Lenawee Conservation District Launches Michigan's First Pheasant Cooperative

After an exciting year developing a new approach to ring-necked pheasant management in Michigan, 2011 closed with the start of the state’s first Landowner Pheasant Cooperative. The Lake Hudson Pheasant Cooperative, located in Lenawee County, is comprised of a number of private landowners who want to work together to improve pheasant habitat and ensure the continuation of Michigan’s pheasant hunting tradition. This “co-op” was the culmination of efforts throughout the year to initiate a landscape level approach to pheasant habitat enhancement and restoration on both private and public lands. And, it’s only the first of many to come.

The formation of Landowner Pheasant Cooperatives is just one of the many facets of the new Michigan Pheasant Restoration Initiative (MPRI, Initiative), launched in 2011.  The mission of the Initiative is to "restore and rehabilitate habitat on public and private lands to provide a quality ring-necked hunting experience in Michigan." The Initiative is based on restoring habitat in areas that have the potential to support pheasant populations at the landscape level.  The Initiative identifies strategies for guiding restoration and management decisions regarding the Ring-necked Pheasant in Michigan over a 10-year horizon, 2011-2020. This includes the formation of 10 Landowner Pheasant Cooperatives by 2015.

The MPRI was formed by a group of agencies and sportsman organizations in response to a declining pheasant population throughout the state. Ring-necks require large, diverse, and undisturbed grasslands to survive and raise their young.  A lack of quality nesting and brood rearing habitat is the primary limiting factor for pheasants in Michigan, though lack of secure winter habitat can also have a negative impact. Restoration of these declining habitats is the most effective way to increase pheasant populations in Michigan. By doing so, it will additionally provide opportunities to increase local wildlife populations, enhance small game hunting opportunities, and improve hunter satisfaction.

To start, the Initiative focuses on three pilot areas, each containing three counties: Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe Counties; Clinton, Gratiot and Saginaw Counties; and Tuscola, Huron and Sanilac Counties. Within these focus areas, project sites will be established where people are willing to work together through a grass-roots community approach to get pheasant habitat on the ground. The pilot areas were selected through a scientific process that identified the areas in Michigan that provide the greatest potential pheasant population densities.  One of these areas, the southern tier counties of Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe, was the target for the December landowner meeting.

"I believe that the co-op meeting went well and that those in attendance are truly interested in the idea of a pheasant cooperative in their area." said Lauren Lindemann, Farm Bill Biologist with the Lenawee Conservation District. The meeting, the first of its kind in Michigan, brought interested individuals around Lake Hudson together to learn more about the Initiative, and to discuss common interests and goals.  Lauren is one of several resource professionals provided by the Initiative to help get Cooperatives off the ground and to guide them through the process. Pheasant Cooperatives are supported by the Initiative through both technical and financial assistance.

There are roughly 17,680 acres in the proposed area for the Lake Hudson Pheasant Cooperative and 3,050 acres of it are currently enrolled in some type of Farm Bill conservation program.  Another 400 acres for pheasant habitat are available at the Lake Hudson Recreation Area. The Lake Hudson Pheasant Cooperative will continue through the process by identifying areas to focus habitat restoration work on, developing a management plan, and improving and maintaining those areas over time. Landowner Pheasant Cooperatives give members an opportunity to network to other area landowners to share their experience on habitat establishment, successful maintenance practices, and where and how many birds they are seeing.

To help jump-start the initiative professional staff such as Lauren Lindemann have been placed in the Lenawee, Gratiot and Bay Conservation Districts to help develop and assist the Landowner Pheasant Cooperatives.  Each biologist can help identify limiting factors within the cooperative boundary, help set goals and develop the best operating guidelines based on those goals and local conditions.  They can also help schedule meetings to discuss the possibilities for starting a pheasant cooperative and provide a link to other local biologists in agencies and organizations who may be of assistance.  This service is provided free of charge through the partners of this initiative.  To get information on joining or forming your own Landowner Pheasant Cooperative, please contact:

• Lauren Lindemann (Lenawee, Hillsdale and Monroe Counties)
• (517) 263-7400, ext. 119  - lauren.lindemann@mi.nacdnet.net

• Kevin Wilson (Huron, Tuscola and Sanilac Counties)
• (989) 239-3655  -  kevin.wilson@mi.nacdnet.net

• Jeff Kalin (Gratiot, Saginaw and Clinton Counties)
• (989) 875-3050, ext. 101  -  jeff.kalin@mi.nacdnet.net

Michigan Pheasant Restoration Initiative is a conservation initiative of diverse partners working together to focus on the restoration of pheasants and habitat in Michigan.  This initiative will benefit a suite of migratory birds and other grassland species. Primary partners include Pheasants Forever, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, local Conservation Districts, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Michigan United Conservation Clubs, Ducks Unlimited, U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/pheasant.