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Designing shelterbelts for pheasant winter cover
Posted by: Bob St. Pierre Updated: April 22, 2013 - 4:22 PM
Like most businesses, the Monday morning conversations at Pheasants Forever revolve around the weekend’s hunting and fishing adventures with a side of weather talk. My morning started off with a fascinating lesson on shelterbelts from Ron Leathers, Pheasants Forever’s Public Finance Director and a certified wildlife biologist. Considering another winter storm is forecasted to hit Pheasants Forever’s National Headquarters in Minnesota again this evening, it seemed appropriate to post today about winter cover in spite of it being April on the calendar.
A shelterbelt’s effectiveness in creating winter cover for pheasants, as I learned during my conversation with Leathers, centers on proper design.
- This graphic illustrates a typical shelterbelt layout in relationship to wind direction and farmstead
Northwest
Because winter winds and snow blow from the north and west, shelterbelts should be constructed with the idea of blocking these winds from the areas you are most focused on “protecting” from the elements.
Snow Catch
According to Leathers, snow will pile for up to 10 times the height of your first row of trees. In other words, if your front row of trees are 10 feet high, then snow will pile up behind that row for 100 feet. Consequently, it’s important to recognize the need to have considerably more than 100 feet behind that first row if you plan to provide any suitable amount of winter cover.
Lift Trees
The center of any shelterbelt should feature a section of the tallest trees in the planting. These “tall lift trees” help to reduce wind speed and provide better protection for the core winter cover beyond the snow catch and lift trees.
Thermal Cover
The inner-most portion of a shelter belt should include four or more rows of thick thermal cover, like evergreens. This thickest of covers provides ground level protection from wind and heavy snows during severe winter storms.
Added Benefits of Shelterbelts
A well-designed shelterbelt can effectively protect buildings and roadways from drifting snow and can cut winter heating bills by 30 percent. Shelterbelts aid in livestock ranching by trimming feed costs by affording protection from chilling winds. And a beautiful grove of trees can also increase a farmstead’s property value.
- Ron showed me this shelterbelt around a wetland as an example. It features a good snow catch and interior lift, but the spacing is too narrow and it lacks protection from the north. As a result most of the cover tends to fill in with snow without maximizing winter cover potential for pheasants.
You can learn more about shelter belts, winter cover and other important tips for creating habitat on your own property by purchasing Pheasants Forever’s Essential Habitat Guide for a mere $2.95. It’s priced so affordably because we want it in the hands of anyone interested in creating habitat.
Farm Bill Biologists
Another source of expertise are Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologists. These professionals are specialized consultants in conservation programs and habitat planning. Not only can they help landowners design shelter belts and other specific habitat projects on your property, they are also experts in local, state and federal conservation programs that may provide cost-share opportunities. For our full list of Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologists, follow THIS LINK.
The Pointer is written by Bob St.Pierre, Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever’s Vice President of Marketing. Follow Bob on Twitter @BobStPierre and listen to Bob and Billy Hildebrand every Saturday morning on FAN Outdoors radio on KFAN FM100.3.
Field Trial Dogs Produce Great Hunting Puppies
Posted by: Bob St. Pierre Updated: April 22, 2013 - 9:38 AMWhen searching for a bird dog puppy, the inevitable question surrounding whether or not you desire field trial bloodlines always comes up. Put me into the category of guys who have said the following about field trial dogs in the past:
“I don’t want a high-wired, big running dog with a bunch of titles. Pure and simple, I want a hunting dog.”
Over my ten years with Pheasants Forever, exposure to hundreds of bird dog experts, and personal hunting experiences over countless pups and breeds, my opinion on field trial dogs has changed. Personally, I’m still not interested in running my dogs in trials. My focus remains hunting and putting birds in the bag. However, I do have a greater appreciation these days for dogs with the ability to win field trials and hunt tests.
Ultimately, successful field trial dogs carry the genetic capacity to both mentally and physically out-perform their peers. For guys looking to train a hunting pup themselves, this is an incredibly important benefit. Who wouldn’t want to start with the best ingredients? A field trial pup with personal training will more easily adapt to your hunting style, than trying to “coach up” a puppy with less superior genetics. It’s a logical equation.
