Conservation is an action noun. Virtually every bird hunter agrees that we need to conserve wild birds and their habitat, but not all of us have taken the leap to doing the work of conservation. Like planning a successful hunt, a rewarding ‘giving back’ experience doesn’t happen by accident.  

The most engaged volunteers and donors chose a non-profit with a proven track record and a mission that aligns with their own goals. Although there are numerous non-profits to choose from, two of the most well-known and influential groups in the upland hunting world are Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever (PF/QF) and the Ruffed Grouse Society/American Woodcock Society (RGS/AWS).  

What is Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever? 

Pheasants Forever started in 1982 and has grown to over 140,000 members with 700 active chapters. Jared Wicklund is the organization’s public relations manager. "Our mission is to conserve pheasants, quail, and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public access, education, and conservation advocacy,” Wicklund explains. “At the end of the day, it all revolves around habitat. Without high-quality upland bird habitat, none of our other goals are attainable."

With numerous boots-on-the-ground habitat projects, PF/QF offers many opportunities for volunteers and donors to become directly involved in conservation. "Members who join their chapters in a volunteer capacity can participate in public land acquisitions, make upgrades to existing public lands, conduct Learn-to-Hunt events, plan annual banquets, and much more," Wicklund adds.

The organization’s goals align perfectly with the needs of upland hunters. Wicklund mentioned that members join because PF/QF puts quality habitat on the ground, supports future generations of conservationists through education and outreach, and provides more public places for upland hunters and their bird dogs to roam.

With these shared goals, they are working hard to recruit new generations and communities into the world of conservation. Wicklund also mentioned how the organization is working hard to include new voices in their membership through advocacy and storytelling, which has helped open the door to historically under-represented groups of hunters that may not have had a seat at the table previously. 

While PF/QF’s fundraising continues to focus on chapter banquets, the organization has evolved with more outreach like “pint nights,” wild game dinners, and education opportunities. National and regional staff support local chapters including numerous biologists that help plan and implement habitat projects in the field.

Wicklund is excited about the new directions for the organization. "Our staff are working on big game migration corridors, sagebrush habitat, and pollinator initiatives, as well as connecting with new audiences and starting chapters where pheasants and quail might not exist, but local volunteers want to complete conservation projects under our model."

Quail Forever Volunteer Profile: Lauren Stamm

Lauren Stamm volunteers with the Southern Nevada QF chapter. Unlike most new volunteers, she had to start a new chapter from scratch. “Starting a brand-new chapter was overwhelming, but exciting in a sense that we could steer our chapter in any direction we wanted without preexisting issues. With some ingenuity, we’ve raised thousands of dollars in less than two years. While our community is still smaller than we’d like, we continue to grow and make an impact.”

Why did Stamm put in all that work? “Looking at my four-year-old son and feeling concerned about our struggling uplands and what the future may hold for hunting in Southern Nevada inspired me to do everything I can to make an impact locally for future generations to have hunting opportunities.” 

Stamm also explained how the Southern Nevada QF chapter is serious about improving upland bird habitat. They’ve started multiple projects in a short time period, including an annual trail camera bird survey in conjunction with multiple land and game management agencies to get a better idea of bird population trends. They’ve also been able to flag fence lines in critical sage grouse lek areas to minimize accidental loss, and this year they also plan to assist and sponsor a new mountain quail guzzler installation.

What is the Ruffed Grouse Society/American Woodcock Society? 

The Ruffed Grouse Society was established in the 1960s with the mission of improving woodland habitat for wildlife, including ruffed grouse and woodcock. The organization currently has over 20,000 members, with over 130 chapters across the continent. The AWS is also managed by RGS as a joint organization.

Ben Jones is RGS/AWS’s president. He thinks their organization occupies a unique niche in the conservation space. “No other group is so focused on forest wildlife. Forests are essential, not just for wildlife, but for all life. As we face unprecedented challenges, forests will play an increasingly important life-sustaining role.”

Jones sees RGS/AWS as a big asset for sportspeople to connect and rally around a common cause. He loves to be around people who appreciate great dogs, time in the woods, and the camaraderie that comes with a passion for the uplands. Jones suggests anyone can get started with RGS/AWS by attending and/or volunteering at chapter events, habitat projects, or joining our social media groups.

Chapter banquets continue to be an important part of RGS/AWS’ outreach and fundraising, and the organization is also working to offer community opportunities like dog training instruction, sporting clay shoots, and hunting events. In addition to member fundraising, Jones is excited that RGS/AWS is leveraging other grants and funded agreements, including over $9 million in habitat grants on the books at the end of 2022, according to Jones.

Like many non-profits, RGS/AWS collaborates with other non-profits and government agencies to accomplish its mission. They develop private partnerships and are making efforts to engage more with the forest industry. Jones believes a robust forest product economy also helps local communities, often in rural areas where good jobs are at a premium, and combining support for local communities with managing habitat for the birds we love is an exciting win-win.

Ruffed Grouse Society Volunteer Profile: Fritz Heller

“I got involved because I care deeply about the resource as a user,” Heller says, “and I’ve also met a lot of great like-minded folks.” Fritz Heller served for 15 years as the Northwest Lower Michigan chapter president. 

Heller thinks one of the biggest struggles for the organization is public perception. “The biggest challenge revolves around educating the general public that a young forest is a healthy forest, and forestry has benefits not only to wildlife but also air quality, water quality, and timber health,” Heller states.

I asked Heller how hunters can ensure that RGS/AWS, or any non-profit, aligns with their own values and goals. He believes the easiest way is to surround yourself with other like-minded conservationists and be willing to ask the hard questions, but also be able to see the greater mission. “There is no such thing as a perfect non-profit,” he adds, “I simply ask folks to evaluate and ask themselves a simple question: Is this organization working and accomplishing its mission on behalf of a resource(s) that I love?” 

Heller is proud of the work he has done to recruit involvement from other hunters. He has seen the time and effort required and has enjoyed bringing others into the fold. He also believes that RGS/AWS has done a great job of pivoting away from traditional volunteer recruitment by trying new methods.  

Ultimately, Heller thinks results are critical to the success of any non-profit. “We need to have an impact on the habitat that ruffed grouse live in,” he states. “When habitat improves, hunting improves, and the time and monies donated contribute to incredible personal experiences. When this impact is made, recruiting more volunteers and donors becomes easier.”

Opportunities Abound

Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever and the Ruffed Grouse Society/American Woodcock Society are just two of many non-profit conservation organizations that are working to save several of the upland game bird species we love, along with their habitat and other wildlife. Every region of the country has multiple groups that are making a difference. In addition, many state wildlife agencies and even research biologists have volunteer opportunities for the dedicated hunter-conservationist.   

Much is said of the need to recruit new hunters and pass on our upland traditions. The most critical component of that process is encouraging new hunters to get involved with conservation. Experienced hunters are positioned to shape the future of our community by modeling how to give back. Generations ago, hunters became the voice that saved many iconic game species from extinction. With 15 million hunters in the United States alone, we can again be that difference.