Raystown Pheasants Forever Chapter looks to Rejuvenate Ringneck Population
Chapter already working with Army Corp of Engineers on Raystown Lake conservation initiative
Source: www.pheasantsforever.org
Published: Jul. 14, 2008
RAYSTOWN, PA - Huntingdon County residents have formed Pennsylvania's newest chapter of Pheasants Forever (PF), the Raystown Chapter of PF. The chapter will be working closely with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the Army Corp of Engineers and local landowners to conserve and restore wildlife habitat.
"As of right now, there just isn't a very strong pheasant population in this area," explained Shon Robbins, Regional Wildlife Biologist for PF, "However, the habitat itself is in good shape and is primed to get even better through the help of this chapter introducing people to conservation practices such as the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program."
CREP, as the program is known, has been instrumental in the resurgence of Pennsylvania's wildlife habitat and the Raystown chapter looks to add to this success. While educating landowners on the benefits of conservation and habitat restoration, the chapter will also be working to reestablish wild pheasant populations through funding and providing seed for food plots and native warm season grasses that are crucial for pheasant nesting and brooding habitat.
"The habitat is seen as being excellent on state game lands and on some farms, but the wild pheasant population just doesn't seem to hold," said Ronald Clouser, the Raystown chapter president and a Game Commission officer of 35 years (retired). "It's clear that we need to see even more habitat and we need to open all available conservation avenues to get it - that is why we have formed a partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers," he said.
Within Huntingdon County, the Army Corps of Engineers owns and manages Raystown Lake. Surrounding the large body of water is a great deal of land that could potentially turn into pristine pheasant habitat. In order to seize this opportunity, the Raystown chapter has started working with Army biologists to implement a conservation program to use on the property. "We're doing all we can do to take advantage of this opportunity," explained Clouser, "And through fundraising and being able to keep our money local we feel that we'll be able to provide the man power and other resources to help the habitat around Raystown Lake to fully develop."
PF empowers county chapters with the responsibility to determine how 100% of their locally raised conservation funds will be spent - the only national conservation organization that operates through this truly grassroots structure. 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.
The Raystown chapter will be holding its next meeting on July 14th at 6PM at the Pennsylvania Game Commission's South Central Regional Office located west on Route 22 in Huntingdon. To learn more about this meeting or about the chapter, please contact Ronald Clouser at (814)658-3429 or via email at joroc3@comcast.net.
For more information on PF in Pennsylvania, to start a chapter or join one of the state's existing chapters, contact Shon Robbins at (507)925-5870 or by email at srobbins@pheasantsforever.org.
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 129,000 members in over 700 local chapters across the continent.
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