- Placing at the Minnesota Bird Hunters Field Trial were, from left, Ophelia, owned and handled by Neil Anderson, 3rd place; Berg Brothers Prairie Hawk, owned and handled by Scott Berg, 2nd place; and The Texas Liberal (“Molly”), owned and handled by John Edstrom, 1st place.
Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of attending the Minnesota Bird Hunters Field Trial near Milaca, Minnesota. The event was hosted by Berg Brothers Setters. I enjoyed the company of some fantastic “dog guys” and appreciated the exciting dog work on display. At the end of the day’s run, John Edstrom, Pheasants Forever’s own Merchandise Manager, and his English setter “Molly,” earned the top award of the Gun Dog portion of the trial.
Edstrom had this to say about his perspective on the overlap between successful trial dogs and hunting dogs. “The very best trial dogs are all hunted, and hunted hard. Just like Molly, the successful trial dogs become hunting dogs in the fall. That is the secret to a good performance at a trial. Without that experience they do not know how and where to use their genetics and talent. They need to learn where to look for birds, how to use the wind etc. You will hear this said about trial dogs “he/she is a good bird dog.” If the dog is not a bird dog, it is just running not hunting, and those dogs will not win a trial or put birds in your game bag.”
The Pointer is written by Bob St.Pierre, Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever's Vice President of Marketing. Follow Bob on Twitter @BobStPierre and listen to Bob and Billy Hildebrand every Saturday morning on FAN Outdoors radio on KFAN FM100.3.
April 15th Marks 30th Anniversary of Pheasants Forever’s 1st Banquet
Posted by: Bob St. Pierre Updated: April 12, 2013 - 4:16 PM“It was inevitable that marshes would be drained we say to ourselves.
It was inevitable that ditches would be burned.
It was inevitable that fields would be plowed each fall leaving no winter cover for upland birds.
And because it was inevitable
It was now tolerable.”
Those were the words of Dennis Anderson written in the Saint Paul Pioneer Press & Dispatch on March 7, 1982. From that article, Pheasants Forever began to coalesce.
A year later, on April 15, 1983, Pheasants Forever held its first banquet. The event was organized to celebrate the passage of the bill creating Minnesota’s Pheasant Habitat Stamp and to help the fledgling conservation group raise operating funds. Famed outdoor writer Jimmy Robinson and local businessman Robert Naegele, Sr. cut $1,000 checks, becoming the organization's first Life Members.
- Pheasants Forever's first-ever banquet was held in Ramsey County, Minnesota on April 15, 1983.
According to our records, the event drew 800 supporters. In my decade of employment at Pheasants Forever, I’ve talked to thousands who claim being part of the historic event. That first Pheasants Forever banquet parallels Woodstock in that an entire generation claims to have been in attendance. In spirit, I have no doubt every Minnesota pheasant hunter was there.
Later this month, on April 20th, a new group of volunteers will hold a Ramsey County Pheasants Forever Chapter banquet at the Dellwood Hills Golf Club east of White Bear Lake. Anderson, who served as editor of the Pheasants Forever magazine as well as a longtime national board member for the organization, will be the guest speaker at this event.
As I examine Mr. Anderson’s words above, I recognize there will be cynics who complain “Pheasants Forever hasn’t stopped the habitat loss that began decades ago; just look at all the acres lost last autumn.” I also know there are others who recognize the “good old days” of 2007, 2008 and 2009 when pheasant harvests were reaching marks not experienced since the 1960s were partly the result of Pheasants Forever working with USDA, farmers and other partners to put nearly 40 million acres of CRP habitat on the ground.
But mostly, I believe Mr. Anderson understood a simple principle before most others – conservation will never be a game in which you win or lose. For eternity, it will be a constant battle. Pheasants Forever’s duty is to evolve and make a difference no matter what the conditions.
And the battle rages on the landscape these days. CRP acres are leaving the program to be burned and plowed by the millions. Habitat is hemorrhaging everywhere. The success of Pheasants Forever is dependent on volunteers. Now more than ever, we need you.
