Category: Blog

Our nation’s forests and watersheds face increasing challenges that threaten everyday life in ways like climate change, wildfires, water scarcity, and invasive species. Land managers have to rethink their strategies to address these challenges, which do not recognize physical limits. As a result, solutions are needed that can be implemented across entire landscapes to create healthy and resilient forests.

To overcome these challenges, the Rocky Mountain Restoration Initiative promotes collaborative efforts and encourages its partners at the federal, state, tribal, and local levels to broaden the scope of their forest restoration efforts. RMRI was established as a collaboration between the National Wild Turkey Federation and the USDA Forest Service, selecting Colorado as the pilot location to demonstrate the Forest Service’s Shared Management strategy.

Partners within RMRI are restoring landscapes in the Southwest, Upper Arkansas, and Upper South Platte regions of Colorado. The goal is to restore 310,000 acres of public and private lands in the Southwest, 30,000 acres of public and private lands in Upper Arkansas, and 75,000 acres of public and private lands in the Upper South Platte.

southwestern colorado

In 2019, RMRI partners unanimously agreed to focus their initial combined efforts on southwestern Colorado. In 2022, RMRI’s landscape in this area received a total investment of $11,949,786 for restoration work, with $4,201,761 of the total non-Federal funding from various sources. Volunteers from the Wildfire Adapted Partnership, San Juan Mountains Association, and the City of Durango contributed 19,935 hours of their time, which equals $597,053. This funding and volunteer support enabled more than 100 projects and supporting activities on public, private, state and tribal lands to be completed by 2022. As we look back on the accomplishments and progress made, we can celebrate the successes achieved through these collective efforts. .

RMRI created a 10-year goal to treat 310,000 acres in the Southwest landscape; 290,000 of those acres on federal land and the remaining 20,000 acres on private land. RMRI partners aim to treat approximately 29,000 acres of federal land and 2,000 acres of private land annually. Additionally, a goal was created to restore 93,000 acres of public and private lands in the first three years.

Progress has been significant, with 13,734 acres of public land restored on the San Juan National Forest and US Bureau of Land Management lands, and 748 acres of private land restored by 2022. Restoration efforts they will improve the health of forests and mitigate the large sedimentation impacts of fires. to key watersheds, restore ecosystems, improve habitat, and reduce hazardous fuels to protect communities and prepare the landscape for fire.

In addition, RMRI’s efforts resulted in the restoration of 2,967 acres of water on public and private lands, as well as the mitigation of 9,717 acres to minimize the impact of catastrophic wildfires on surrounding communities.

upper arkansas

The Upper Arkansas landscape encompasses Chaffee and Lake counties, which are home to the largest river basin in Colorado.

In 2020, the Envision Forest Health Council in Chaffee County formulated a 10-year plan aimed at reducing the threat of severe fire to community assets through targeted forest treatments covering up to 30,000 acres by 2030. A By the end of 2022, a total of 5,158 acres of public and private forest lands have been treated, raising $23 million for future forest planning and treatment projects. In addition, 1,098 private property owners have taken action to improve wildfire resilience in the county.

In Lake County, 155 acres of private land have been treated to mitigate wildfire threats to the community. In 2022, the Lake County community, in collaboration with citizens and a Community Wildfire Protection Plan Leadership Team, developed an updated version of the Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The primary goal of the updated plan is to decrease overall risk to community assets by approximately 50% within 10 years through prioritized treatment of specific acres.

upper south platte

The Upper South Platte watershed is a critical water source, providing 80-90% of the water supply for the Denver and Aurora metropolitan areas, serving about 3 million residents. The Upper South Platte Partnership takes the lead in this region, bringing together government agencies, water providers, non-profit organizations, and academic institutions. Through collaborative efforts in 2022, a total of 2,274 acres of land, spanning private, local, state, and federal properties, received treatment as part of co-management projects. Additionally, four fire protection districts conducted 292 home inspections and 930 properties participated in chipping programs. The Forest Service also burned 305 acres of cut piles, while $3 million in funding was allocated for new projects in the watershed, further supporting conservation efforts.

