UplandFeathers: Habitat Restoration Archives

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June 03, 2009

Wild Turkey Restoration: Cluck, Purr, Gooble

I love it when a plan comes together especially when the plan is restoring habitat. Wild turkey should be the poster child of game for successful game restoration. This week while commuting to work on the Shore Line East train, I noticed a handsome tom puffed out and strutting not far from Route 95. If you are unfamiliar will this stretch of road count yourself as darn lucky. It is one of the busiest corridors of traffic on the east coast, making a line from Boston to New York. But that tom was convinced an admiring hen was nearby. When I hear that the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) relocated 1,958 wild turkeys last year to 14 states and one Canadian province, I know there are organizations, state and federal agencies that are really making a difference. A total of 69 Gould's, 393 Merriam's, 1,355 Rio Grandes and 141 Eastern wild turkeys were released. It is hard to believe but wild turkeys were nearly nonexistent in the early 20th century. Today, the population is about 7 million; their numbers have doubled since 1990. Most birds are trapped and relocated. Wondering if your state or province has been re-gentrified with wild turkey, read on:

Alberta: 39 Merriam's were moved from the Lees Lake area near Pincher Creek to a site on private land near Turner Valley, which is close to Wildlife Management Unit 406.
Arizona: 69 Gould's were transferred to southeastern Arizona's PinaleÃ Mountains and Galiuro Wilderness Area to the Galiuro Wilderness Area and Chiricahua Mountains; 34 Merriam's were transferred within Yavapai County; 85

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Posted by SwampYankee at 09:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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May 06, 2009

Ohio Pheasant and Quail Hunting: $1MM Spent on Habitat and Youth Events

OH's Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QF) chapters have spent $1,066,731 on the two organizations' wildlife habitat mission in 2008. Last year some 949 habitat projects were conducted impacting 6,001 acres. The work included planting 18,685 trees and shrubs for winter cover. This is great news for OH pheasant and quail hunting. For youth activities the orgs engaged 1,224 youth hunters in mentor hunts, 487 youth in target shooting, 194 in conservation camp and 2,563 in other related outdoor events. They also issued $1,510 in sponsoring educational workshops and offered 18 scholarships at $4,550. Another feather in the PF and QF's hat was the donation of a 90-acre property in Union County, becoming the second property in the nation donated to PF/QF's Forever Land Trust.

Posted by SwampYankee at 08:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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May 03, 2009

Vermont's Spring Turkey Hunting: The Best in New England

This past Friday marked the start of the VT turkey hunting season and according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department VT offers some of the best turkey hunting in New England. What gives VT the bragging rights? Well to list a few reasons: turkey hunting is statewide during the entire spring season, the state's turkey population is one of the highest in New England, hunters can purchase a turkey hunting license without having to go through a lottery and the license includes two spring tags for two bearded birds and one tag for a turkey of either sex in the fall season. Wait there’s more—am I sounding like the Sham-wow guy yet?—plus, you get to hunt the entire weekend, because hunting is allowed on Sundays. Wait there’s more: In eight of the last 11 years VT hunters have established new spring turkey harvest records. In 2008, hunters took a record 5,454 turkeys in both the youth weekend and regular seasons. So order your license now. What are you waiting for?

Posted by SwampYankee at 09:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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March 26, 2009

North Carolina Waterfowl Hunting: $1 Million for Wetlands

DU and partners received a $1 million grant through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act to protect and enhance over 20,000 acres of wildlife habitat in southeastern NC. DU’s partners contributed over $3 million in matching funds toward the federal grant. An it is none too soon, according to DU over 50% of NC's original wetlands have been lost due unprecedented growth and development. The funds are targeting sites located within the Holly Shelter Game Lands in Pender County, the Suggs Mill Pond Game Lands in Bladen County, and within a newly acquired public game land along the Lower Cape Fear River.

Posted by SwampYankee at 04:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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January 19, 2009

Kansas: Upland Hunting Gift

There’s a tag line that reads, "the gift that keeps giving" and I think it is appropriate for this 1,700-Acre gift given by a KS gentleman to PF and QF. The gentleman, we’ll call him the Colonel, donated his land because he wanted to see his acreage stay in one piece as well as see it managed for wildlife habitat. That’s exactly what PF and QF do best. And it is in fact, the single largest donation ever in the two organizations' 26-year history. The colonel began donating the property, which he affectionately calls the “Dubuque Land & Cattle," back in December 2008. All the property will be donated upon the Colonel’s death, which further proves you can’t take it with you. The dollar value of the land is over $1MM, but the real value will be in what PF and QF do with the land. The goal is to implement conservation practices beneficial to wildlife, while maintaining the property's agricultural and ranching operations. Currently the property is home to a tremendous population of pheasants with great potential for quail habitat improvements. Prairie chickens, whitetail, and mule deer also call the property home. In future, PF envisions hosting conservation and habitat field days to illustrate "best management practices" on the property. For now the “Dubuque Land & Cattle" will remain private, with hunting by written permission only. Upon the Colonel's passing, PF intends to open to public hunting.

