Recognizing the importance of wildlife habitat conservation which supports South Dakota’s status as “The Pheasant Capital of the World,” the
South Dakota Department of Tourism has renewed their national sponsorship with Pheasants Forever. Through this innovative partnership, the Department markets to the largest collection of upland hunters in the nation, while providing direct monetary support to Pheasants Forever’s habitat mission in the state.
“The South Dakota Department of Tourism understands that wildlife habitat is the nexus for maintaining world-class pheasant populations,” said Brad Heidel, Pheasants Forever’s director of corporate sales. “National sponsorships of this nature allow our organization to drive home our overarching mission of wildlife habitat delivery in the state, while directing our members to South Dakota for the once-in-a-lifetime upland experience. We could not ask for a better partner and national sponsor than the South Dakota Department of Tourism, and we look forward to future partnership opportunities.”
The South Dakota Department of Tourism estimates pheasant hunting generates $223 million in retail economic impact annually and an additional $111 million in salaries annually. Those revenues are the result of 76,000 resident and 100,000 non-resident pheasant hunters purchasing licenses, fuel, food and lodging during the state’s three-month hunting season. South Dakota’s pheasant population rebounded in 2014 with an estimated 1,199,803 ringnecks harvested – an increase largely attributed due to mild weather conditions throughout the nesting season – but habitat is considered the critical factor for maintaining long-term populations, a notion that is emphasized by the Department.
“We’re proud to partner with such a well-known and reputable organization like Pheasants Forever,” said Jim Hagen, Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Tourism. “The organization not only understands the importance of conservation and habitat, but they understand our goal of attracting hunters to South Dakota to experience the best pheasant hunting in the country. Pheasants Forever helps us bring new hunters into the state year-after-year, which continues to grow awareness for the importance of conservation, while also growing the South Dakota economy.”
As part of their national sponsorship, the South Dakota Department of Tourism will be a featured exhibitor and sponsor for the South Dakota Pavilion at Pheasants Forever’s
2016 National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic, which will be held February 19, 20 & 21, 2016, at the Kansas City Convention Center in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Additionally, the South Dakota Department of Tourism is the featured sponsor for Pheasants Forever’s “Dog of the Day” posting on the home webpage of Pheasants Forever.
About Pheasants Forever
Pheasants Forever, including its quail conservation division,
Quail Forever, is the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 140,000 members and 700 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Chapters are empowered to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds are spent; the only national conservation organization that operates through this truly grassroots structure. Since creation in 1982, Pheasants Forever has spent $577 million on 489,000 habitat projects benefiting over 12 million acres nationwide.
Media Contact
Jared Wiklund
(651) 209-4953
jwiklund@pheasantsforever.org