Pheasants Forever

O.K. gentleman I may piss a few of you off, but here it goes. It is ridiculous to charge 65 dollars for the auction dinners . I know membership is included, but that dinner is not a selling point. You can't even say " it is for the birds". You have to get people in the door bottom line!!! You need 20 people bidding on a item instead of 3. I could never get this through D.U.'s Big head. Was on the committee for 5 years and they just don't get it. They always chased the high rollers. Who , in my opinion do not hunt very much, but may spend a ton to do so. Get memberships and get there a$$ in the door for 30 bucks and they will spend money!!! For the average guy it is not a just a write off, it is to protect his or her passion!!!!!! That is why we don't need a high priced meal that is not very good and would like to come to these events and not feel that these organizations are targeting a certain tax bracket!!!!! My 45 cents worth!!! Government gets the other 55!!!!!:cheers:
 
BleuBijou said:
O.K. gentleman I may piss a few of you off, but here it goes. It is ridiculous to charge 65 dollars for the auction dinners . I know membership is included, but that dinner is not a selling point. You can't even say " it is for the birds". You have to get people in the door bottom line!!! You need 20 people bidding on a item instead of 3. I could never get this through D.U.'s Big head. Was on the committee for 5 years and they just don't get it. They always chased the high rollers. Who , in my opinion do not hunt very much, but may spend a ton to do so. Get memberships and get there a$$ in the door for 30 bucks and they will spend money!!! For the average guy it is not a just a write off, it is to protect his or her passion!!!!!! That is why we don't need a high priced meal that is not very good and would like to come to these events and not feel that these organizations are targeting a certain tax bracket!!!!! My 45 cents worth!!! Government gets the other 55!!!!!:cheers:
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The chapter is not going to please everyone. One person wants a lower entrance price and a cheap meal and the next guy wants a good meal and is willing to pay a higher price. One person wants the banquet to be held in a cheap place to lower the cost and the next guy wants it to be held in a nicer place. The list goes on. But you know what - you can be an active member, make your voice heard, make suggestions, make your vote and work at the banquet.

I'm betting the guys at the banquet are simply trying to maximize their return from the banquet so they can raise as much money as possible for habitat projects. Set the price too low and you lose money on the meal and banquet room cost, set it too high and fewer folks will attend.
 
I'm envolved in PF, DU, South Dakota Wildlife Federation, and South Dakota Waterfowl. I don't agree with everything that they do. But I do agree with the main goals of all of them.

Promote Hunting and Promote Habitat
 
could not have said it better. blue, i am a life time member of the nra, and others. i alway wonder where my moeny is going. you didnt piss me off. you stated a fact. where is are money going. :)
 
Honestly, get rid of the meal. Serve appetizers and get as many folks in the doors as you can. Memberships help as well!!! We have all seen what happens when a bunch of folks like a certain item!!!!:thumbsup:
 
DU member and in the work of starting a PF chapter for my county.:)
 
UGUIDE said:
Agreed. But my original point was that at the very least this is what every body should do.

Here is standard pheasant hunter equipment:

-Gun/Shells
-License/Stamps
-PF Membership
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Absolutely - that should be the minimum.

To the skeptics:

Let's not complain about the efforts of those who unselfishly and voluntarily give of their time and money to help make pheasant hunting better for everyone. They are simply doing the best they know how. If you think there is room for improvements then get involved with the chapter and do your part.
 
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PF and QU. In fact our QU chapter is the 2nd most active club in the country as far as membership and acres of warm season grasses planted.
 
Q

BleuBijou said:
O.K. gentleman I may piss a few of you off, but here it goes. It is ridiculous to charge 65 dollars for the auction dinners . I know membership is included, but that dinner is not a selling point. You can't even say " it is for the birds". You have to get people in the door bottom line!!! You need 20 people bidding on a item instead of 3. I could never get this through D.U.'s Big head. Was on the committee for 5 years and they just don't get it. They always chased the high rollers. Who , in my opinion do not hunt very much, but may spend a ton to do so. Get memberships and get there a$$ in the door for 30 bucks and they will spend money!!! For the average guy it is not a just a write off, it is to protect his or her passion!!!!!! That is why we don't need a high priced meal that is not very good and would like to come to these events and not feel that these organizations are targeting a certain tax bracket!!!!! My 45 cents worth!!! Government gets the other 55!!!!!:cheers:
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One bad apple don't spoil the whole bunch. What you described does not anywhere depict our QU chapter. Any and all chapters have to follow guidelines but more importantly any chapter or organization is only as good as the people running it. QU has had its controversies as well but has reorganized and now under new management that seems to be on the right tract. Our individual chapter sat back collected data of other possible organizations to join as well as watched and waited to see what QU did during that controversial period.
 
