New Heart River Pheasants Forever Chapter Springs into Action for N.D. Wildlife
Pheasants Forever 03.27.12
Hunters and conservationists in and around Elgin, North Dakota, have formed a new Pheasants Forever chapter.
Known as the Heart River Pheasants Forever chapter, the group is dedicated to improving the area’s wildlife habitat, providing area youth with opportunities to hunt and establishing Grant County as a leader in North Dakota’s upland conservation efforts.
The chapter is led by Myles Stoller, an Elgin resident, lifelong upland hunter and the chapter’s newly elected president. “What is most important to us is to make sure we have something to pass on to the next generation of North Dakota hunters,” says Stoller, “We also understand that what helps pheasants helps everything else, so even though we are a Pheasants Forever chapter, there are a multitude of species that will benefit from our habitat work.”
Stoller, who lives on a fifth generation family ranch, knows proper land management is of the utmost importance to a healthy wildlife balance. “If we take care of the land, it will take care of us,” he noted, “Our forefathers cared for the land before they passed it on to us, and I’m going to do everything I can to pass it on for others to enjoy in the same capacity as I did.”
Pheasants Forever empowers county and local chapters with the responsibility to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds will be spent – the only national conservation organization that operates through this truly grassroots structure. As a result, chapter volunteers are able to see the fruits of their efforts locally, while belonging to a larger national organization with a voice on federal and state conservation policy. “The Heart River Pheasants Forever chapter is a dedicated and experienced group of conservationists, who will make a major contribution to North Dakota wildlife,” says Jesse Beckers, Pheasants Forever North Dakota Regional Wildlife Biologist, “North Dakota has long been known as one of the premier upland hunting states, and I know with the help of the Heart River Pheasants Forever it will continue to be a leader for years into the future.”
Heart River Pheasants Forever chapter
- The Heart River Pheasants Forever chapter has also elected Ronald Bartz as the chapter’s treasurer.
- The chapter’s first banquet will be at Our Place Cafe in Elgin on Friday, March 30th at 6:30pm.
- For more information about the chapter, contact Myles Stoller at (701) 220-3458 / Email Myles.
North Dakota is home to 31 Pheasants Forever chapters and more than 4,000 Pheasants Forever members. For more information on Pheasants Forever in North Dakota, please contact Jesse Beckers at (701) 202-8120 / Email Jesse. For all other inquiries, please contact Rehan Nana, Pheasants Forever Public Relations Specialist, at (651) 209-4973 / Email Rehan.
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.