So on April 20th, a new group of volunteers will take up the flag of conservation in Ramsey County. Please join the cause and be a part of history, tickets are available for purchase by following THIS LINK. For readers outside the Twin Cities, please consider getting involved with your own local chapter of Pheasants Forever through THIS LINK.
The Pointer is written by Bob St.Pierre, Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever's Vice President of Marketing. Follow Bob on Twitter @BobStPierre and listen to Bob and Billy Hildebrand every Saturday morning on FAN Outdoors radio on KFAN FM100.3.
Puppy Pointers . . . for after you get Home
Posted by: Bob St. Pierre Updated: March 25, 2013 - 11:07 AM
It’s that time of year . . . no, obviously not spring, but puppy season. Last spring, I brought home my second bird dog pup and found the experience much easier the second go-round. Consequently, let me offer seven simple tips I’ve found valuable between dogs one and two.
1. The “Go Potty” Command. I whole-heartedly believe obedience training is the foundation to a good bird dog. Heel, stay, and come are as invaluable in the field as they are in the house. However, one of the most often-overlooked commands is “Go Potty.” On sub-zero winter days, at the end of long drives, or in the middle of the night, my dogs will do their business on command and I can get out of the cold or back to sleep much quicker than my hunting partners who have to wait for their pups to sniff out and circle the perfect spot.
2. Take Photos. Your puppy will grow faster than you can possibly imagine and will never ever be as cute as he/she was yesterday. Carry a camera and use it.
3. A Puppy Partner. Owning and training a bird dog is a ton of work. Work much easier to accomplish with the help of a spouse, sibling, or friend. Whether its morning potty duty, the work conference call you just can’t get away from or the vacation from responsibility we all need from time to time, a partner lightens the load. While I blog and take public credit for my two pup’s proficiency in the field, I owe a lot of their success to my wife, Meredith’s, consistency in training commands and overall assistance in the process.
4. The “Yard” Command. Given the choice, I’d live on a hundred acres in the country with no neighbors within earshot. However, like most folks these days, I’m trapped in the concrete jungle of suburbia on a one-acre lot with neighbors that would prefer my dogs not visit their manicured lawns. Consequently, my bird dog pups also learned the boundaries of our residence and the command to stay within our property-taxed borders through the single word “Yard.”
5. For Crying out loud, Go Hunting! So many new puppy owners are reluctant to take their new pup hunting because of fear their dog will screw up a hunt for others. Any hunter worth their salt knows there is no better recipe to their long-term success than the addition of a good new bird dog to the mix. A busted bird here or there in year one is a small price to pay for a decade of improved hunts as a result of a pup getting a snout full of feathers early on in the development process. Get your new puppy in the field. THERE IS NOTHING BETTER FOR YOU, YOUR HUNTING PARTNERS & YOUR PUP!
6. A Name is Important. I harp on this seemingly every six months. Choose a name that represents who you are, is easy to command and doesn’t add to confusion in the field because the other three dogs are also named after your buddies’ favorite brand of shotgun.
7. Be Patient. You’ll hear this from every person giving advice about dogs, every video you watch on the subject or every book ever penned by a professional dog trainer. Like people, every puppy learns at a different pace and will struggle with different things compared to other people’s dogs or other dogs you’ve owned in the past. Know this as FACT going in and embrace that there will be times that INFURIATE you in the moment. Know also that those moments of furry will also make you laugh down the road . . . maybe a year or more . . . but, eventually you’ll smile about the furry.
The Pointer is written by Bob St.Pierre, Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever's Vice President of Marketing. Follow Bob on Twitter @BobStPierre. You can also catch Bob on FAN Outdoors radio every Saturday morning on KFAN at FM100.3.
Go-To Gear of the Pheasant Hunting Experts
Posted by: Bob St. Pierre Updated: February 2, 2013 - 5:07 PMIn my previous life in professional baseball, I worked with ballplayers who exhibited incredibly strong affinities to particular brands and models of gloves, bats or cleats. Some of those affiliations had to do with sponsorship (some with superstitions), but mostly those loyalties derived from success on the field. As I’ve written before, I continue to be amazed by the correlations between bird hunters and ballplayers. Another one of these parallels exists in pheasant hunters’ brand loyalty and that’s what my focus is today.