WeimeranersRock said:
One bad apple don't spoil the whole bunch. What you described does not anywhere depict our QU chapter. Any and all chapters have to follow guidelines but more importantly any chapter or organization is only as good as the people running it. QU has had its controversies as well but has reorganized and now under new management that seems to be on the right tract. Our individual chapter sat back collected data of other possible organizations to join as well as watched and waited to see what QU did during that controversial period.
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I think he nailed the problem many have with banquet prices. I see the same thing with RGS.

In this economy in particular, knowing you are going to have to spend $65 and up just to get in the door is going to turn people away.

The real lure isn't the meal, it's the prizes. People on a budget (which is most of us these days) want to have a chance to win something if they are going to fork out the money and time to go to a banquet. If all or most of what they think they can afford is spent to walk in the door, the attendance is going to be limited to high rollers, those w/o kids, and the real pheasant crazies (that live and breathe only pheasant hunting--many of us hunt and fish for many other species as well throughout the year, and a pheasant org has to compete with others for our $$).

I think that hurts in other ways--the organization gets a rep of being for and about things bigger than the average guy or family. Which is the wrong message to be sending.

I have cut back on memberships as kids have entered college and the economy has become more uncertain, but I still am a member of PF. They do too much good work to not be a member, they really are one of the best out there for getting money into effective lobbying AND habitat.

If you don't like what your local chapter is doing, I don't think there is a much better org to apply the old adage to--join it and work to turn it around yourself!

We have some chapters in my state that have personally contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars towards direct land purchases for hunters. I think we had one chapter go over 1 million total contribution a few years back.

I will say on other thing--PF is not the org to join if your idea of what they should be doing is raising tame birds for release, buying surrogators, killing predators, etc. They properly recognize the real solution is habitat. They like to talk access too but that is one of the few problems I have with them--they do little or nothing to stem the pay to hunt growth that is killing access for many hunters.
 
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I am a proud new PF member. My wife bought me a membership this year for our 1st anniversary. (I still think she's the best decision I ever made!)
 
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tmrichardson said:
They like to talk access too but that is one of the few problems I have with them--they do little or nothing to stem the pay to hunt growth that is killing access for many hunters.
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Little or nothing!!

Our local Pheasants Forever spent over $10,000, a major portion of our yearly budget, to help purchase the Lee Hofer Production Area north of Humboldt SD just a couple of years ago. Our chapter led the effort to raise additional funds by asking other local wildlife organizations to donate as well so enough fund could be raised to make the purchase. The PF National Office under the leadership of Ron Leathers, helped our club apply for a matching Grant to help with the purchase, a major effort. Our club worked hard to get additional donations from local busnesses, one who donated the appraisal, another major expense. We had to have an expensive appraisal because of the requirement for the grant. Once this was all done the purchase was made by the local PF and the land was immediately donated to the FWS so you all could enjoy more public hunting. Non-profit organizations such as PF are not allowed to own property.

Not only did the local PF donate almost half of their yearly budget to this project but they led the effort to make it happen, which required a lot of donated time and effort.

If you don't believe me go north of Humboldt to the Lee Hofer WPA where you will find a nice rock with a list of all of those who made a significant contribution to the WPA.

PF chapters all over the country are doing similar projects and they should be recognized for their efforts to create more habitat and more public hunting for your enjoyment. The PF organizations are busy getting things done and with your financial support or the volunteering of your time they can do even more.
 
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No surprise to me Landman, you didn't read my whole post.

What I am talking about can be seen in their magazine and even in who they appoint to their board.

Magazine is full of pay to hunt operation advertisements. A new board member runs a pay to hunt operation.

Nothing against those operations developing on lands that were never open to hunters but they are encroaching into lands that had been enrolled in walk in area programs and taking land formerly available to many hunters and making it available to a select few--with big $$ to spend.

It's a HUGE access issue across the country--not just for pheasant hunting either.
 
tmrichardson said:
Nothing against those operations developing on lands that were never open to hunters but they are encroaching into lands that had been enrolled in walk in area programs and taking land formerly available to many hunters and making it available to a select few--with big $$ to spend.

QUOTE]

There is plenty of room for both. Pay hunting operations takes a very small portion of the overall land. As long as hunters are willing to pay there will be landowners willing to fill the need. I believe that PF recognizes the benefits from both public hunting and fee hunting and thus supports both. Although I don't think much PF money goes to hunting preserves like what goes into providing public hunting. They simply are willing to take their money and put it into more habitat and public hunting.
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tmrichardson said:
I think he nailed the problem many have with banquet prices. I see the same thing with RGS.

In this economy in particular, knowing you are going to have to spend $65 and up just to get in the door is going to turn people away.

The real lure isn't the meal, it's the prizes. People on a budget (which is most of us these days) want to have a chance to win something if they are going to fork out the money and time to go to a banquet. If all or most of what they think they can afford is spent to walk in the door, the attendance is going to be limited to high rollers, those w/o kids, and the real pheasant crazies (that live and breathe only pheasant hunting--many of us hunt and fish for many other species as well throughout the year, and a pheasant org has to compete with others for our $$).