RMRI partners will continue their efforts to improve the key landscape of southwestern Colorado through restoration work in 2023. On May 4, 2023, the US Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region received $46,709,453 to implement fuel breaks as part of the implementation of the wildfire crisis strategy. The San Juan National Forest, which is part of RMRI’s Southwestern Colorado Landscape, will receive $13,150,000 to prepare 150,000 acres of land for prescription fires through mechanical treatments. This funding will help RMRI partners achieve their shared values ​​of restoring forests and habitats, protecting communities, supporting recreation and tourism, and ensuring safe, clean water in this focal landscape.

For more information on the mission and ongoing projects of the Rocky Mountain Restoration Initiative, visit the website here.

PORT CLINTON, Ohio – The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is privileged to announce that the first speaker for the 2023 national matches will be renowned member of the US Army Marksmanship Unit, Sgt. 1^street Brandon Green class. After being a part of the US Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) since 2004, Green announced his retirement in 2023, making this year’s National Matches his last in uniform.

Each year, the First Shot Ceremony serves as a welcoming event for guests, participants, volunteers and staff who conduct the National Rifle and Pistol Matches at the Camp Perry National Guard Training Center. The century-old marksmanship event features a month of competitions, vendors and educational opportunities in a variety of disciplines. The First Shot Ceremony includes an evening of notable personalities, classic military displays, live band compositions and other experiences for visitors to enjoy.

The 2023 First Throw Ceremony is open to the public and will take place on Monday, July 10 at 4:30 p.m. on the Camp Perry grounds, led by Green, who will speak and deliver the traditional first throw down to officially open the National Matches. Green will fire the M70 bolt rifle used by DCM Emeritus and two-time Olympic gold medalist Gary Anderson for the standing record 200-yard national game record in 1971, as well as during the 2014 First Shot Ceremony.

Green is widely known as one of the greatest marksmen of the modern era, earning a celebrated and illustrious marksmanship career as an individual and as a member of a team. With USAMU, he has been an integral part of multiple record-setting teams in both the service rifle and long-range rifle and has acted as the lead instructor for the unit’s marksmanship training courses, including during US Army Shooting School. Small Arms held in the National Parties. every year. Green also served as a crew chief for the USAMU Service Rifle Team through 2022.

As an individual, the 2018 National Matches saw Green not only surpass the prestigious President’s 100 Match for the first time in his career, but also set a new national record by clearing the field with a perfect score of 400-20x, something he did not someone else had achieved since the match began in 1894. Unsurprisingly, his record score remains unmatched.

Prior to his nearly 20-year career with USAMU, the Louisiana native started out on the Bogalusa High School Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps air rifle team, where he became the first recipient (Badge #1). of the Junior Distinguished Air Rifle Badge. . His successes as a junior caught the eye of USAMU Fort Benning, Georgia, who recruited him immediately after graduating in 2003. After completing Small Arms Repair School at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, he was assigned as a soldier to USAMU. in March 2004.

From there, Green has made his name known across the country, earning several accolades, including being named Soldier of the Year by the Military Marksmanship Association in 2013.

At the 2017 National Matches, Green shot a record-breaking score of 499-30x during the National Trophy Individual (NTI) event, one of Matches’ most highly regarded competitions. He went on to win the Mountain Man title and a national record score, surpassing the score the following year for a new record of 1296-83X that still stands today. Additionally, in 2017, he captured the championship title during CMP’s inaugural 2400 Aggregate Rifle event during the National Matches High Powered Rifle series.

Green is a three-time winner of the Mountain Man Trophy, awarded to the highest aggregate score in President’s Rifle, NTI, and National Trophy Team (NTT) matches, and is a three-time winner of NTI itself, among several other individual National Trophies won and records.

In 2022, Green became the first individual to sweep all four National Rifle Association Long Range Championship events. Green is also a five-time champion of the Long Range Inter-Service Championships.

Outside of marksmanship, his military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (3), Army Commendation Medal (2), Army Achievement Medals (4), Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, National Defense Service, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Career Development Ribbon, and Army Service Ribbon.

