Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are proud to announce a pair of new chapters in Kansas. The Walnut River Ringnecks chapter is taking root in El Dorado, just northeast of Wichita, while the Ark Valley Uplanders will be based in the southwest corner of the state near Garden City. Both chapters are just getting underway, having held their first meetings in early 2022. Each wants to improve both pheasant and quail habitat in the Sunflower State.
“Our upland bird population here where I’m at isn’t what it used to be,” said Kaleb Lowmaster, the Walnut River Ringecks chapter president. “So I thought if we could raise some awareness and get some people on board with habitat changes, we could make sure the birds are still here when my kids have their own children to take hunting.”
The Ark Valley Uplanders are also putting an emphasis on improving bird numbers, but would like to focus on access as well. Kansas has very little public land compared to the national average — over 98 percent of the state is privately owned — which means enrolling private land owners in walk-in access programs is imperative.
“We want to be able to provide some more walk-in access on those private lands,” said chapter president Billy Myatt. “Not everyone knows someone who’s able to provide them access, and a lot of hunters end up feel stuck, with no place to go. We want to help provide them that access to go out and enjoy the outdoors.”
Both chapters are in the process of planning their first events. The Ark Valley Uplanders are hoping to put together a golf tournament this summer, and the Walnut River Ringnecks are hosting a hands-on habitat event April 23.
“I'm very excited to start helping these chapters make a difference in their area,” said Laura McIver, the Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever regional representative in Southern Kansas. “There seems to be a huge desire in each area, even though they’re across the state from each other, to put more habitat on the ground, as well as to provide their communities more opportunities to get engaged with the outdoors.”
Walnut River Ringnecks
Next meeting: April 21 at 6:30 pm at
El Dorado State Park Shooting Range
2980 NE Shady Creek Access Rd
El Dorado, Kansas 67042
Chapter president: Kaleb Lowmaster/
buco10firefighter@gmail.com
Ark Valley Uplanders
Next meeting: April 18 at 6:30 pm at
American Farm Credit conference room
1606 E Kansas Ave
Garden City, Kansas 67846
Chapter president: Billy Myatt at
billy.myatt@gmail.com
For more information about Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever in Kansas, to join a chapter or inquire about starting a chapter, contact regional representative Laura McIver at (907)-750-2600/
Lmciver@pheasantsforever.org.
About Pheasants Forever
Pheasants Forever and
Quail Forever make up the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. This community of more than 400,000 members, supporters and partners is dedicated to the protection of our uplands through habitat improvement, public access, education and advocacy. A network of 754 local chapters spread across North America determine how 100 percent of their locally raised funds are spent — the only national conservation organization that operates through this grassroots structure. Since its creation in 1982, the organization has dedicated more than $1 billion to 567,500 habitat projects benefiting 22 million acres.
Media contact
Casey Sill
(402)-657-4143
csill@pheasantsforever.org