Habitat & Conservation  |  01/26/2024

New Women on the Wing Chapter Forms in Michigan


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Second chapter in the last eight months to start in the state’s southeast region

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are proud to once again announce a new Women on the Wing chapter in Michigan, following the recently formed chapter based in Oakland County. This group, named “Thumbs Up Women on the Wing,” is based in Tuscola County and will focus on providing a conservation opportunity for women across the southeast portion of the state. 

Unique among national conservation organizations, chapters of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever retain 100 percent decision-making control over their locally-raised funds. This allows chapter volunteers to develop wildlife habitat projects and conduct conservation education events in their region, while belonging to a national organization with a voice regarding state and federal conservation policy.

“This group was formed after a fun event called ‘Women, Wine and Wild Game,’” said Melissa Gildemeister, Pheasant Forever and Quail Forever’s regional representative in Michigan. “It was thrilling to see so much interest in hunting from the 70 women in attendance and I was more than happy to help them form a chapter of their own.”

The chapter wants to empower women to feel confident in the outdoors, and will provide education on all things pheasant hunting and habitat. Their first official event will be a shotgun academy hosted on April 14 at Muzzy’s Pheasant Farm in Corunna, Michigan. 

“The main goal here is to give women the chance to share their stories with others who relate to their passion,” Gildemeister said. “They are ready to get things moving. They planned their first event before they even officially became a chapter.”     

For more information on the chapter, contact Leah Zajac at leahlzajac@gmail.com. For more information on Pheasants Forever in Michigan, contact Melissa Gildemeister at (734) 536-7929 or mgildemeister@pheasantsforever.org.