Sleighton Creek Forms Newest Wisconsin Pheasants Forever Chapter
Pheasants Forever 04.29.13
Residents of Wisconsin’s Monroe and Juneau Counties have formed the newest Pheasants Forever (PF) chapter in the country. Known as Sleighton Creek Pheasants Forever, the chapter has rallied around introducing youth to outdoor activities and shooting sports.
The chapter has plans to get youth involved with the outdoors and improve upon the habitat in their community through projects funded by monies raised at their annual banquet, which will be held September 14 at the County Fairgrounds in Tomah, Wisconsin.
“The chapter is very excited about Pheasants Forever’s local funding model,” says Chapter President Chip Eckelberg. Eckelberg, who has a 15 year old black lab, Sally, feels that youth are the key to continuing outdoor traditions. “We plan on teaching youth the value of the outdoors and how to enjoy outdoor activities like hunting.”
Pheasants Forever provides its local chapters the ability to decide how 100 percent of their fundraised dollars are spent. This local control gives chapters and members the ability to make things happen for wildlife in their communities, while belonging to a national organization advocating for wildlife and conservation in policy discussions in Washington, D.C.
“Sleighton Creek Pheasants Forever is dedicated to the future of pheasants, pheasant hunters, and the success of conservation,” explained Doug Fendry, Pheasants Forever’s regional wildlife biologist in Wisconsin. “The chapter leaders and volunteers share common excitement for helping youngsters find themselves in the outdoors. The best way to make a difference is by getting involved, which this promising new Pheasants Forever chapter is doing.”
In an effort to raise funds for current projects, the chapter is selling raffle tickets for a fundraiser with prizes which include shotguns, a GPS unit and a Milwaukee tool set. The Sleighton Creek chapter is actively seeking planning committee volunteers for events. If interested in volunteering or for raffle tickets, please contact Rhonda Simonson, chapter youth/education chair, at (608) 343-5842 or email Rhonda.
The national habitat organization will hold its annual convention, National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic, in Milwaukee, February 14, 15, 16, 2013 at the Delta Center. For more information on “The Habitat Organization” or to start a chapter, please contact Doug Fendry at (608) 843-7999 or email Doug.
Pheasants Forever launched Quail Forever in August of 2005 to address the continuing loss of habitat suitable for quail and the subsequent quail population decline. Bobwhite population losses over the last 25 years range from 60 to 90 percent across the country. The reason for the quail population plunge is simple - massive losses of habitat suitable for quail. There are five major factors leading to the losses of quail habitat; intensified farming and forestry practices, succession of grassland ecosystems to forests, overwhelming presence of exotic grasses like fescue that choke out wildlife, and urban sprawl.