Posted by SwampYankee at 05:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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November 10, 2008

Ducks Unlimited Awarded $1MM Grant

DU has received a $1MM grant to protect, restore and enhance some 4,747 acres of wetland and associated habitats in 21 counties located from Saginaw Bay to coastal Lake Erie on the east shore of MI's Lower Peninsula. The habitat protected and restored through this work will provide breeding and migration areas for waterfowl as well as other grassland nesting birds. This grant piggy backs on the great work that is being done on some 16,000 acres in the Saginaw Bay area.

Posted by SwampYankee at 06:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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October 23, 2008

Debunked Wild Turkey Myth

For some reason there are still hunters who insist wild turkeys are to blame for devastating quail populations. They assert the turkey eat quail eggs and chicks. Well the scientific community has weighed in and the reason quail populations are low is a lack of quality quail habitat. Quail thrive in early growth habitat. Early growth is recognizable by small shrubs, weeds and grasses. This habitat provides ground cover for quail to avoid predators while providing a food source. Wild turkeys, on the other hand are pure opportunists and can thrive and use all types of habitat including early woodlands to mature forests. Plus turkeys travel farther in one day than quail do in a year. As turkeys travel they have more opportunity to find food and shelter. What is missing from the 21st century landscape are the small farms that dotted the landscape in the early to mid-20th century. Quail populations thrived during this time. Check out your state game and fish department website. Many have quail habitat improvement programs for landowners. And if you are not a landowner convince your neighbor that the program will benefit him (or her) and their land and the quail. C’mon do it for the quail.

Posted by SwampYankee at 02:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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April 17, 2008

Ninety Cents of Every Dollar Goes To Pheasant

Charity Navigator is a watch group that rates and evaluates charities. And we all want to watch where our donated money goes to don't we? This is the fourth year in a row that PF received a 4-star rating—the highest possible rating. Only 5% of the charities rated by Charity Navigator have ever received four consecutive 4-star evaluations. So you can feel good about writing a check or joining PF. Nearly 90 cents of every dollar goes into wildlife habitat and conservation education. Plus local chapters determine how 100% of their locally-raised conservation funds will be spent. Chapter members see first-hand the results of their efforts in their own home towns, while the larger PF organization has Washington D.C.'s ear on conservation policy.

Posted by SwampYankee at 08:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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April 05, 2008

Remember Those Eccentric Ruffed-Grouse-Hunting Uncles

The RGS recently became flush with cash after two long-time supporters in PA anonymously donated $1 million. The RGS will use the contribution to fund existing activities in Wisconsin. So if you’re expecting a hefty inhertitance think again. And thank you, you mysterious, grouse seeker from PA for your generosity.

Posted by SwampYankee at 10:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

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October 31, 2007

In Massachusetts Money Does Grow on Trees

MassWildlife’s Landowner Incentive Program is accepting grant applications from October 26 to December 21 of this year from private landowners, sportsmen's clubs, land trusts and non-profit groups interested in improving wildlife habitat on their properties. The state will reimburse landowners up to 75% of the cost of managing lands to improve wildlife habitat. It has been awarding grants since 2005 and in total 7,100 acres have received funding on properties that range from Cape Cod to the Berkshires. If you are landowner or have a rod and gun club it makes cents (sense) to apply. The state goal is to identify and reclaim appropriate sites for management of declining habitats, particularly grasslands, old field and early-successional forests, wetlands, coastal habitats and pine barrens. The wildlife benefits. Landowners benefit. Money does grow on trees in MA, well at least .75 cents on the dollar.

Posted by SwampYankee at 04:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

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September 18, 2007

Minnesota: Giddy with Grouse

Up here in New England, we’re jealous of our MN grouse hunting bretheran. Their season started September 15. Makes a birdy New Englander want to drive a few hundred miles, buy an out-of-state license and take a crack at old ruff. This idea may not be so far fetched since the grouse population is up about 30 percent from last year and is expected to climb. The grouse cycle is on the rise so get out there. An off putting matter is that there is less land to hunt on, says the Star Tribune. Land that was previously open to the public,...

