A few words from Pheasants Forever

[onpoint]

PHEASANTS DOWN THERE. If you?ve hunted pheasants in the eastern half of North Dakota and/or South Dakota, you?ve set foot in the Prairie Pothole Region. The grasslands amongst all those potholes are prime habitat for pheasants, other upland birds and waterfowl. Pothole loss has reached 90 percent in some parts of the ?PPR,? and when the water goes, the grass usually isn?t far behind. Supporting Pheasants Forever is supporting our conservation efforts in this threatened region.

 

[dustin mudd]

PF

Hi all, the only REAL friend we have at the legislature in Washington is PF. They have all our interests at heart. PF's lobbying efforts help leverage the farm bill, and keep our , and all the Wildlife's interest as part of the plan. Remember the 1970's and early 1980's no birds! No money for CRP! We still have 25 million acres under some sort of Farm bill protection!
If you don't belong to PF, join please its only 35.00 annually, that is less than 2 boxes of ammo. Frankly the ammo is worthless if we don't have birds to hunt , RIGHT! And attend a banquet or two in your area, and spend a few dollars there. ALL the money raised with those PF chapters stays in their area. NOT a dollar goes back to National!
Do yourself ,and the generations to come a favor, put some money back into habitat! YOUR hunting habitats!

enough preaching, have a great season , its almost here! folks keep bumping this to the top ,so hundreds read it ! PLEASE,

 

[BritChaser]

Life member of PF here. I encourage all to join this great organization.

 

[oldandnew]

Throw a little support to D.U. as well. They produce a whole lot of pheasants in their projects. They were there first with the money, it went a lot further in the 40's, 50's, and 60's . Both are worthy and need support.

 

[SDJIM]

I totally agree and I do hold some sway.

Starting this year the following will apply---anyone wanting to hunt on my land must be a member of a conservation org. such as PF, DU,QF or other. I don't think it's much to ask as I spend a lot more than that just to have a little CRP around for the wildlife. I'm a life member of PF and member of DU and the NRA. :thumbsup:

 

[quail hound]

I totally agree and I do hold some sway.

Starting this year the following will apply---anyone wanting to hunt on my land must be a member of a conservation org. such as PF, DU,QF or other. I don't think it's much to ask as I spend a lot more than that just to have a little CRP around for the wildlife. I'm a life member of PF and member of DU and the NRA. :thumbsup:

That's a great idea Jim. I've been thinking of purposing something like that just to hunt with me and my dogs.

 

[thornton]

PF is a good game organization and one can comfortably believe that their dues are not being wasted.

But, if a landowner ever asked or demanded of me, proof of any membership in any organization, from game group to gun to political to AAA, as a tie to granting access then I would move on down the road.
Slippery slope that.
Asking for payment, demanding respect of the property or a bird or two left on the stoop is fine and a given these days...flashing a membership card?...not a chance.
What a sad upland bird hunting trend that would be.

 

[quail hound]

Really? Jim lets people hunt his land out of the goodness of his heart and you think its to much for him to ask that people he invites to hunt become a PF member?

I bet Jim would even take a man for his word if they said they belonged to a habitat organization.

 

[thornton]

Really? Jim lets people hunt his land out of the goodness of his heart and you think its to much for him to ask that people he invites to hunt become a PF member?...

Invites?, no.
Someone stopping and asking to hunt?, yes.
At the get-go, spreading the word on the value of PF and using the property as an example of that value to land and critter found through investing and supporting PF?...great idea and wonderful opportunity.
Better opportunity and potential than found in any card check.

But, private acreage drives itself...as it should.
I, for example, could require that folks who stop to deer or turkey hunt or access my land at any time re a hunting/trailing activity join the RGS.
But, I would not.
One, I think that at times and over time, many of us have seen the downsides of the cycles game organizations can see from leadership issues and our support should flag a bit on general principles, and two, I do not know the history of Mr. "X Hunter" and it would be a bit much for me to require membership in any group for any reason...imo.