In my estimation, pheasant hunters are largely gear junkies and that gear, in priority of importance, revolves around: their favorite breed of bird dog, shotguns, boots, ammunition and hunting vests.
So today’s blog post surveys the nation’s most well-renowned bird hunters to poll their favorites in each of these five categories. My assumption as I send out this survey is that like baseball players, expert pheasant hunters have a wide array of affiliations and there likely won’t be too many common answers. Let’s find out.
To start, here are my favorites:
Bob St.Pierre, Vice President of Marketing at Pheasants Forever and Co-host of FAN Outdoors radio on KFAN
1) Bird Dog Breed: German shorthaired pointer
2) Shotgun: Beretta 686 Onyx 12 gauge over/under with skeet chokes in both barrels
3) Boots: Danner Santiam
4) Ammo: Federal Premium Ammo’s Upland Steel 12 gauge 3” 5 shot
5) Vest: Wing Works Upland Vest
***
Ron Schara, Host of The Flush presented by Pheasants Forever on Outdoor Channel
1) Bird Dog: Raven, the black Lab, whistle trained
2) Shotgun: Benelli Super Black Eagle or Benelli Vinci with Carlson choke tubes
3) Boots: Irish Setter
4) Ammo: Federal Ammo’s Prairie Storm 2-3/4” lead 5 shot
5) Vest: Still looking for a good one; need deep pockets for ammo; easy reach for bird carrying pouch
Bill Sherck, Co-Host of The Flush presented by Pheasants Forever on Outdoor Channel
1) Bird Dog: My love of hunting dogs is pretty basic. I want a dog that can find downed birds, always. That’s A-1 in my book.
2) Shotgun: I have a 1929 LeFever Nitro Special 20 gauge that became a best friend of sorts. It is, by far, my ugliest, most beat up shotgun, but I shoot it well and I love the history. Serious patina.
3) Boots: Irish Setter 894s, Irish Setter 894s, Irish Setter 894s….
4) Ammo: Federal Prairie Storm is over the top! I absolutely love the stuff. No wounded birds, only kills (when I don’t miss!).
5) Vest: I’ve become a fan of mountain tech vests. I have an old Mother’s lightweight I still use a lot. A Buck’s is my next big investment.
Scott Linden, Host of Wingshooting USA Television
1) Bird Dog: German wirehaired pointer . . . is there any other breed?
2) Shotgun: Webley & Scott Model 2000 in 20 gauge
3) Boots: Meindl Perfekt from Cabela’s
4) Ammo: Depends upon the situation: Kent Cartridge Fast Lead or Fiocchi Golden Pheasant
5) Vest: Filson Mesh Vest
Hank Shaw, Author of Hunt, Gather, Cook and speaker at National Pheasant Fest
1) Bird Dog: Pudelpointer
2) Shotgun: Franchi Velochi 20 gauge
3) Boots: Asolo
4) Ammo: Federal Prairie Storm #5s
5) Vest: Filson
Lee & Tiffany Lakosky, Hosts of The Crush on Outdoor Channel
1) Bird Dog: Black Labrador retriever
2) Shotgun: Tiffany shoots a 12 gauge Beretta Silver Pigeon and Lee shoots a 12 gauge Franchi Instinct
3) Boots: Under Armour Ridge Reaper early season & Under Armour HAW’s late season
4) Ammo: Federal Prairie Storm
5) Vest: Badlands Pheasant Pack
Tom Dokken, Professional dog trainer and speaker at National Pheasant Fest
1) Bird Dog: Labrador retriever . . . or any dog that loves to hunt.
2) Shotgun: Browning Citori 20 Gauge
3) Boots: Danner Fowlers
4) Ammo: Federal Prairie Storm 20 gauge 3” 6 shot
5) Vest: J.L. Powell, waxed cotton
Nancy Anisfield, Professional photographer, Pheasants Forever National Board member and PF blogger
1) Bird Dog: German shorthaired pointer
2) Shotgun: Caesar Guerini 28-gauge Magnus Light
3) Boots: Danner Pronghorn
4) Ammo: Polywad Gram Crak-R and Spred-R 28-gauge
5) Vest: Browning Bird ‘n Lite Strap Vest
Billy Hildebrand, Host of FAN Outdoors Radio on KFAN
1) Bird Dog: American Brittany
2) Shotgun: Beretta 686 Onyx Over/Under 12 gauge
3) Boots: Danner Pronghorns
4) Ammo: Federal Upland Steel 3s or 5s
5) Vest: Browning Bird ‘n Lite Jacket
Note 1: Billy also prefers SportDOG Upland 1850, Chevy Z71, Folgers Coffee and “special” sandwiches.
