habitat projects

Pheasants Forever's Chapter 630 members are truly passionate about conservation and creating, preserving and restoring habitat that benefits pheasants, quail and other wildlife. That's why Pheasants Forever provides the most efficient conservation model of any organization. PF's unique model empowers local chapters like Chapter 630 with the responsibility to determine how 100 percent of their locally-raised conservation funds will be spent. Whether it's through improving habitat, informing the public about land management or educating future generations of hunting enthusiasts, conservation is the underlying principle in all we do at the grassroots level of our chapters all the way to Washington, D.C. when we fight for strong conservation policy.

We actively partner with the PA Game Commission and local land owners on many habitat projects.  Our main habitat work currently is on PA State Gamelands #44 near Kyler Road and Shawmut, PA.  In 2021 we helped create over 100 acres of pheasant habitat across SGL 195 and 330.  We  also helped create over 50 acres of food plots on SGL 44

Benefits of our habitat projects include:

• Habitat field days are conducted whenever opportunities arise.
• Educating young people through activities such habitat projects.
• Habitat projects and efforts are used to restore and preserve public lands.
• Chapter 630 contributes to funding, purchasing, and restoration of local land throughout our community.

Chapter 630 owns a John Deere farm tractor, a no-till (warm season grass and small grain) drill, a brush hog mower, broadcast seeder and other types of farm equipment that are used while conducting habitat services on both public and private lands.  Chapter 630 strives to charge a competitive rate for its habitat services even though the Chapter workers typically donate their time and only receive reimbursement for their expenses. By staying competitively priced while operating on mostly volunteered time the Chapter makes a large portion of the money that is used to fund both our public land habitat work and the many various youth programs we host each year.

Though it is not our goal to directly compete with the many private sector businesses doing habitat work we feel that when a landowner contracts with Chapter 630 for their various habitat plantings or mowing they are not only getting their needs filled at a competitive price but also helping to preserve a better future for not only wildlife but also young hunters and all other wildlife enthusiasts. Making it a winning proposition for all concerns.

Creating, restoring and maintaining habitat for pheasants is a constant battle. Of course, as with most habitat development, many other wildlife species and populations also benefit from the development and maintenance of quality wildlife habitat. We invite you to join Pheasants Forever in our quest to ensure a country rich in natural resources and long on people willing to work to preserve them. After all, natural resources - pheasants, quail and other wildlife and the land, air and water on which they live - are our greatest resources.

To learn more about the Chapter 630 habitat programs or to contract for wildlife habitat plantings, mowing or other work contact Habitat Co -Chairman Mike Himes at 814-715-0103/e-mail to michaelhimes5976@gmail.com and Holly May at hollyplauny@yahoo.com