Habitat Partnerships in Baca County

On September 1st Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever hosted a habitat tour for resource professionals in Baca County. Partner conservation organizations including the Farm Service Agency, CO Parks and Wildlife and NRCS/PF/QF/CPW Partner Biologist-Cody Strong showcased a new Buffers for Upland Birds (CP33) spring grass and forb planting. With timely rains and proper seed placement, several of the native bunch grass species were already 3 feet tall. Numerous forbs were blooming, including Blanketflower (Galardia).

The next stop was also a pivot corner enrolled in CP33. This new planting had quite a bit of weed competition, however the landowner had conducted some timely, high mowing (12”) which released the understory of native grasses and forbs beginning to establish.

The third stop was an established stand of pollinator habitat including a high diversity of beautiful forbs, shrubs, and bunch grasses. Four-wing saltbush had established from seed planted two years prior. The fourth stop was an establishing Lesser Prairie-Chicken State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (LPC CP38 SAFE), highlighting the high wildlife value of new stands with abundant annual forbs. The last site visited was a three year old LPC CP38 SAFE. It had very good structure and composition and is providing excellent wildlife habitat.

habitat partnership
During the picnic lunch, provided by Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever, Cody Strong-PF/QF Partner Biologist presented Farm Service Agency’s Patty Steinmetz-Program Technician and Bill Hall-Program Technician with the PF/QF Legacy Award in recognition for their commitment to partnership in conservation, delivery of USDA’s State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement Conservation Reserve Program, and their stewardship efforts for wildlife habitat.

Good job Patty and Bill!
Patty Steinmetz-FSA, Bill Hall-FSA, and Cody Strong-Partner Biologist.

Wildlife Management on Marginal Acreage

Do you have marginal cropland that you’re tired of farming but still want to get some value out of it?

Playas/Lagoons that you can’t farm
Marginally producing pivot corners
Hard to farm or erodible areas

Why not turn those acres into wildlife habitat?

Wildlife Management on Marginal Acreage

Come hear how marginal acres can provide great wildlife habitat while reducing input costs and improving the bottom line!

Please join us for an informational meeting:

When: 10am-12pm, September 10th
Where: On The Green Restaurant, 5294 County Road 39 Yuma, CO

Lunch provided by Yuma County Pheasants Forever Chapter

Please RSVP to Shannon Bowling by September 4th sbowling@pheasantsforever.org or (719) 251-5897

Click here to download and print the flyer

Pheasants Forever Pikes Peak Chapter helps empower injured soldiers

Working with the Pikes Peak chapter of the conservation group Pheasants Forever, Arvada-based nonprofit U.S. Warriors Outdoors orchestrated the first pheasant hunt for Martinez, Orchowski and Army vets Dennis Campbell and Ryan Gimlin at the Larkspur ranch leased by Dale and Brenda Merritt of Bearpoint Kennels. Dale Merritt doubles as the president of PF’s Pikes Peak chapter, and although the ranch typically only hosts the chapter’s annual youth hunt, he jumped at the opportunity to introduce the wounded warriors to his favorite pastime.

“A pheasant hunt is the No. 1 bird chased in upland hunts across the country,” Merritt said. “But for a lot of these wounded warrior vets to be able to go up into a place like South Dakota and hunt wild birds in some of that tougher terrain or thicker cover, sometimes it’s harder for them to get around. We can produce enough cover (for pheasants) here, but it’s still manageable for a guy who has lost both legs and is walking on prosthetics.”

Click here to read the entire article.

Colorado Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist Activity Report

Click here to download the Colorado Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist Activity Report – Fiscal Year 2013 (July 2012 – June 2013)

Northeast Region Sportsmen’s Caucus

Come join Colorado Parks & Wildlife and your fellow sportsmen and women for an evening of discussion on issues facing the agency, as well as a presentation by Nathan Zelinsky, professional fishing guide. Zelinsky will offer tips and tricks to catch the best bass, trout and walleye in the metro area.

