In the Weeds: September 2007
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever chapters annually complete over 23,000 habitat projects. "In the Weeds" takes a closer look at these chapter projects. This month, we profile the work of the Twin Rivers Chapter (Iowa) of Pheasants Forever.
Twin Rivers PF Chapter Named Conservation Organization Chapter of the Year
The Twin Rivers (Iowa) Chapter of Pheasants Forever has been named the 2007 Conservation Organization Chapter of the Year by Field & Stream magazine. The chapter will be honored at the second annual Heroes of Conservation Awards on Thursday, September 20th at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
During 2007, the chapter, which covers all of Jones County and parts of Dubuque and Linn counties, has completed three land acquisitions for public use with total expenditures of approximately $1.1 million. The chapter has closed on a 72-acre addition to Muskrat Slough near Olin, Iowa, and a 144-acre addition at Whitewater Canyon. Details are not yet available on the chapter's third acquisition this year.
"It is not how many ideas you have, it is how many you make happen," said Matt McQuillen the chapter's past president and current habitat chair, "We are truly blessed with having a number of dedicated souls, who rather than just having ideas, make ideas happen. As long as our chapter's board continues to raise funds with the expectation of putting them to the furtherance of our passion, which is enhancing and creating conservation, I believe that we will continue to have success similar to what we have experienced in the past."
"Although our chapter has received much recognition for our success in completing land acquisitions, our success would not be possible without the great partnerships that we have formed," McQuillen added, "We also have very strong relationships with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Jones County Conservation Board and Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. We have received grant funds from many sources including the REAP Fund and Wildlife Habitat Stamp Fund, the Iowa Pheasants Forever State Trust and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. With these strong partnerships and a history of successful projects, we have established a great degree of credibility so that when we pursue a project, those we ask to participate respond favorably."
The Twin Rivers chapter has been successful in coordinating three other significant acquisitions in recent years: The 69-acre Scotch Grove Prairie; the 200-acre Hale Wildlife Area; and the 138-acre addition to Muskrat Slough in Jones County. In addition to the acquisitions the chapter coordinated, the chapter also has contributed toward other land acquisitions in the surrounding areas: The160-acre Ringneck Ridge near Worthington, Iowa; the 20-acre addition to Indian Bluffs Wildlife Area in Jones County; the 419-acre original purchase of Whitewater Canyon, and two purchases in Clinton County.
Although the chapter's land acquisitions have received the most recognition, the chapter is also heavily involved in a host of other activities. In fact, the chapter's third annual Youth Fun Day will be held on September 22nd.
"We have a coalition of conservation groups who join together to provide 100 youth an opportunity to learn about and experience such things as duck calling, turkey calling, rifle shooting, shotgun shooting, fly tying, and conservation skills," McQuillen said, "Our chapter will be hosting its first youth pheasant hunt this year. More and more often we hear about the lack of available land on which people can hunt. Although our efforts to acquire public access land are intended to benefit all members of the community, we are most hopeful that it affords hunting and outdoor opportunities for our youth."
If you have story ideas, dog photos, pre-1980 hunting photos and requests for future On The Wing consideration, please send correspondence to ahauck@pheasantsforever.org.
Return to On The Wing: September 2007"On The Wing" Archive
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