Find out more about the 2023 national matches, including a full schedule of events, on the CMP website at https://thecmp.org/cmp-national-matches/.

The Civilian Marksmanship Program is a federally chartered 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. It is dedicated to firearms safety and marksmanship training and the promotion of marksmanship competition for United States citizens. To learn more about the CMP and its programs, log on to www.TheCMP.org.

GREAT FOR BEER BATTERED FISH AND FRENCH FRIES

It was a long winter here in Northland. I’m not sure it’s gone yet, although the calendar says spring has come. You could really go for some fresh fish. Unfortunately, the ice on the lake persists and fishing is weeks away from starting.

So I’ve come to the Mississippi River, where walleye season is continuous. A few dollars buys admission to a “fishing float,” which is essentially a giant raft parked just below one of the dams. The captain picks me up on the shore and takes me to the float. With any luck, he might come back with enough fish for a dinner or two.

The guy on the float sells me a ball of minnows, and I hit the road. Since the current is strong, the deal is simple: minnow on a jig head, tossed to the bottom, and retrieved.

The river is really rough. It soon becomes obvious that it will take every trick in the book to keep the bait in the strike zone. I switch to the other rod already rigged with small diameter braided line and tie a heavier jig. My scissors, half of Smith’s Scissors and pliers combo—it’s hooked to my bucket and always ready to cut off the ends of the label. Another minnow is impaled and brought into action.

It doesn’t take long to feel the first tug. The hookset feels good initially, but the jig comes loose. A quick check reveals that the hook may be too blunt.

I look in my backpack for my retractable diamond sharpener. Designed for serrated blades, hooks, knives and other sharp edges, it comes in handy on an almost daily basis. A few pulls through the hook sharpener part makes the subject feel nice and “sticky” again. I prime again and I’m back in the game.

The next time a fish takes my jig, there is no doubt that it is hooked solid. After a good fight, the eager minnow thief comes to hand. It’s a beautiful golden walleye and a great start to the day. However, the hook is a bit deep and pliers are required. Luckily they are always around.

Since each walleye must be over 15 inches, I shoot the portable fish ruler from my jacket pocket and unroll it onto the deck. The official measurement is a little over 16 inches, definitely long enough to fit the fish on my stringer. Hopefully he will have a partner soon.

Since the flexible rule is wet, it enters the Fishing and hunting tool bag. The mesh back of the bag allows wet items to drain and dry. Plus, items won’t get tangled or lost when contained.

Having cast and jigged countless times (and lost the battle with a few hiccups), it seems a change of pace is in order. Many other anglers have caught Giant Perch in the gentler current near the float. So, I set up a slider rig and minnow on my mono-spool rod and sit down.

It looks like the hanger may have called for a break in the action as well. After 30 fruitless minutes, the impatience grows too great to ignore. I’m casting jigs and minnows again during my last hour on the float.

The midday action is slow everywhere. The sting has clearly gone cold, as other anglers aren’t having much luck either. I am rewarded for my effort with another couple of bites and small walleye that do not reach the minimum length. A walleye to save isn’t the kind of jackpot I was expecting when I arrived, but it’s enough to break the winter blues tonight with a meal of Fish & Chips.

Beer Battered Fish & Chips

A battered and fried way to enjoy walleye, perch, yellow or white bass, or northern pike. Choose a lager or IPA for a light, crisp batter, or something like a porter or stout for a darker, richer experience. Pair with hot fries and serve with malt vinegar, mustard, or tartar sauce.

INGREDIENTS:

• oil for frying
• 1 C. flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 C. cold beer
• 1 pound. fish fillets, cut into finger-size strips
• extra flour to coat the fish

Mix the flour and baking powder in a bowl and mix in the beer. Pour enough oil into a skillet so that the fish floats, and heat to 350 degrees. Dip the fish in flour and shake off the excess. Dip the fish in the batter and fry until golden brown. Flip once to achieve even browning of the dough.

