Mason County, Illinois Rallying Around Roosters            

Local conservationists start 44th Pheasants Forever Chapter in Illinois
 

[DEC. 29, 2006]  MANITO -- Mason County, Illinois is home to the country's newest chapter of Pheasants Forever (PF). The new group is focused on improving habitat to increase area pheasant populations and also help answer the demand for additional hunter's safety instructors. The chapter's next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 9th and is open to the public.

The Mason County PF Chapter has elected Washington, Ill. resident James Davison as its first president. "I live a ways from Mason County, but I hunt over there. As a sportsman and conservationist, I felt it my obligation to give back to the land that has brought me so many fond memories and friendships."

Davison is relatively new to hunting, having picked it up about five years ago. "I married into it," explained Davison. "I was always interested in hunting, but never really had the opportunity. When I married my wife Kristi, I also gained a hunting partner in my father-in-law Dave Nash.
Starting this chapter is about ensuring my kids, Dave's grandkids, can enjoy days afield like we have enjoyed together these past five years."

Illinois pheasant populations face many habitat challenges, but a lack of nesting cover is their primary limiting factor. Chapter leaders hope to focus their habitat efforts on creating more quality nesting cover. One focal point for their nesting cover efforts is to help up-grade the county's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres.

Davison added that the chapter's leaders are also interested in addressing the area's shortage of hunter's education instructors. "We know there is a shortage of hunter safety classes to answer the demand of area youth. We believe the next generation is made up of our future land stewards. It's very important for us to connect as many kids to the outdoors and our hunting heritage as possible. Helping to alleviate the log jam in hunter's education classes is an important part of that."

"I'm really excited about this new Mason County Chapter," added Tim Caughran, PF's regional biologist for southern Illinois. "It's a county with tremendous potential for habitat, pheasants, and sportsmen and women. I'd invite all the folks from Manito to Havana to join us for the chapter's next meeting and learn more. As hunters and conservationists, we all need to do our part to ensure our kids will enjoy days afield behind good dogs and flushing birds."

The new Mason County PF Chapter plans to hold their next meeting on Tuesday, January 9th at 7PM. The meeting will be held at the Hawks Grove Inn, formerly Mel's, in Manito. The public and media are invited to attend. To learn more about the chapter, please contact Davison at [phone] or via email at [e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]>.
If you are interested in starting a PF or Quail Forever chapter in Illinois, contact Tim Caughran at
[phone] or email [e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]>.

Illinois's 44 PF chapters account for over 7,000 members statewide.
Those chapters have spent more than $8.8 million to complete over 25,000 habitat projects since the first Illinois PF chapter was formed in 1985.
Those projects have benefited more than 200,000 acres for wildlife. PF, and its quail division Quail Forever, apply a unique and successful model of empowering local chapters with the responsibility to determine how 100% of their locally raised conservation funds will be spent. PF and Quail Forever are the only national conservation organizations to employ this unique locally-driven chapter model. Charity Navigator, America's charity watchdog, gives PF their highest rating of 4 stars. In fact, Charity Navigator says that PF outperforms most non-profits in America.


[Pheasants Forever news release]