(The 2015 state pheasant stamp, by Stephen Hamrick)
People interested in the future of Minnesota's pheasants can register for the state's first-ever Minnesota Pheasant Summit, set for Dec. 13 in Marshall.
Gov. Mark Dayton called the summit to discuss strategies to increase the state's pheasant population, improve pheasant habitat and ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy the iconic game birds.
The pheasant population is 58 percent below the 10-year average and 71 percent below the long-term average. The summit will focus on why the pheasant population has declined in Minnesota, and what efforts can be undertaken to improve pheasant habitat.
The summit will be at Southwest Minnesota State University on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The summit is free and open to all Minnesotans interested in preserving the state's pheasant population.
People can register at the DNR website at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/pheasantsummit/index.html. At that site, they can also tell Dayton what topics should be addressed, and suggest ideas for how the state can improve pheasant habitat and the pheasant population.
For those who can't make it to the summit, the DNR is developing a survey to collect additional public input, and you can register to receive the survey via email at the same DNR website. The survey will be available online in mid-November.