ABOUT SMITH CONSUMER PRODUCTS:

Smith’s Consumer Products is an Arkansas-based company that traces its history back to 1886. Smith’s produces the broadest line of knife and scissor sharpeners available, ranging from simple fixed-angle sharpeners for consumers who want quick and easy sharpening to sophisticated precision kits. Designed for the knife sharpening enthusiast. Our offering includes manual and electric sharpeners that incorporate many different abrasive materials, including diamond, carbide, ceramic, bonded synthetic abrasives, and of course, Arkansas natural stone. Smith’s Consumer Products Edge Experts also design and manufacture a wide range of tools for the outdoor enthusiast, as well as knives for everyday carry, tactical, shop, kitchen, hunting and fishing needs.

The coalition publishes comprehensive recommendations for the reauthorization of the Farm Bill to protect and improve forests and the quality of life for US farmowners.

EDGEFIELD, SC — Forests in the Farm Bill (FIFB), a coalition of more than 70 forestry and conservation organizations, today released a set of recommendations focused on improving the forest-related sections of the upcoming Farm Bill. The coalition urges lawmakers to strengthen the Farm Bill’s ability to protect the health and well-being of America’s forests while supporting America’s rural communities.

“Rural landowners have tremendous potential to improve the health and well-being of our country’s forests, and the FIFB coalition’s recommendations will help realize that potential,” said Rita Hite, president and CEO of the American Forest Foundation. “By accepting the Coalition’s recommendations, Congress will remove financial and administrative barriers that often prevent landowners from reaching their full conservation potential and open doors of opportunity for rural communities, provide more funding for forest conservation and a stronger stance on climate resilience. .”

Farm Bill programs provide resources and information to support federal, state, local, tribal, and private forest owners. Enhancement of these programs will enable critical forest management best practices that reduce risk and increase resilience to wildfires, protect water supplies, enhance wildlife habitat, and support forest products and environmental markets to drive investments. rural economies.

“Forests are our nation’s greatest renewable resource. They create economic opportunities, mitigate key factors in climate change, provide critical ecosystems to support biodiversity, and improve human health. Removing the barriers inherent in existing Farm Bill language, such as the need to consider arbitrary ‘property’ limits when orchestrating crucial wildfire mitigation efforts, is a critical step in the right direction. When it comes to the main threats facing our forests (fire, pests, diseases), boundaries don’t matter. These things easily spread between ‘properties’ to wipe out even the healthiest landscapes,” said Jay Farrell, executive director of the National Association of State Rangers. “The focused and thoroughly researched recommendations our coalition has delivered to Congress highlight key opportunities to strengthen the Farm Bill to make it more like the resource our nation’s forests deserve.”

The coalition’s recommendations emphasize the need for lawmakers to address the barriers many underserved forest owners face when accessing Farm Bill programs. They also call on Congress to increase research and innovative funding, technical assistance, and support for active land stewardship through the reauthorization of key conservation programs, along with increased efforts to support meeting mitigation goals. climate change and combat the bushfire crisis.

“Forests in the Farm Bill Coalition has built a strong reputation for working collaboratively to make private and public forests healthy, reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, and conserve quality wildlife habitat” said Kurt Dyroff, co-executive director of National Wild Turkey. Federation. “For more than 20 years, the coalition has brought together a diverse consortium of partners representing millions of forest owners, conservationists, hunters, fishermen, forest product manufacturers, and natural resource professionals to build its Farm Bill platform, and the This year’s platform is endorsed by more than 70 organizations. The National Wild Turkey Federation is proud to help lead the coalition as a member of the steering committee and fully supports the platform of this Farm Bill that has been presented to Congress.”

The FIFB Coalition has worked for more than 20 years to collaboratively build consensus policy solutions to the Farm Bill. The Farm Bill, which Congress typically renews every five years, is the nation’s largest source of federal funding for private land conservation and is an integral part of forest restoration and conservation and agricultural research.

The coalition’s recommendations can be found here.