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Posted by ras400 at 07:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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September 12, 2007

Caterpillars Help Out Grouse and Woodcock

Have a conversation with anyone who hunts grouse and the subject of diminishing habitat comes up. The increase in mature forests has a direct correlation to lower grouse populations. And fewer farms mean that less land is being cleared. Grouse and woodcock, as well as other wildlife, depend on forest habitat that has been clear cut.

Continue reading "Caterpillars Help Out Grouse and Woodcock" »

Posted by SwampYankee at 08:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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September 04, 2007

Vermont: Grouse Habitat on the Mend

The Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) along with three other Vermont forestry groups are giving a thumbs-up to the U. S. Forest Service decision to re-think the Green Mountain National Forest Plan. The crux of the problem that RGS and others had with the Green Mountain National Forest Plan was a "potentially significant" error in the calculation of the allowable amount of timber to be cut. The plan failed to document why it chose a 150-year timber cut rotation instead of a 120-year cycle. Timber harvest reductions as outlined in the proposed plan would hinder the development of young or early successional habitats needed by ruffed grouse, American woodcock, whitetail deer and 43 species of migratory songbirds. Early successional habitats develop only after timber has been harvested. Bottom line is clear cuts aren't pretty but they sure are useful.

Posted by SwampYankee at 07:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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August 03, 2007

Pheasant Hunting Nirvana

This is a little out of Uplandfeathers.com’s range, but really encouraging news. The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department reports that the 2006 season for pheasant was the second-best in 40 years; some 1.85 million birds were harvested by pheasant hunters. In 2005 about 100,000 more pheasants were bagged. Anyone who has ever hunted pheasant knows that South Dakota is a sweet spot for pheasant hunting. Some people think of visiting Paris—and it is a beautiful city—or traveling to the Caribbean to lay on white sand beaches—and that’s nice, too, but give me cut cornfields in October. Other upland game species have also benefited from SD’s habitat management such as sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chickens. It’s been stated the central and northeast parts of SD re reporting some of the highest grouse numbers in the past 15 to 20 years. Yes habitat management works. The grouse harvest totaled 41,000 birds, partridge was 9,000 birds, and 1,800 quail were taken.

Posted by robert at 06:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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July 14, 2007

Maryland: Online Public Forum On Proposed Forest Plans

Over the next 30 days, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forest Service will hold an online public forum to solicit comments on the proposed annual work plans for Green Ridge, Pocomoke, Potomac-Garrett and Savage River State Forests. You can review and comment on the proposed plans by going online from June 25 through July 24, 2007. Here’s your chance to comment and make a difference all from the comfort of your home. So after you are done reading this blog and your other favorites go the DNR website and add your $.02.

Posted by robert at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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July 08, 2007

Land Grab In Pennsylvania

When you hear about land grabs it is usually bad news. Some developer buys your favorite covey grounds and once again you need new spots to hunt old ruff. Well this land grab in PA benefits bird hunters. The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners approved funding four options that could increase the State Game Lands system by more than 340 acres. The four areas include:

A 195-acre spot in Cool Spring Township, Mercer County. This spot adjoins SGL 294, which currently contains three separate tracts totaling 417 acres. The 195 acres, contains emergent, scrub-shrub, forested wetlands, hardwood forest and some reverted farm land. It will fill in the gaps between the three tracts. That’s 195 acres.
A 16-acre patch in Burrell Township, Indiana County, within SGL 153, which currently contains 2,927 acres. Lumbering and coal removal operations are currently being conducted on this parcel and as part of a post-mining reclamation and revegetation plan, the area will be replanted as forestland and wildlife habitat. That’s 195 acres + 16 acres.
A 110-acre parcel in Plainfield and Bushkill townships, Northampton County adjoins SGL 168, which currently contains 5,893 acres. The property is mostly forested and comprised of mixed hardwoods with an abandoned railroad grade that passes through it. That’s 195 acres + 16 acres + 110 acres.
A 20-acre piece was donated by Boyd L. Sponaugle Jr., and is located in Upper Tulpehocken Township, Berks County, adjoining SGL 110, which currently holds 10,145 acres. The piece include rock slope with mixed oaks pole stage timber. This donation is made possible through the Wildlife for Everyone Endowment Foundation. That’s 195 acres + 16 acres + 110 acres + 20 acres = 341 acres.
Posted by ras400 at 06:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

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July 07, 2007

Got Land, Get Money

In Indiana funding is available to landowners for habitat restoration. Applications to receive funds from Indiana’s Woodland Restoration Program (IWRP) will be accepted from July 1 through July 31. The summer program provides funds for enhancing or establishing woodland conservation practices such as tree planting for reforestation, follow-up weed control on established tree plantings, timber stand improvement, pre-harvest grapevine control, tree pruning, establishment of riparian buffers and invasive plant species control. Yet another reason to hug a tree.