Seed designed to be attractive to pheasants to be sold April 6

Pheasants Forever has been working to conserve land for pheasant habitat for many years.

Since 1982, 225,382 acres have been acquired and permanently protected for the benefit of the public nationwide.

In Illinois, the first breeding population was introduced to north-central Illinois (the Macomb area) in 1890.

According to the Illinois Natural History Survey, pheasant population peaked in the early 1950s and declined dramatically thereafter for a number of reasons, including loss of habitat. Today, these birds are scarce in the wild, although the Illinois Department of Natural Resources releases birds each year for hunters.

The Bureau County chapter of Pheasants Forever has been supporting habitat growth, conservation and various hunting and sportsman programs continuously since being reorganized in 2004.

Among other things, the local chapter has provided support for youth hunting, the 4-H shooting programs, habitat conservation and reestablishment through an annual Seed Day program. It also has been a regular supporter and sponsor of the Conservation Day program organized by the Bureau County Soil and Water Conservation District for fifth-grade students in Bureau County.

In the past, the annual Seed Day program has been focused on providing local Pheasants Forever members with free seed to support their individual conservation efforts. Beginning in 2024, this is evolving to encourage anyone with smaller parcels of privately owned land to participate in habitat conservation.

Every current and new associate member ($35 annual dues) is eligible to receive a 2-pound bucket of habitat-oriented seed sufficient to plant a ½ acre of ground- to bird-friendly species. This same bucket also is available to nonmembers for $50 per bucket.

The seed mix is designed to be attractive to pheasants and quail and support insects for turkeys, as well as being palatable to deer.

The organization is not limiting the number of buckets an individual can buy – the goal is to see as much marginal or nonproductive land as possible planted to support wildlife.

April 6 has been designated as Seed Day for 2024. Buckets of habitat mix can be obtained between 8 and 10 a.m. at The Seed House, 145 Owen St., Tiskilwa. These buckets also will be available through committee members and other interested parties.

For information, call Ken Stachowicz at 815-664-8005 or Eric Paull at 815 878-4132, or contact Rick Rokosz, owner/operator of The Seed House in Tiskilwa.