About the Forests in the Farm Bill Coalition

The Forests in the Farm Bill (FIFB) Coalition represents millions of Americans who care deeply about the health and vitality of our forests. FIFB is a diverse coalition of over 100 organizations representing a variety of interests across the forestry sector, including forest owners, conservationists, hunters, fishermen, the forest industry and natural resource professionals. The FIFB Steering Committee is comprised of representatives from the American Forest Foundation, the National Association of State Foresters, and the National Wild Turkey Federation.

About the National Wild Turkey Federation

Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested more than half a billion dollars in wildlife conservation and has conserved or improved more than 22 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The organization continues to advance wildlife conservation, forest resiliency, and robust recreational opportunities across the US by working beyond borders at the landscape scale.

2023 is the 50th of the NWTF^he anniversary and an opportunity to push the organization’s mission into the future while honoring its rich history. for his 50^he anniversary, the NWTF has set six ambitious goals: positively impact 1 million acres of wildlife habitat; raise $500,000 for wild turkey research; increase membership to 250,000 members; dedicate $1 million to education and outreach programs; raise $5 million to invest in technology and the people of NWTF; and raise $5 million to build a $50 million endowment for the future. Find out how you can help us achieve these lofty goals.

BELLEVUE, WA – The Second Amendment Foundation has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of SB1, a bill signed by Governor Wesley Moore, which added new restrictions on where legally licensed citizens may carry firearms for protection. staff.

They are joined by SAF Maryland Shall Issue, Firearms Policy Coalition, and three private citizens, all of whom hold “use and carry permits,” including Susan Burke of Reisterstown, Esther Rossberg of Baltimore, and Katherine Novotny of Aberdeen, for whom the lawsuit is named. . . They are represented by attorneys David H. Thompson and Peter A. Patterson of Cooper & Kirk in Washington, DC, Mark W. Pennak of Maryland Shall Issue in Baltimore, and Matthew Larosiere of Lake Worth, Fla. The lawsuit is known as Novotny vs. Moore. Appeared in the US District Court for the District of Maryland.

The defendants are Governor Moore, Harford County State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey, Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott D. Schellenberger, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates, the Frederick County State’s Attorney J. Charles Smith III, the Maryland State Police Superintendent. Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr., Secretary of Transportation Paul J. Wiedefeld, and Secretary of Natural Resources Joshua Kurtz, in their official duties.

“SB1 was enacted in response to the Supreme Court ruling in New York State Pistol and Rifle Association v. bruen last year,” said SAF Founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “Instead of trying to comply with the new guidelines laid out in that decision, Maryland lawmakers rushed to make gun laws more restrictive than before. In fact, the additional restrictions make it nearly impossible to legally carry firearms for personal protection, even on public land. This is government regulation at its worst.”

“There is no well-established and representative historical analogue for the carry bans included in SB1,” added SAF CEO Adam Kraut, “which appears to be in direct conflict with the Supreme Court directive set out in bruen. The new law prohibits the carrying allowed in establishments where alcohol is served, in health establishments and even in museums. These restrictions are apparently unconstitutional under the Second Amendment, forcing us to take this action in court.”

The plaintiffs seek declaratory and equitable relief, in addition to attorneys’ fees and costs.

The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt legal action, research, publishing, and education group focusing on the constitutional right and inheritance to own and own guns. fire privately. Founded in 1974, the Foundation has grown to more than 720,000 members and supporters and runs many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control.

EDGEFIELD, SC — During the first weekend in May, NWTF state chapters in South Dakota and Montana held their annual NWTF Camp Crook Youth Turkey Hunt.

The event welcomed four young hunters, ages 12-17, who had completed their hunter safety course but had never hunted turkey before. The annual Youth Hunt has been running for the past eight years and has become a highly anticipated event for the community, who are excited to help organize it.

Located approximately 1 mile inside the western border of South Dakota, Camp Crook serves as a gathering point for ranching families from South Dakota and Montana. The youth hunt took place on both public and private land, as several nearby ranchers generously allowed the use of their property for the hunt.

