Pheasants Forever Banquet to Benefit Local Causes

Although Pheasants Forever started as a single incorporation in St. Paul, MN, the group has since grown to having 125,000 members in over 600 chapters across the U.S. and Canada.

The organization's purpose focuses on restoring and preserving habitats for all wildlife, and implementing related education programs. The local branch is Ozaukee/Washington County Chapter 680.

Member Marc Daniloff, a nonhunting vegetarian, he said he joined Pheasants Forever five years ago because of its broad-based mission.

"I liked the approach (the group) took to habitat restoration; that's near and dear to my heart," Daniloff said. "In Ozaukee County, we really have a large percentage of habitat being chewed up by development."

The Ozaukee/Washington County Chapter 680 is entering its 12th year, with its annual fundraising banquet March 3 at the in Port. The banquet is their only major fundraiser, and last year it brought in enough money to allow the group to spend $12,341 on youth education — more than any other Wisconsin chapter.

"We have a common goal to work with kids and get them out of the house, away from the screens, and into the real world," Chapter Vice President Tim Fuchs said.

The group also offers funding and labor to landowners who wish to restore their property, clearing brush and pulling invasives species. Any local landowner may can apply. But in recent years, the focus has shifted more to education.

"Given the fact that we have this encroachment from the south, there aren't as many opportunities to do habitat work as there once was, and we have shifted the emphasis a bit to kids," Fuchs said.

The national Pheasants Forever organization has an initiative called No Child Left in the Classroom that encourages students to learn outdoors, and many of Chapter 680's activities fall under that umbrella. The group has given funding to a 4H trap-shooting club, a new Ozaukee County high school trap-shooting team and an archery program in Port Washington schools.

"All the money we raise stays right here in Ozaukee and Washington County," Daniloff said.

While not everyone in the group is a hunter, many members do draw motivation from the sport, which has historically shared a close relationship with conservation.

"Without hunters there wouldn't be any land restoration," Fuchs said. "We as conservation groups are the ones funding this. Projects by U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and the DNR are often funded by hunting through licenses and the Pittman-Robertson tax.

For more information on the banquet, and to register, visit the chapter's website. Tickets are $75 for an individual and $100 for a couple, with catering from Saz's and prizes from local businesses.

The group, a registered nonprofit, is still accepting donations to give as prizes at the banquet. Anyone interested can contact Marc Daniloff at 414-531-0005.