A Journey Fueled by Change and the Wild
By Catherine Isaak
Editor's note: Here at PF & QF we have a wide array of talented individuals all across the country working hard every day to deliver our mission, each with unique backgrounds and skillsets. In our new blog series, "Why Conservation," we feature some of the incredible employees, volunteers and supporters that make up the Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever family. These blogs will highlight each person's passion for the uplands, and answer the important question of — Why Conservation?
Growing up as a military child meant living in constant motion. I've lived in numerous states across the U.S., always adapting to new places. Amid those changes, two things stayed constant: change itself… and the outdoors.
In high school, I landed in a small mountain town in Colorado, where hunting wasn't just a sport—it was how families filled their freezers. Every fall, the mountains came alive with out-of-state hunters chasing elk. It was there I began to understand the deep connection between people, land, and wildlife.
After graduation, I joined the military—more moves, more change. But nature remained my grounding force. Whether hiking, fishing, or simply watching wildlife, I always sought connection with the natural world.
In 2017, I began studying Biological Sciences at Boise State University, initially aiming to become a wildlife veterinarian. But as I got involved in conservation research, my goals shifted. I became fascinated with ecological science and driven to protect animals through habitat conservation and restoration.
Now, I'm pursuing a master's degree in biology at Boise State. My thesis focuses on using a generalist prey species to evaluate habitat quality across landscapes. Rather than taking a top-down or bottom-up approach, I'm looking at the middle of the food chain—species like gamebirds, rabbits, and squirrels—to understand how environmental changes ripple across ecosystems.
In Idaho, I study Alectoris chukar (chukar partridge), a non-native gamebird with a broad range and diverse diet, and a non-conservation concern. Their diet overlaps with many other species, making them a strong indicator of local plant availability and landscape health—shaped by fire history, invasive species, and human use.
By studying what chukar are eating across different landscapes and linking that to their body condition, I hope to answer: are birds in less disturbed areas healthier? We hypothesize that better habitats produce birds with higher dietary diversity or quality—in turn, better overall condition. Because chukar are prey, changes in their health may also reflect shifts in broader ecosystems.
This project has been a collaborative effort involving individual hunters, non-governmental organizations like the Chukar Chasers Foundation and Pheasants Forever, and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Hunters have donated whole birds—crucial for gathering accurate data. Agencies and organizations have provided funding, lodging, and helped expand outreach to other hunters. Together, we're working toward shared goals: restoring fire-affected landscapes, conserving habitat, and supporting healthy wildlife across Idaho's public lands.
For me, this work is more than academic. The outdoors has always been a peaceful escape—a place to experience the richness of plants, animals, and insects. I want future generations to be able to enjoy the same. We're incredibly lucky to have public lands in our country, and I feel a deep responsibility to help ensure they remain wild, vibrant, and accessible for everyone.
That mission includes educating students at Boise State about how hunters contribute to conservation. By sharing how regulated hunting helps manage species and preserve landscapes, I hope to shift perceptions—and build stronger ties between science and the communities that depend on these wild spaces.