The NWTF Camp Crook Youth Turkey Hunt activities began on May 5, with the children arriving in the afternoon for a safety briefing as well as a presentation on turkey biology, behavior and hunting techniques. The young hunters were then paired up with their guide and set out on their late afternoon hunt and to ground birds for the following morning.

The next day, the young hunters went on their first morning turkey hunt accompanied by their guides. After returning to the camp, the local 4H youth shooting program organized a lunch for the boys, their parents and the guides. “We are very grateful for the support of 4H, which involves helping to register and select the young hunters and preparing lunch food and a breakfast bag for everyone,” said NWTF district biologist Collin Smith.

In a remarkable achievement, the four young hunters were able to harvest an adult male during this year’s hunt. Hunting typically has a 90-100% success rate. While bagging a tom isn’t the primary goal, successful harvesting certainly plays a part in igniting these young hunters’ enthusiasm for the exciting pursuit of spring turkey hunting.

The annual NWTF Camp Crook Youth Hunt owes its success to the support and contributions of numerous donors and supporters who make this event a great experience for young people. Each year, retired USDA Forest Service member Bobby Cordell plays a key role as the hunt coordinator, ensuring the smooth running of the event.

“We would like to thank all the donors who contribute to the success of this hunter recruiting event, including the guides, the local 4H shooting sports program, the landowners, the scouts, and of course the parents who wake up at 3:00 am in the morning to escort their young hunters into the field,” Smith said. “We would like to especially thank Bobby Cordell for playing him. Without his help over the years, we would not be able to share this experience with these children.”

Guides 2023
Randy Gaskins–NWTF
Collin Smith–NWTF
Dale Tribby – Retired BLM
Rob and Justin Lyons – local residents
Tony Tabisz – Crow Peak Longbeards NWTF Chapter

explorers
Chancey Odell–USFS
Justin Lyons – Local Resident
4H planner and coordinator
laurie elmore

support partners
US Forest Service
Shooting Sports 4H

Private land owners
Cordell Round – Cordell Ranch
Bryce and Dawn Padden – Padden Ranch
Kent Williams Ranch
Jack and Kay Ovitz
Dean and Maxine Rasmussen
Terry and Laurie Goehring
Bonnie Hart – Hart Ranch

accommodation donations
hart ranch
matthew gilbert

About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested more than half a billion dollars in wildlife conservation and has conserved or improved more than 22 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The organization continues to advance wildlife conservation, forest resiliency, and robust recreational opportunities across the US by working beyond borders at the landscape scale.

2023 is the 50th anniversary of the NWTF and an opportunity to push the organization’s mission into the future while honoring its rich history. For its 50th anniversary, the NWTF has set itself six ambitious goals: to positively impact 1 million acres of wildlife habitat; raise $500,000 for wild turkey research; increase membership to 250,000 members; dedicate $1 million to education and outreach programs; raise $5 million to invest in technology and the people of NWTF; and raise $5 million to build a $50 million endowment for the future. Learn how you can help us achieve these lofty goals.

Provide leadership, coordination and support to R3 programs at the national level

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are proud to announce the hiring of Ashley Chance as the organization’s hunting heritage program manager. In her new role, Chance will focus on leading, coordinating, and supporting national programs to recruit, retain, and reactivate (R3) hunting conservationists through strategic results-based initiatives.

“Ashley has worked in wildlife conservation for more than a decade and understands the value of a vibrant hunting community in making sure nature remains relevant in a technological society,” said Colby Kerber, director of programs at Pheasants Forever conservation education. “Her passion of hers for the highlands and America’s hunting heritage was evident throughout the interview process. I am confident that she will build on our existing Path to the Uplands initiatives to continue to elevate Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever as national leaders in the hunting heritage space.”

Prior to joining Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, Chance honed her skills in the R3 realm as the Southeast Artemis Regional Coordinator for the National Wildlife Federation. In that role, she recruited, trained, and managed volunteers across the country to organize conservation, hunting, and angling programs for women athletes on public and private lands. She previously worked as an Agricultural Livelihoods Specialist in Ghana-West Africa with the US Peace Corps, focusing on building communities through sustainable farmlands and reinforcing native species. She has a BS in wildlife ecology research and management from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and an MS in wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture from Mississippi State University.