WHAT: Northeast Region Sportsmen’s Caucus
WHEN: Tuesday, August 13, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Hunter Education Building
Colorado Parks & Wildlife, 6060 Broadway, Denver
HOW: R.S.V.P. to Jennifer Churchill at 303-291-7234 or by email at jennifer.churchill@state.co.us

Click here to download the flyer

Colorado Water 101

Burlington Conservation District FREE Webinar Series!

Come learn all about Colorado Water 101

Date: November 28, 2012
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Place: Burlington Community Center, 340 South 14th Street, Burlington, CO 80807

Learn more about water rights during times of water shortages and discover how a water resource is allocated. Aaron Clay, former Water Referee for the Colorado Water Court, will also talk (in plain language) about how water rights are acquired, appropriated, and protected.

Future Webinar Topics Include:

Soil Health
Understanding Drought
Identification of Weeds
Forage Grasses
Livestock Handling
Poisonous Plants of Colorado
Windbreak Design and Maintenance
Cover Crops
Crop Rotations
Water Policy
Wildlife Friendly Farming Practices

For more information about this webinar and others, please contact Dori Seamans, NRCS (719) 346-7699

Click here for more information.

Upland Birds: Cover Needs & Dealing with Drought

Join us on November 7 from 9am-11am at the Burlington Community Center (Room B), 340 S. 14th Street, Burlington, Colorado.

AGENDA

9:00am-9:30am: Pheasant Cover
Shannon Bowling, Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist, Pheasants Forever/NRCS/Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Where did pheasants come from?
Pheasants 101
What kind of cover does a pheasant need?

9:30am-10:00am: Establishing Pheasant Cover
Noe Marymor, Private Lands Wildlife Biologist, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory/NRCS/Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

What you need?
Where to put it?
Programs available to help?
Management of cover

10:00am-10:30am: Wildlife Beneficial Farming Practices
Kyle Franz, Soil Conservationist, NRCS Burlington, CO

Harvest techniques
Spraying and mowing
Soil and wildlife

10:30am-11:00am: Pheasant forecast and the drought
Jerry Miller, Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist, Pheasants Forever/NRCS/Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Spring and brood rearing conditions
Pheasant forecast
Where are they going to be this fall and winter?

Click here to download a copy of the agenda.

Landowner Workshop – ‘Improving Your Bottom Line’

By Using PLAYA and HABITAT Restoration Programs

Date: November 27, 2012
Location:Phillips County Event Center, 22505 North US Highway 385 Holyoke, Colorado

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Pollinator and Pheasant Habitat Workshop

July 9th at 9am
Burlington Community Center: Room B
340 S. 14th St
Burlington, CO

Pollinator species facilitate the growth of many foods and beverages in which we depend and enjoy including apples, blueberries, chocolate, coffee, potatoes, and even tequila. Recently, pollinator species populations have been in a drastic decline. Plots of beneficial pollinator plants can be established to promote increases in pollinator species, but they also create great habitat for pheasants and other upland birds.

Please join us on July 9th, 2012 for a talk about the pollinator species and how management to benefit pollinator species can also benefit other wildlife. The talk will be held at the Burlington Community Center: Room B at 9am. Refreshments will be provided.

Please RSVP by July 6th if you plan on attending.

To RSVP or for any questions, please contact Shannon Bowling, Farm Bill Wildlife Biologists, Pheasants Forever/NRCS/CO Parks and Wildlife at (719) 251-5897 or sbowling@pheasantsforever.org.

Please click here for the Agenda for the Workshop

Hunter Outreach Program

The Hunter Outreach Program offers clinics and seminars throughout the year to give novice and experienced hunters alike opportunities to improve upon hunting skills, practices, and techniques. Past clinics have covered elk, waterfowl, grouse, and turkey hunting, duck identification, ‘new resident’ orientations (to help understand Colorado’s hunting rules, regulations, and licensing), outdoor survival, and map reading/orienteering.

Click here to read more about the program.