Using a hunting request as a path to spread the good word of PF is far different than using the request as a softened hammer to possibly separate folks into Them or Us.
May just be me but I do not like to have either guilt or duty held over my head....and I belong to PF and a handful of other groups, all on my own hook.

 

[SDJIM]

PF is a good game organization and one can comfortably believe that their dues are not being wasted.

But, if a landowner ever asked or demanded of me, proof of any membership in any organization, from game group to gun to political to AAA, as a tie to granting access then I would move on down the road.
Slippery slope that.
Asking for payment, demanding respect of the property or a bird or two left on the stoop is fine and a given these days...flashing a membership card?...not a chance.
What a sad upland bird hunting trend that would be.

Sorry you feel that way.
It's just the hrs and hrs spent on the ATV spraying the weeds or all the time and expense of planting food plots and trees to improve the habitat. To not demand a fee to hunt but to only ask that they join a habitat group--I don't get it.

It keeps getting harder to find good quality habitat and if those that don't help the cause and only want to reap the harvest will lead to the demise of hunting as I know and love.

There is always the simple out and that is to let close friends and family hunt and just say NO to everyone else---it sure is easier.

 

[thornton]

I wouldn't know.
If there is no issue with safety, I let folks hunt on my place who ask, no charge at all or requirements past those I suggested, ie respect of the acreage and critter....no pheasants, but the deer and turkey are a bigger draw hereabouts. I did have some fellas from TN who Leased the farm to the south stop by...they seemed antsy on what would happen when their bow-wounded deer came on my place. Actually seemed surprised I said, "go get it".

They were more surprised when I used the opportunity to speak on Leasing in the Appalachians and all the negatives it delivers. Appeared stunned when I used the time to list the downsides that the deer and deer hunting focus has created re other species, especially the ruffed grouse.
I believe they had heard of a ruffed grouse...but, not sure.
They left with a handshake and a hope that they kill some nice deer...and I went back in the house with the opportunity fulfilled to educate other hunters about the damages from a hunting focus as narrow as a dead-end alley.
I reckon I could have indeed demanded they join RGS or some such outfit before setting foot on the place but I was satisfied with them listening and, maybe, just maybe, thinking on their own, perhaps while in a quiet deer stand, about more than BBD...thinking wider than themselves.
That thinking may well result in more good than a one year's dues to a game organization.
We as hunters, of all kinds and interests, need to think far more than we need to flop open a billfold for any popular, albeit at times important, dues payment.
Dues naturally follow success.
imho

As I said previously, using the opportunity of hunters asking to hunt to explain about PF and what they offer to help the birds and habitats involved is a fine thing....in itself. That very opportunity and first-hand view of the payoff of hard habitat work will often draw some new memberships...perhaps more memberships than hunting access quid pro quo.

The demise of hunting Jim, will come from many directions.
Stopping or slowing that demise is best addressed with a focus wider than habitat quality or loss.
Comparably, addressing that quality and loss component is the easiest road to take.

 

[pheasanthunt]

I agree with Jim, I would rather a landowner asked me to be a member of PF or DU then to ask me to pay him to hunt his land. That being said, I beleive the land owner has a right to do either. IMO, i beleive these organization while not the sole answer to our habbitat problems are as good as we got right now, and i support both. I think it is a great idea Jim has, and maybe if more people joined an organisation such as these we could help save valuable habbitat. I applaud Jim, its a small price to pay to secure future generations the same optunities we had. Its for sure better than people that do nothing or give nothing to help protect wildlife.---- just my opinion.

 

[SDJIM]

Thornton you have a good point and maybe a talk about what they find and how habitat groups help, followed with a request to think about becoming a member is the way to go--I'll have to think about that myself.

 

[thornton]

Jim,
what you are doing with your land and in what you are considering with the PF idea is commendable as it indicates that you are rightly concerned and so then, thinking.
One should never fail to respect honest thought honestly expressed.
We all view the ideas of others through the lens of our own experiences and conditions....as it should be.
I would always rather see any idea...my own, yours or anyone's, questioned and addressed rather than quickly high-fived by a choir.
More to be gained that way, imo.
Good luck.