Chance will manage all of Pheasant Forever and Quail Forever’s hunting heritage programs, including Learn to Hunt and Learn to Shoot events, as well as the Hunter Mentor Pledge, a partnership between Pheasants Forever and ALPS OutdoorZ that works to educate, advocate and inspire the hunters. from all walks of life to create future responsible conservation advocates. All of these programs are designed to help youth and adults interested in hunting do so responsibly. Connecting the dots of conservation, ethics and hunter engagement, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever authentic experiences provide focused opportunities for quality events with relevant results.

“My experiences as a nontraditional upland hunter, wildlife biologist, and program coordinator give me a unique understanding of the barriers that exist for people wanting to start or return to hunting,” Chance said. “I look forward to working with the talented team at Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever to remove those barriers and introduce more people to our world.”

For more information on Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Path to the Uplands initiatives, contact Ashley Chance at [email protected] or (952) 300-1975.

About Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever make up the nation’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. This community of more than 400,000 members, supporters, and partners is dedicated to protecting our highlands through habitat improvement, public access, education, and advocacy. A network of 754 local chapters spread across North America determine how 100 percent of their locally raised funds are spent—the only national conservation organization to operate through this grassroots structure. Since its inception in 1982, the organization has dedicated more than $1 billion to 575,000 habitat projects benefiting 24 million acres.

The National Deer Association’s Public Lands Conservation Initiative received a significant boost in the form of a $200,000 grant from Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund. The Fund has now contributed a total of $350,000 to the effort, which the NDA launched in 2021 and is ahead of reaching the goal of improving 1 million acres of public hunting lands by 2026.

“We are incredibly grateful for the generous support of Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, which will help us do important work on the ground for deer and hunters,” said Nick Pinizzotto, NDA President and CEO. “The Trust and the organizations it has helped over the years have made immeasurable positive impacts on fish and wildlife conservation, and we are proud to be a part of it.”

The NDA’s initiative, titled Improving Deer Access, Habitat, and Hunting on Public Lands, addresses landscape-level access and national forest health issues. By the end of 2022, the NDA and our conservation partners, including the Outdoor Fund, had invested $2,164,206 in the initiative. In addition, the NDA matched $335,000 in funding with the Outdoor Fund’s original $150,000 grant, and secured an additional $1.5 million in federal funding through earmarked funding and stewardship agreements, creating a total funding leverage of 12-to-1 for the conservation.

By the end of 2022, the NDA had initiated forest health and access projects in six states, on six national forests in three US Forest Service (USFS) regions, ultimately improving 316,218 acres of public lands.

“Thanks to the visionary leadership of our founder Johnny Morris, along with the generous support of passionate customers, we are incredibly proud to partner with the NDA to continue investing in deer habitats on our public lands,” said Bob Ziehmer, senior director of Bass Pro Shops. of Conservation. “Bass Pro Shops is committed to protecting the rich American heritage of spending time in the woods with our families.”

The Outdoor Fund encourages more than 200 million Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s customers to round up purchases to support conservation partners and projects that advocate for athletes’ rights, connect new audiences with the outdoors, and protect and conserve the wildlife habitat in North America.

About the National Deer Association

The National Deer Association is the leading nonprofit deer conservation group, working to ensure the future of wild deer, wildlife habitat, and game. Formed by combining the strengths of two long-standing successful organizations, the National Deer Association has a combined 40-year effort that has changed deer management to improve hunting and protect America’s most vital and admired game species. North America for future generations. Visit DeerAssociation.com or follow @deerassociation on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok.

About Bass Pro Shops

Bass Pro Shops is North America’s leading outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young fisherman Johnny Morris began selling tackle at his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier retail destinations, equipment manufacturing for outdoor activities, world-class tourist destinations and more. In 2017, Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela’s to create a “best of the best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations and excellent customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unmatched collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the great outdoors and has been named “one of America’s Best Employers” by Forbes.