Nebraska Landowner tour to look at pheasant habitats - North Platte - July 27th 2014

A landowner workshop and tour will be held in North Platte from noon to 4 p.m. on Friday, July 27 at UNL Extension Building in the auditorium of the West Central Research and Extension Center on W. State Farm Road.

The meeting is open to the public and will be hosted by environmental and government agencies. “I’m often asked ‘Where are all the pheasants?’ and answering that question is more complex that people realize,” said Chad Christiansen, PF Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist. “This event is focused around answering that question and looking at ways to manage pheasants in an agriculture based landscape.”   The hosts are Pheasants Forever, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Nebraska Environmental Trust, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Twin Platte NRD.  The informational tour will look at the changing landscape, pheasant management strategies, and programs and practices available to landowners that benefit many species of wildlife.  Biologists will be on hand to go over programs in detail and discuss ways other landowners can be involved.  Landowners in western Nebraska, especially in Lincoln, Keith, and Logan counties, are encouraged to attend.   Programs that can be used for all types of wildlife and grassland management include the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CCRP), and Corners for Wildlife Program (CFW), which are voluntary programs offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance soil, water, and wildlife, organizers say. Landowners will have the opportunity to establish long-term conservation and wildlife practices by providing cost-share reimbursement and/or rental payments on both grassland and cropland. “This tour will help landowners see the struggles we face in managing upland game and see firsthand what the programs can offer and how they may work on their property.  By offering landowners the opportunity to learn about the many options and programs in one location and setting, this tour hopes to make this an easier process for landowners to consider.” The first part of the session is in the classroom during lunch and then the group will head out in the field where various habitat programs have been implemented.  Lunch is free and interested participants are asked to RSVP for a lunch count to Chad at (308) 530-2377.