Kansas Pheasants Forever State Habitat Convention March 7-8
Pheasants Forever 02.26.14
Fourth annual event celebrates Kansas’ tradition of upland hunting and conservation
Kansas Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever will host the organization’s fourth annual state habitat convention on March 7-8 at the Great Plains Nature Center in Wichita. The two-day event is designed for landowners, conservationists and hunters interested in improving wildlife habitat, and will also celebrate and discuss avenues to increase Kansas’ upland hunting tradition.
Open to the public, the state meeting is an opportunity for local sportsmen/women and chapters to meet with professionals and discuss opportunities regarding the upland wildlife in their area. The habitat heavy event will also focus on youth, women, and dog enthusiasts in Kansas. Representatives from Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT), the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and local landowners are slated to present on landscape challenges and success in the state.
“We are expecting to have an outstanding event this year thanks to our volunteers and our partners, such as the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism, and I am greatly looking forward to meeting with individuals from across the state who are ready and willing to help ensure Kansas’ upland hunting heritage continues,” said Chris Blackledge, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Western Kansas regional representative.
Jim Pitman, KDWPT’s small game coordinator, noted, “The Kansas State Habitat Convention offers attendees a great opportunity to learn what will and won’t help in terms of upland wildlife habitat management while having the chance to network with many professional wildlife biologists and other passionate conservationists.”
Saturday’s keynote speakers include:
Dave Nomsen –Vice President of Governmental Affairs for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, Nomsen will discuss issues in Washington D.C. that affect conservation. Additionally, he will update attendees with news about the Federal Farm Bill.
Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism– Jake George will be on hand to discuss their Walk-In Hunting Access programs that are opening up more great locations to the public each year around the state. Jim Pitman will be discussing bag limits and population dynamics for hunting regulations.
Nadia Marji– Associate editor for the Kansas Wildlife and Parks magazine, Marji will relay personal anecdotes about her journey from being a self-described “city girl” to becoming an “accidental huntress” in an effort to engage youth involved in the outdoors.
Speakers will also be on hand to present about the importance of pollinators and insects in increasing upland bird populations, new ways to engage youth through chapter outreach, issues with stocked birds, landowner success stories, managing deer and upland birds at the same time, taxidermy, and management implementation.
If you’re a landowner, be sure to visit the Habitat Help Desk to talk to Kansas’ team of farm bill wildlife biologists. These biologists can help to develop a habitat management plan for your land and discuss financial assistance programs and practices that could make you more money while improving wildlife habitat.
All sessions at the Great Plains Nature Center and the Wichita Marriott are open to the public for a price of $65. Ticket price includes Friday’s Pheasants Forever Kansas Hall of Fame Reception, State Habitat Convention Saturday and the Partners in Conservation Banquet Saturday evening.
For more information on the Kansas State Habitat Convention in Wichita, please contact Chris Blackledge at (620) 767-2121, email Chris or visit www.kansaspfqf.org to register.
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.
