Illinois' Lake County Home to New Pheasants Forever Chapter

5/1/09

Antioch, Illinois - Hunters and conservationists in northeast Illinois have formed the state's newest Pheasants Forever (PF) chapter, known as the Lake County Chapter of PF. The chapter is dedicated to improving local wildlife habitat and to increasing youth participation in outdoor activities.

"Pheasants Forever is a great organization to be a part of and because of its grassroots structure is something we really believe will work here," said Jack Fields of Antioch, the Lake Countychapter's president who has a history of volunteering for conservation. Pheasants Forever and its quail division, Quail Forever (QF), are the only national conservation organizations that empower local chapters with the responsibility to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds will be spent. As a result, chapter volunteers are able to see the fruits of their efforts locally, while belonging to a larger national organization with a voice on federal and state conservation policy.

"A lot of us were born here and remember when we could hunt pheasants in the nearest field," Fields said of the chapter's charter members, "It's not like that any more, but by working to restore wildlife habitat and fostering youth interest in outdoor activities, we feel we can re-establish some of what has been lost."

The Lake County Chapter of PF will hold its first event on Sunday, May 31st, from 12-5 PM at the Richmond Hunting Club in Richmond. The family-oriented event will offer fishing, archery, BB gun and .410 shooting for youth and sporting clays for adults. The public is invited to attend. Cost of participation is $45 for adults (which includes a year's membership to PF) and $12 for youth. For more information about the event, contact Jack Fields at (847) 274-3958 or via email at baronjack@aol.com.

"The Lake County Chapter of Pheasants Forever will have an immediate impact," said Matt Bradshaw, PF Regional Biologist in northern Illinois, "The county is part of the Chicagometropolitan area - an area that is in definite need of more youth outdoor activities."

The Lake County Chapter of PF has 12 committee members and has elected Tim Squier of Trevor, Wis., as treasurer; Tim Donahue of Lake Villa as habitat chair; Hank Schumacher of Antioch as youth/education chair; Steve Haley of Antioch as vice president; and Vic Primack of Vernon Hills as banquet chairman.

For more information on Pheasants Forever in Illinois, to start a chapter or join one of the state's existing chapters, contact Matt Bradshaw, PF Regional Biologist in northern Illinois at (217) 3864324 or via email at MBradshaw@pheasantsforever.org; or Tim Caughran, PF Regional Wildlife Biologist in southern Illinois at (618) 467-2586 or via email at TCaughran@pheasantsforever.org.

The 45 Pheasants Forever and 13 Quail Forever chapters in Illinois account for over 9,000 members statewide. Those chapters have spent more than $9.8 million to complete over 29,000 habitat projects since the first Illinois PF chapter was formed in 1985. Those projects have benefited more than 275,000 acres for wildlife.

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are non-profit conservation organizations dedicated to the protection and enhancement of pheasant, quail, and other wildlife populations in North America through habitat improvement, land management, public awareness, and education. PF/QF has more than 130,000 members in 700 local chapters across the continent.
Contact:
Anthony Hauck (651)209-4972 or AHauck@pheasantsforever.org