Pheasants Forever to Host Great Outdoors Youth Jamboree in Michigan
Pheasants Forever 07.15.13
First-ever event to be held in Lenawee County this September, 500+ youth and adults expected
In an effort to introduce Michigan youth to the outdoors, partners of the Michigan Pheasant Restoration Initiative are hosting the inaugural Great Outdoors Youth Jamboree, taking place September 8 from 10:00am-5:00pm at the Lake Hudson State Recreation Area. There, more than 30 exhibitors will provide hands-on hunting, fishing and outdoor-oriented activities for youth. The day will also include a chukar hunt for a limited number of youth that pre-register for the event (youth must have already completed their hunter safety certification). This event is free and open to the public!
The Great Outdoors Youth Jamboree is a collaboration between the partners of the Michigan Pheasants Restoration Initiative (MPRI), including Pheasants Forever, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Cabela’s and others. For a complete list of partnering organizations click here.
“Lake Hudson was an obvious site choice for our first-ever youth jamboree, because we’ve developed such wonderful partnerships there through our pheasant habitat restoration efforts,” says Ben Wickerham, Pheasants Forever Michigan regional representative. “It’s also a perfect location to introduce youth and their families to some of the great small game hunting and outdoor recreation opportunities in the area. The jamboree will feature instruction in archery, boating, geocaching, birding, fly fishing, outdoor photography and many, many more nature-based activities, so bring the whole family and enjoy a day outside!”
The 2,000+ acre Lake Hudson State Recreation Area (SRA) in Lenawee County is the core piece of public land at the center of Michigan’s first Wild Pheasant Recovery Area (WPRA) – the Lake Hudson Pheasant Cooperative. Lake Hudson SRA is being restored to native prairie and other pheasant habitat as a way to bolster local wild pheasant populations and provide a public habitat demonstration for surrounding private landowners.
Lake Hudson Recreation Area is only 60 minutes from Kalamazoo, Lansing, Detroit and Toledo, and is located on Morey Highway/M-156 directly south of Jackson. Visitors are required to have a Michigan DNR Recreation Passport for park entrance.
Launched in early 2011, the Michigan Pheasant Restoration Initiative’s goal is to re-establish the pheasant as a prolific game bird in specific regions of the state. The initiative also has the potential to change small game hunting opportunities, increase other wildlife populations, improve hunter satisfaction and help Michigan’s economy. Find more on the Michigan Pheasant Restoration Initiative here.
For additional details about the jamboree, please click here. To register your youngster for the chukar hunt, please contact Mary Brunken, Pheasants Forever youth outreach coordinator in Michigan, at (810) 333-2060 or email Mary. For more information on “The Habitat Organization” in Michigan, please contact Ben Wickerham at (517) 315-5106 or email Ben.
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.