 

[BritChaser]

Sorry you feel that way.
It's just the hrs and hrs spent on the ATV spraying the weeds or all the time and expense of planting food plots and trees to improve the habitat. To not demand a fee to hunt but to only ask that they join a habitat group--I don't get it.

It keeps getting harder to find good quality habitat and if those that don't help the cause and only want to reap the harvest will lead to the demise of hunting as I know and love.

There is always the simple out and that is to let close friends and family hunt and just say NO to everyone else---it sure is easier.

I think your insistence that a hunter requesting permission be a member of a habitat organization is an AWESOME idea and I fully support it. I encourage others to adopt this practice.

 

[small munsterlander owner]

comparing let n some guys recover a wounded deer from private lands is not really any wear near the same as what jim is doing thornton... i know it may not be law to let somebody recover wounded deer from ur lands but its the write thing to do no matter the law jim let n people hunt his private managed lands is gracious & very very nice of him nothing like recovering a wounded deer shot on another property...

there are way way to many guys out there that only kill things & call that hunting they dont belong to any habitat groups or any organizations the help the game they are killing be it NWTF PF DU RGS & many more they feel they are some how above that & its a waste of $$$ for what ever reason... i know grown men with kids my age that have them views & what do you know there kids dont hunt & all they do i cry that there is no game to hunt or license is to much $$$ ???

i was raised to love what you hunt & the least you can do is learn a little about the game species you are hunting & give back to the game u are hunting or there will be no game in the future so in my eyes we need as many hunters joining as many of these wildlife groups by any means!!!

for any member of PF to think its to much to ask for a private land owner who dose pheasant habitat management on his property to belong to PF or any other type hunting organization is just crazy to me??? wake up man thats the least the guy asking permission could do!!! period!!!

id much much rather be a member of PF NWTF DU QF TU or have a land owner ask me to join one of them organizations then stick his had out & ask for $$$ there is way ay to much of that going on as well its sicking to hear about & see...

any pheasant hunter who dose not have wild pheasants to hunt in his or her home state but travels to other states to hunt pheasants should be a member of PF in my eyes help the wild pheasants & there habitat not just a game preserve or guide service buy more pen raised pheasants to be released ...

very very cool thing you have done with you property jim & very very cool idea to ask others to be a member of a hunting organization of some sort its the least we all could do... i would not care if they said you had to be a member to even buy a pheasant license i would be happy to join if i was not already a member... PF DU NWTF TU RGS is a few me & my father belong to already...

 

[thornton]

comparing let n some guys recover a wounded deer from private lands is not really any wear near the same as what jim is doing thornton... i know it may not be law to let somebody recover wounded deer from ur lands but its the write thing to do no matter the law jim let n people hunt his private managed lands is gracious & very very nice of him nothing like recovering a wounded deer shot on another property...

Never said it was equal...just one example to show that I was able to use an opportunity to open a dialogue that presented a view far different than the norm of BBD.
As stated, I let folks, if safety is not a consideration, hunt my farm gratis...as I have done for 32 years or so.
Which, here, goes against the Leasing trend that has so, in it's part, hurt upland bird hunting. Farms to the north and south of me are leased....by in and out-of-staters.
But, I'd rather eat a bad clam than take lease money.

I've belonged to habitat groups for decades...belonged to anti groups like the Buckeye Forest Council and others just to stay abreast of what they do to prevent managing a forest for health through habitat diversity.
Belonged to game organizations as well since Hector achieved puphood.
You really missed my point and reasoning, for me personally, in what may have been a rush to post or high-five.

But, knowing some bad patches that some organizations, like NWTF, went through or the ineffectual nature of some RGS interest and concern has me looking at all of them w/o rose-colored glasses.
I belong to many groups, many who do not belong to any groups...should, but beyond that there is value to be found outside the game organization dues path.
And positives to be found apart from the short range view of ....."join or else".

 

[1pheas4]

Appeared stunned when I used the time to list the downsides that the deer and deer hunting focus has created re other species, especially the ruffed grouse.

