by KARI BLURTON
Hays Post
Members of the local Pheasants Forever ‘Smoky Hill Chapter 424’ are celebrating the honor of being named “#1 in the Nation for Nesting Cover” planted in 2013.
Smoky Hill Chapter president Dick Klaus said the award was presented at the state Pheasants Forever Conference in Wichita March 7 and 8.
According to the Pheasants Forever website “the organization is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs.”
Smoky Hill Chapter 424 consists of 325 members from Ellis, Trego and Rush counties.
According to Smoky Hill Chapter secretary Shayne Wilson, members planted 4,738 nesting acres to earn the award — compared to a Colorado chapter who received second place with just 1,500 nesting acres.
Wilson said chapter members know creating the nesting environments are vital because they have seen the pheasant and quail population decrease firsthand.
“I think a lot of our farmers recognize the importance because they go out (to their fields) and they don’t see the birds (pheasants and quail) we used to see.”
Wilson said planting food, cover and protection for nesting pheasants is the “most important habitat (improvement) we can do for (pheasants and quail.)
Wilson said the lack of rain has also played a part in decreasing the pheasant and quail population, but chapter members are doing what they can “to bring the birds back.”
Smoky Hill Chapter president Dick Klaus received a high honor at the convention as well.
Klaus, also the Ellis County Rural Fire Director, was one of ten in the nation to receive induction into Pheasants Forever Hall of Fame.
Klaus said he has been involved in Pheasants Forever for 22 years and feels the induction is in honor, but is humble about taking all the credit.
“I got inducted into (the Hall of Fame) but the whole group had to do with it,” said Klaus, “I am proud of the chapter.”
Smoky Hill Chapter 424 also received the 2014 Youth Achievement Award for “creating opportunities to experience as many outdoor endeavor’s as possible.”
Klaus said the chapter has an annual “youth fest” in August providing youth with gun safety lessons, target practice, hunting opportunities and other outdoor activities.
For more information or to join the Smoky Hill Chapter of Pheasants Forever contact Shayne Wilson at 785-628-1415.