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Never before has there been as great a need to protect wildlife habitat than there is today. Each day, natural habitats are destroyed to make room for commercial and residential development, trading prairies for parking lots. And we're not just losing land, we're also losing a mindset that appreciates the land. Pheasants Forever is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs. our programs here in Illinois make us the leading conservation organization in the state.
Over recent years land prices have soared throughout Illinois significantly increasing the pressure to convert wildlife habitat and other marginal lands to production and driving up the price of public land acquisition. Several PF programs are designed to protect, restore and enhance wildlife habitat.- Build A Wildlife Area (BAWA) Campaign - Started in 2003, the focus of BAWA is to use private donations to leverage state and federal dollars (3:1 match) to purchase an important wildlife area in Illinois.
- Habitat Wheel Initiative - In addition to protecting habitat through acquisition, PF is committed to restoring and enhancing wildlife habitat on public and private lands. We work with landowners to improve the productivity of habitat to benefit wildlife in the area, focusing on those lands surrounding new and existing public areas.
- Manage A Wildlife Area (MAWA} - PF chapters across the state have organized several MAWA events where volunteers work to improve a Wildlife Management Area. Activities have included: pulling fence, cutting small trees, trash clean up and more.
- Conservation Easements - Many of the state's public wildlife areas are being threatened by housing development. Pheasants Forever is working with landowners to get easements around public areas that will protect them from this threat.
Today's youth represent 20% of our population, but 100% of our future. Pheasants Forever youth programs are molding our future hunters and conservationists. - Conservation Days - most PF chapters across the state of Minnesota host or co-host a youth conservation day. These events target youth 8-12 with a goal of getting them introduced to shooting sports and conservation. Youth who attend these activities have opportunities to shoot a wide variety of firearms under close supervision. They also learn important safety and conservation lessons. By the end of the event we hope to have planted a seed for the great outdoors.
- Youth Mentor Hunts - After we've sparked an interest in conservation and hunting, the youth typically attend a hunter safety course. Once they have completed the course they can attend a Youth Mentor Hunt. These events target youth with limited opportunity, those who do not have a relative or family friend who can take them hunting. We provide a safe enjoyable first hunt for many of these youth and often times relationships where our volunteers take individual youth out several times in a year.
- Habitat Days - some PF chapters have organized youth habitat days to drive home the importance of habitat and conservation. Most have been wildlife winter cover tree plantings, but other events have focused on other habitat improvements.
"Pheasants Forever is a formidable influence and has become a leader in agriculture conservation policy and programs," US Representative Collin Peterson. PF knows the importance of policy and legislation to wildlife habitat and we are dedicated to making sure programs are wildlife friendly.
- Legislative Action Fund - The LAF is used to fund PF's activities in Washington DC to promote good conservation in the farm bill and in other legislation. We have brought landowners from across the US to talk with their representatives about the importance of CRP and other programs. We remain the champion for CRP in DC.
- Grants - Pheasants Forever staff have done an excellent job at leveraging outside grant dollars in Illinois from state, federal and private sources.
Whether you can give $500 or $500,000, we want to work with you to make sure that your gift makes a difference to a program and in an area that is close to your heart. There are many ways to contribute to these programs and help Pheasants Forever achieve its habitat and conservation education mission here in Illinois.
Memorials
Estate Planning
Donations of Real Estate
Workplace Donations - Combined Federal Campaign (#2374)
Employer Matching Gifts
Non-Cash Donation
The need is great, the time is now,
Contact us today.
(217) 635-5207