Sorry for thanking this thread in another direction for a bit, but Thornton do you mind elaborating on this point regarding the ruffed grouse Thank you.:cheers:

Nick

 

[thornton]

Sorry for thanking this thread in another direction for a bit, but Thornton do you mind elaborating on this point regarding the ruffed grouse.

The effects are many but for the most part absorbable, other than when and in the areas of the range where the ruffed grouse have slid so far down their decline curve.
We all know that habitat aging out of the early successional stage is not good for the ruffed grouse and along with weather issues, hatch and post hatch, are the two main causes of the decline.

However, running deer feeders with feed, supplements, etc. nearly year-round has raised the nest predator population of raccoons, skunks and possums to ever higher levels hereabouts.
Leasing, for deer and turkey, of Corporate ground, which was often open thru financial trade-offs has now found skirmish line grouse hunting after deer season by deer hunters who too often have not a clue as to the problems facing Bonasa U. It's legal...so they do it. This skirmishing is during a time when food is scarcest and of the lowest nutritional value. Declining grouse populations can not stand that level of hunter pressure or additivity...especially late season.
Ohio finally dropped February, when 40% of the grouse were harvested, but...too late.
Deer hunting, scouting, shed-hunting, etc. also places more activity in the woods than the rather fragile ruffed grouse can tolerate when it's population falls so low.
Even if not shot....flushing grouse in late winter, early spring, with that low quality and quantity of food and during a time when breeding strength is required, out of their homerange also opens them to an ever greater population of raptors.
DNR will, energy and $$s also track the deer rather than being spread to all of the species in a state. Basically, because managing deer and turkey is child's play compared to what is involved in managing forest land, state or national. That is simply the reality of many DNRs and the Feds today.

There are other negatives.
But, as I said, the problem arises when the birds are sliding far down on a curve...deer popularity is simply changing that decline curve to one steeper than a horse's face.
And most simply do not care any more.
Many folks also equate ruffed grouse everywhere as equal and they are not....in many ways.
Makes it difficult for those people to understand the problems unique to portions of the ruffed grouse's range.

Deer/deer hunting though are certainly not soley to blame...please don't misunderstand.
Habitat is #1 but there does reach a point where all the lesser factors of any decline gain in importance, with some of those factors being open to improvement through our decisions.
Plus, the ruffed grouse can not be raised and released or trapped and transferred as can a pheasant....they are a truly wild bird and one that has few options for help.
Not many though wish to upset the deer apple cart full of money by making the needed decisions or addressing the options that would slow the ruffed grouse decline.
More sad that.

IMO and sorry for the diversion.

 

[small munsterlander owner]

BBD is that big buck down thornton??? i have never herd of BBD otherwise??? have herd of QDMA...

i did not miss your point thornton really i didnt & the least them boys could of done is let u bend there ear a little B4 they pranced across your land... i just dont think that them boys ran out & joined a organization after the chat but never know??? they just wanted to retrieve there deer & do the write thing...

that being said i relate it to a few guys that stop & ask jim to hunt his A-1 pheasant habitat & lets say they dont belong to a hunting organization & dont beleave in donating to just causes like PF & the likes jim gives permission & dose not ask if there a member just talks about PF & says enjoy they all shoot birds & leave i really honestly wonder how many guys would go join PF after that or would they just say i cant wait to go back & hunt there again!!! & brag up & talk about how they got permission to hunt prime pheasant country...

i have herd alot of guys say i had a fantastic hunt & cant wait to go back i rarely here i had a great hunt & now im going to go join PF just being honest if we make it that EZ for guys to shoot birds & not be part of making the land better they learn nothing but take take take... in my view... yes there will always be us guys that get it we need to help out the pheasant grouse turkey ETC. not just kill them...

i do want my $$$ to go towards the animal or habitat i donate to but its my job to know wear my $$$ goes & all i can say is if you dont join 1 of the many organizations that help out the animals we love to hunt or help out the animals on our own then we cant complain or cry when there is no game any longer to hunt...