ruffed grouse was a contender for a moment, but ultimately it seems odd for a Pheasants Forever guy to have a dog name referencing a bird other than a pheasant.

SportDOG Conservation Fund Grant Applications due Aug. 1

Field Notes — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:11:51 +0000

The Permanent, “Poor Man’s” Food Plot

Field Notes — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:05:39 +0000

Naming my Second Bird Dog, Part 1 of 2

Bob St. Pierre — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:41:48 +0000

Hunt, Gather, Cook Pheasant Pasta

Bob St. Pierre — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:35:11 +0000

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Andrew Vavra — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:49:12 +0000

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Cheryl Riley — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:16:53 +0000

What’s your Rooster Shooting Percentage by Shot?

Bob St. Pierre — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:35:11 +0000

Pheasants Forever Blogs

Field Notes — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:00:03 +0000

Naming my Second Bird Dog, Part 2 of 2

Bob St. Pierre — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:13:00 +0000

Whitaker (call name Whit) – referencing Trammell’s double play partner with the Detroit Tigers, Lou Whitaker.

Yooper (pronounced You Pur) - I grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and some would say I’ve never left either. Ultimately, this name didn’t make the cut because it also happens to be my nickname with some circles of friends.

Bine (pronounced BeNay) - The Ojibwa word for ruffed grouse was a contender for a moment, but ultimately it seems odd for a Pheasants Forever guy to have a dog name referencing a bird other than a pheasant.

SportDOG Conservation Fund Grant Applications due Aug. 1

Field Notes — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:11:51 +0000

The Permanent, “Poor Man’s” Food Plot

Field Notes — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:05:39 +0000

Naming my Second Bird Dog, Part 1 of 2

Bob St. Pierre — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:41:48 +0000

Hunt, Gather, Cook Pheasant Pasta

Bob St. Pierre — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:35:11 +0000

What’s Unique about a Western Pheasant Hunt?

Mark Herwig — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:07:28 +0000

Your Fido is Fat

Andrew Vavra — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:49:12 +0000

To the Moms Who Get Us Outdoors

Cheryl Riley — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:16:53 +0000

What’s your Rooster Shooting Percentage by Shot?

Mark Herwig — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:07:28 +0000

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Field Notes — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:00:03 +0000

Naming my Second Bird Dog, Part 2 of 2

Bob St. Pierre — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:13:00 +0000

Whitaker (call name Whit) – referencing Trammell’s double play partner with the Detroit Tigers, Lou Whitaker.

Yooper (pronounced You Pur) - I grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and some would say I’ve never left either. Ultimately, this name didn’t make the cut because it also happens to be my nickname with some circles of friends.

Bine (pronounced BeNay) - The Ojibwa word for ruffed grouse was a contender for a moment, but ultimately it seems odd for a Pheasants Forever guy to have a dog name referencing a bird other than a pheasant.

SportDOG Conservation Fund Grant Applications due Aug. 1

Field Notes — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:11:51 +0000

The Permanent, “Poor Man’s” Food Plot

Field Notes — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:05:39 +0000

Naming my Second Bird Dog, Part 1 of 2

Bob St. Pierre — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:41:48 +0000

Hunt, Gather, Cook Pheasant Pasta

Bob St. Pierre — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:35:11 +0000

What’s Unique about a Western Pheasant Hunt?

Mark Herwig — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:07:28 +0000

Your Fido is Fat

Andrew Vavra — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:49:12 +0000

To the Moms Who Get Us Outdoors

Cheryl Riley — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:16:53 +0000

What’s your Rooster Shooting Percentage by Shot?

Andrew Vavra — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:49:12 +0000

Pheasants Forever Blogs

Field Notes — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:00:03 +0000

Naming my Second Bird Dog, Part 2 of 2

Bob St. Pierre — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:13:00 +0000

Whitaker (call name Whit) – referencing Trammell’s double play partner with the Detroit Tigers, Lou Whitaker.

Yooper (pronounced You Pur) - I grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and some would say I’ve never left either. Ultimately, this name didn’t make the cut because it also happens to be my nickname with some circles of friends.

Bine (pronounced BeNay) - The Ojibwa word for ruffed grouse was a contender for a moment, but ultimately it seems odd for a Pheasants Forever guy to have a dog name referencing a bird other than a pheasant.