Note 2: Billy’s hunting partners do not like his “special” sandwiches!
Justin Larson, Outdoors Media Specialist for the nation’s pheasant capital, SOUTH DAKOTA
1) Bird Dog: Prefers Labs, but doesn’t own his own at the moment
2) Shotgun: Winchester SX3
3) Boots: Muck Boots
4) Ammo: Federal Prairie Storm
5) Vest: Browning Bird ‘n Lite
Mark Herwig, Editor of Pheasants Forever’s Journal of Upland Conservation
1) Bird Dog: Springer spaniel
2) Shotgun: Beretta 391
3) Boots: Danner Uplander
4) Ammo: Federal 12 gauge 5 shot Pheasants Forever loads
5) Vest: A Pheasants Forever strap vest
Anthony Hauck, Pheasants Forever’s Online Editor
1) Bird Dog: English cocker spaniel . . . and I wouldn’t mind another
2) Shotgun: Remington 870 Wingmaster, in the market for my first O/U
3) Boots: Irish Setter Havoc when it’s dry, Muck Boots when it’s not
4) Ammo: Federal Premium Upland Steel #4s . . . served “chilled”
5) Vest: Browning Bird ‘n Lite Strap Vest
Steve Ries, Owner of Top Gun Kennels
6) Bird Dog: German shorthaired pointers
7) Shotgun: Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon over/under 20 gauge
8) Boots: Irish Setter Upland DSS Gore-Tex hunting boots
9) Ammo: Winchester
10) Vest: Gander Mountain Guide Series Hunting Strap Vest
Chad Hines, Owner of Willow Creek Kennels
1) Bird Dog: German shorthaired pointer
2) Shotgun: Beretta 686 Onyx over/under 20 gauge
3) Boots: Merrill Moab Hiking boots – I use these for almost all hunting.
4) Ammo: Federal’s Black Cloud
5) Vest: Bird ‘n Light Vest
Matt Kucharski, Pheasants Forever National Board Member
1) Bird Dog: A tandem of German Shorthair Pointer and Labrador, trained to honor each other of course!
2) Shotgun: Ruger Red Label 20 gauge early season, 12 gauge late season. Skeet and IC chokes early season, IC and modified chokes late. Sadly, they're not making them anymore.
3) Boots: Red Wing Irish Setter (short uppers) early season and Meindl Scotland GTX (or similar) late season
4) Ammo: Federal Upland Steel 4 shot. 3 inch in the 20. 2 ¾ in the 12.
5) Vest: Filson mesh strap vest for short walks, Bird ‘n Lite strap vest if I'm in the field all day or carrying Bob's birds.
Jeff Fuller, host of Sporting Dog Adventures
1) Bird Dog: Labrador Retriever
2) Shotgun: Benelli
3) Boots: Danner Pronghorn
4) Ammo: HEVI-Shot Upland
5) Vest: Browning vest
Now it’s your turn. What are your favorites?
The Pointer is written by Bob St.Pierre, Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever's Vice President of Marketing. Follow Bob on Twitter @BobStPierre and listen to Bob and Billy Hildebrand every Saturday morning on FAN Outdoors radio on KFAN FM100.3.
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recent posts
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- Why Do My Bird Dogs Like Turtles?
- Naming Your New Bird Dog Puppy
- What’s the Nickname of your Favorite Pheasant Hunting Honey Hole?
- The Importance of Prescribed Fire in Habitat Management
- Designing shelterbelts for pheasant winter cover
- Field Trial Dogs Produce Great Hunting Puppies
- April 15th Marks 30th Anniversary of Pheasants Forever’s 1st Banquet
- Puppy Pointers . . . for after you get Home
- Go-To Gear of the Pheasant Hunting Experts
- Girl Hunter
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