I think that hurts in other ways--the organization gets a rep of being for and about things bigger than the average guy or family. Which is the wrong message to be sending.

I have cut back on memberships as kids have entered college and the economy has become more uncertain, but I still am a member of PF. They do too much good work to not be a member, they really are one of the best out there for getting money into effective lobbying AND habitat.

If you don't like what your local chapter is doing, I don't think there is a much better org to apply the old adage to--join it and work to turn it around yourself!

We have some chapters in my state that have personally contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars towards direct land purchases for hunters. I think we had one chapter go over 1 million total contribution a few years back.

I will say on other thing--PF is not the org to join if your idea of what they should be doing is raising tame birds for release, buying surrogators, killing predators, etc. They properly recognize the real solution is habitat. They like to talk access too but that is one of the few problems I have with them--they do little or nothing to stem the pay to hunt growth that is killing access for many hunters.
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Like I said not all chapters are run that way our banquet costs 20 dollars a person that includes all the food and drink including all the beer you want. Where the money is made at this banquet is in raffle tickets, gun tickets and the auction and people may spend as little or as much as they want. All the proceeds goes back into the mission of habitat. Mainly replanting of natural grasses. :)
 
$65.00 for a banquet ticket. $35.00 of the $65.00 goes towards your PF magazine (membership). The rest of the money goes towards dinner with some chapters keeping $5.00 or more for the chapter.

Can PF chapters charge less? For the dinner portion yes. The problem; you start to get cheap on the dinner and location people start to bitch a bit. At least that's how it is around here.

I read someone complaining about gun raffles. "Why do my dues go toward buying a gun and not habitat?" When a gun is raffled, tickets are sold, money is made, and proceeds go toward habitat.

I read someone saying something I heard all the time. "I don't see any habitat projects in my area." I didn't either until I took a PF tour which most PF chapters will put on, but NO ONE ever shows up for. WOW was I surprised at the beautiful sites we have in this county! NO PF SIGNS were posted, but they were PF sites. Some were visible from the road others were not. Some I drove by weekly and didn’t even know they were there.

CRP is going down the tubes. CRP Habitat has to get a high grade to stay enrolled otherwise it gets plowed under once expired. PF is working with land owners to keep their CRP in line with gov't regulations. Therefore, the CRP that PF chapters may support will not be subject to the plow, but instead stays into prime pheasant habitat not to mention other wildlife habitat.

Magazine; you dues go toward supporting Nat'l PF org. NOT local. This money then goes toward admin. Costs, state biologist payroll (whom play a HUGE role in helping local chapters with habitat projects), printing, etc.

"There's allot of ads in the PF magazine." GOOD! That means there's more money for our cause! This orginization is not around to please us, but put habitat in the ground, therefore bringing about more birds, and then we get to enjoy them.

If you want to know where your money is going go to a banquet and talk to the chapter volunteers. All dues stay locally within your chapter. If you are suspecting corruption within your chapter, get involved and do something about it. Meetings are open. Books are open. Habitat projects are open. National’s books are open. It’s all open!

PF IS the' most cost efficient habitat not for profit organization in the U.S. Hands down. GRASS ROOTS is the foundation of PF. That means money stays with your chapter/county.
Again, instead of complaining get involved. If you chapter has volunteers for all positions, wait until one opens up. Hell, if you in my area PLEASE come and fill my position. Countless hours of volunteering (YEAR round), $400 t0 $500 of my income toward gas, printing, donations of products to be auctioned off, my evenings that I could be spending with family and friends I’m often spending in meetings, putting up with people bitching about this and that. For what? PHEASANTS! It's all worth it in the end. And NO, I, nor the others in the chapter get "hunting" privileges because we're a part of the chapter. 100% selfless sacrifice were Pheasants and other people reap the benefits.

Sounds corrupt and as if PF isn't doing anything? Not to mention the HUGE efforts in Washington D.C.! You want your PF chapter to do more? Get involved. In the mean time, please stop bitching about this organization. It's not perfect but it's the only dam thing we (pheasant guys) have at the time. I believe they are doing one hell of a job.
Also, do you hunt public land? Guess who was most likely involved with that too? PF, DU, QF, NWTF and others have their hands in those lands too.
 
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I have seriously considered moving my money to other Org. such as Delta after seeing them begging on Facebook for people to join in on their Golf tournament at $700.00 per foursome or $175 per person. That's a slap in the face to the working man.

Sorry, I'm not looking to cater to a Org. that only caters to someone with a certain income level. They are targeting only those with big $$$$ and not in number of members. Our voice is carried in numbers not income level.
 
Thanks to PF's efforts in Washington I am now signing up 96.7 acres in Duck Nesting Habitat CP-37 due to the cropping years rolling forward.

Probably another 25 acres or so in field windbreak trees in 2011 as well.

:10sign::cheers:
 
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