Prairie Sportsman: Pheasant hunt in South Dakota - Video

Hunting in South Dakota with professional walleye fisherman Ted Takasaki and outdoor writer Chris Niskanen. Our headquarters for this outdoor adventure is the Prairie Pillow Sportsmen's Lodge near Selby, SD operated by Angie Marin.

Pheasants Forever Hires New Farm Bill Range/Wildlife Biologist in Washington

Ephrata, Wash. - July 02 -

Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QF) recently hired Michael Brown for the replacement position of Pheasants Forever’s farm bill range and wildlife biologist in Ephrata. Brown will cover Douglas, Grant, Lincoln, Kittitas, Yakima and Benton Counties and replaces Kelli Bartholomew. As a farm bill range biologist, he will continue to work with area landowners, farmers and ranchers to implement wildlife habitat conservation measures and fulfill the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Sage-Grouse Initiative.

The Sage-Grouse Initiative (SGI) targets program delivery within high sage-grouse abundance centers or ‘core areas’ to help maintain large and intact grazing lands. This new ‘conservation triage’ approach enables NRCS to prioritize conservation program implementation in the right places to expect a positive sage grouse population-level response. In 2011, Pheasants Forever was selected to manage Sage-Grouse Initiative funds in building field delivery, scientific knowledge, as well as a communications capacity for the NRCS Sage-Grouse Initiative.

“We are very pleased to add Mike to our western sage-grouse team and have no doubt that he will be able to move the SGI needle forward in central Washington. Mike brings a wealth of habitat knowledge to this position, and his background in avian science will aid in the delivery of the Sage-Grouse Initiative,” said Sam Lawry, Pheasants Forever western regional director. “I would like to thank our partners for their support and funding for this position, which include WDFW, NRCS and USFWS. Their support lends itself to furthering Pheasants Forever’s habitat mission, and without it, this position would not have been possible.”

Brown graduated from the University of California with a B.S. in Wildlife Biology prior to earning his Master’s in Avian Science from the University of California at Davis in 2013. While at UC-Davis, Brown’s Master’s project assessed wetland management practices through the development and distribution of a survey for wetland managers to gain information on the range of wetland management practice in use in California. Additionally, he worked with state, federal, and non-profit organizations to develop a rapid assessment protocol for managed wetlands based on the California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM).

“One of the things I really enjoy about habitat management is that it is forever evolving and techniques and approaches evolve with the environment in order to provide the highest quality habitat for wildlife,” says Brown. “My ultimate goal has always been to be a part of a collaborative ecological team conserving, enhancing, restoring, and protecting wildlife habitat so future generations can enjoy hunting and learn from wildlife. I am confident I have found this in this position and look forward to working with landowners and partners to further Washington’s conservation efforts.”

Washington is home to nine Pheasants Forever chapters, one Quail Forever chapter and over 1,500 combined members. For more information on “The Habitat Organization” in Washington, please contact Ryan Storm, Pheasants Forever regional representative, at (618) 351-1234 or Rstorm@pheasantsforever.org.

Pheasants Forever, including its quail conservation division, [www.quailforever.org]Quail Forever, is the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 135,000 members and 720 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Chapters are empowered to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds are spent, the only national conservation organization that operates through this truly grassroots structure.

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Rehan Nana (651) 209-4973 or email Rehan

Pheasants Forever Hires New Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist in Colorado

Lamar, Colo. - July 02 -

Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QF) recently hired Brandon Dye for the position of Pheasants Forever’s farm bill wildlife biologist in Lamar. Dye covers Kiowa, Bent, Prowers, and Baca Counties. In this replacement position, Dye will continue to work with area landowners, farmers and ranchers to implement wildlife habitat conservation measures.

Pheasants Forever's farm bill wildlife biologist program is designed to educate farmers and landowners about the benefits of conservation programs, as well as assist those landowners after programs have been implemented. Farm bill wildlife biologists add wildlife technical assistance in USDA offices to assist the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA) and other conservation partners with delivering conservation programs to landowners.

“We are very pleased to have Brandon join the Colorado farm bill wildlife biologist team and have no doubt he will be delivering conservation on the ground with eastern Colorado producers,” said Sam Lawry, Pheasants Forever western regional director. “The Lamar position is made possible from funding through NRCS, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and Colorado Pheasants Forever chapters. Their support has lent itself to furthering Pheasants Forever’s habitat mission in Colorado.”

Dye is a Colorado native, who returns to the Centennial State from Northeastern California. He graduated from Colorado State University in Fort Collins with a B.S. in Natural Resources Management. Prior to joining Pheasants Forever, Dye worked as a rangeland management specialist with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). There, he developed conservation plans in accordance with USDA standards, and provided in-office and in-field technical guidance and support for conservation planning and agricultural practices to landowners.

“Working for such a renowned organization like Pheasants Forever is a tremendous opportunity for me, and getting to do so back in my home state with great partner agencies, makes it even better,” said Brandon Dye.“I am looking forward to continuing habitat conservation efforts with Colorado landowners and working directly with our partners to further our legacy.”

Colorado is home to 16 Pheasants Forever chapters and 3,700 members. For more information on “The Habitat Organization” in Colorado, please contact Bob Hix, Pheasants Forever regional representative, at (303) 588-1542 or BHix@pheasantsforever.org.

Pheasants Forever, including its quail conservation division, Quail Forever, is the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 135,000 members and 720 local chapters across the United States and Canada. 

Chapters are empowered to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds are spent, the only national conservation organization that operates through this truly grassroots structure.

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Rehan Nana (651) 209-4973 or email Rehan