Anoka County Pheasants Forever

Welcome to the internet home of the Anoka County, Minnesota Chapter of Pheasants Forever. Established March 14, 1984, and located in the northern suburbs of Minneapolis, MN, the Anoka County Chapter of Pheasants Forever is one of the largest in the state with over 1,300 members. It is also one of the largest chapters of Pheasants Forever in the country.

You can easily navigate through our site to learn more about the Anoka County, Minnesota Chapter of Pheasants Forever, Pheasants Forever National, and many ongoing habitat and conservation issues. You will find information and maps on the various habitat programs we are involved with, conservation issues, CRP information, Pheasants Forever news releases, and more. If you find this site helpful, please encourage others to visit too!

Check out our Chapter Events Calendar for news and information on exciting things taking place. 

Thank you for visiting our website! - John Newpower (Chapter President).

About Pheasants Forever and Minnesota

Pheasants Forever is committed to the preservation of upland bird habitat, and the conservation of many other natural habitats, including wetland, forest and farm. Whether you are into hunting pheasants and other upland birds, or training dogs for bird hunting, or if you are a person who is concerned with outdoor habitat preservation, Pheasants Forever is the outdoor habitat organization for you!

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR), most of the habitat used by pheasants today is available only because it has been rented or acquired specifically for conservation. The most important source of undisturbed habitat is from cropland retirement programs. About 3.3% (910,000 acres) of the pheasant range is currently enrolled in long-term (10-year to permanent) contracts under the CRP, CREP, WRP, or RIM program (Table 1).

Undisturbed grass constitutes most of the farm-program habitat, but some marshes have been restored and woody cover areas developed for winter habitat. Another 2.2% (608,000 acres) of the pheasant range has been permanently conserved by DNR and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acquisitions and easements (Table 1). Small grains, haylands, and pasture form about 15.7% (4,332,000 acres) of the pheasant range (Table 1), but most small-grain fields are large and treated with herbicides and most hay has been converted to alfalfa, reducing the value as reproductive cover. Furthermore, these "disturbed" habitats continue to be lost at a rate of about 6% per year.