Dave Wisnefske and Russ Rolling sharing stories of the habitat work done by the Sugar River Valley Chapter.
In July, the chapter hosted its 25th Annual Sporting Clays Classic at the Argyle Rod and Gun Club with wild success
Story and Photos By Cody Kamrowski, Wisconsin Regional Representative
Wisconsin’s Sugar River Valley Chapter #163 is tucked into the rolling hills and bluffs of southwestern Wisconsin. In July, the chapter hosted its 25th Annual Sporting Clays Classic at the Argyle Rod and Gun Club with wild success. Not only was the event a success, but the chapter was able to route the clays course through acres of pheasant habitat and pollinator prairie it restored through years of planting and burning.
Since 1987 the chapter has been making massive landscape impacts, and that only came through impeccable leadership.
Dave Wisnefske was president of the chapter for 31 of its 35 years of existence. Even after retiring as president, Dave remains active with the chapter and its events. During the chapter’s Annual Sporting Clays Classic, Dave, along with new chapter president Russ Rolling and myself, took a tour of the habitat work in the chapter’s new Polaris Ranger, which is rigged for prescribed fire work. Dave was delighted to be able to share the memories, passion and hard work it has taken to restore the 30 acres of upland habitat the club now maintains.
Adjacent to the Rod and Gun Club is Dave’s pride and joy, his 237-acre farm. The entire farm is managed for wildlife habitat and of that, more than 100 acres have been restored back into prairie. Throughout the habitat tour, Dave’s excitement, passion and inspiration still shined through. Although Dave is no longer at the helm of Sugar River PF, his energy will forever resonate with the chapter and will be a longstanding legacy for decades to come.
By Cody Kamrowski a Wisconsin Regional Representative
This story originally appeared in the 2022 Fall Issue of the Pheasants Forever Journal. If you enjoyed it and would like to be the first to read more great upland content like this, become a member today!