SportDOG Conservation Fund Grant Applications due Aug. 1

Field Notes — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:11:51 +0000

The Permanent, “Poor Man’s” Food Plot

Field Notes — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:05:39 +0000

Naming my Second Bird Dog, Part 1 of 2

Bob St. Pierre — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:41:48 +0000

Hunt, Gather, Cook Pheasant Pasta

Bob St. Pierre — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:35:11 +0000

What’s Unique about a Western Pheasant Hunt?

Mark Herwig — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:07:28 +0000

Your Fido is Fat

Andrew Vavra — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:49:12 +0000

To the Moms Who Get Us Outdoors

Cheryl Riley — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:16:53 +0000

What’s your Rooster Shooting Percentage by Shot?

Cheryl Riley — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:16:53 +0000

Pheasants Forever Blogs

Field Notes — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:00:03 +0000

Naming my Second Bird Dog, Part 2 of 2

Bob St. Pierre — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:13:00 +0000

Whitaker (call name Whit) – referencing Trammell’s double play partner with the Detroit Tigers, Lou Whitaker.

Yooper (pronounced You Pur) - I grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and some would say I’ve never left either. Ultimately, this name didn’t make the cut because it also happens to be my nickname with some circles of friends.

Bine (pronounced BeNay) - The Ojibwa word for ruffed grouse was a contender for a moment, but ultimately it seems odd for a Pheasants Forever guy to have a dog name referencing a bird other than a pheasant.

SportDOG Conservation Fund Grant Applications due Aug. 1

Field Notes — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:11:51 +0000

The Permanent, “Poor Man’s” Food Plot

Field Notes — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:05:39 +0000

Naming my Second Bird Dog, Part 1 of 2

Bob St. Pierre — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:41:48 +0000

Hunt, Gather, Cook Pheasant Pasta

Bob St. Pierre — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:35:11 +0000

What’s Unique about a Western Pheasant Hunt?

Mark Herwig — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:07:28 +0000

Your Fido is Fat

Andrew Vavra — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:49:12 +0000

To the Moms Who Get Us Outdoors

Cheryl Riley — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:16:53 +0000

What’s your Rooster Shooting Percentage by Shot?

Bob St. Pierre — Thu, 03 May 2012 10:08:00 +0000

[caption id="attachment_8347" align="alignright" width="358" caption="I traditionally shoot an over/under, so I'm limited to two chances on a rooster."][/caption] Depending upon what style of shotgun you prefer, a rooster has between one and five shots to evade your pellets. This numbers game got my baseball mind wondering about batting averages and shooting percentages. If you were to break down the roosters you kill with each shot in your gun, how would the percentages fall? So to clarify, I’m not looking for the percentage of kills out of total shots taken; rather, I’m wondering which of your shots is the most effective. Think of it as Sabermetrics for shotgunners. For me, I bird hunt almost exclusively with over/under shotguns, so I’m limited to two shots. Without ever tracking my shooting percentages, I’d estimate 60 percent of the birds I killed last autumn were dropped with my first shot, leaving 40 percent to my second trigger pull. Conversely, I have a buddy nicknamed “Two Shot” because of his propensity to rush his first shot into a miss, but he almost always follows up his second shot from his Ruger Red Label over/under with a kill. I’m guessing his first shot pulls down close to 30 percent, while his second shot skyrockets up to 70 percent of his roosters bagged. Purely based on the observations of hunting with a wide variety of pheasant hunters over the years, I’d estimate the collective percentages to fall somewhere along these lines: First Shot 60% of all roosters bagged Second Shot 30.5% Third Shot 8% Fourth Shot 1% Fifth Shot .5% Don’t get me wrong, I understand the rationale for shouldering a semi-auto shotgun with a magazine holding five shells on a pheasant hunt. As an over/under guy, I get caught with two empty barrels a few times each season only to have a tight-holding rooster emerge from the grass at the perfect moment for his escape. There is no doubt I’d have a superior advantage for those situations with a beautiful Beretta Xplor in my hands. I simply think I personally take better shots knowing that I’m limited to two trigger squeezes. What are your shooting percentages with each shot taken in pursuit of a flushing rooster? The Pointer is written by Bob St.Pierre, Pheasants Forever's Vice President of Marketing. Follow Bob on Twitter @BobStPierre.