There’s a South Dakota most bird hunters know. Golden fields. Flushing roosters. Small towns built around a tradition generations have shared. And then there’s the South Dakota still waiting to be explored. The towns get fewer. The roads get rougher. The horizon gets bigger. And somewhere along the way, a bird hunt becomes an adventure where success is measured in miles walked, country discovered, friendships strengthened, and the trust shared between hunters and their bird dogs. Some places ask a little more of you. Those are often the ones worth finding. Watch Backcountry Birds here: bit.ly/485Xm4e

Tough pheasants call for smart equalizers. Pheasants Forever Journal Editor Tom “Carp” Carpenter shares eight ways to tip the odds in your favor—from wind, moisture and overlooked cover to stealth, timing and persistence. Put more roosters in the bag with the latest episode of On the Wing. Listen now at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts. bit.ly/4k9cDIJ

The Hot Shots Raffle presented by @SCHEELS gives you the chance to win an exciting collection of firearms and accessories, featuring prizes built for hunters, sportsmen and shooting enthusiasts. Whether you're looking to add to your collection or upgrade your gear, there’s something for every outdoor enthusiast. Best of all, your participation helps support conservation and the mission to protect and enhance wildlife habitat for generations to come. Buy your entries now at the link below while there is still time! bit.ly/3TI5eWb

WINTER JOURNAL: PRAISING THE PRAIRIE Native prairie habitat serves as the finest nesting and brood-rearing cover for ring-necked pheasants, and hosts a variety of other wildlife dear to our hearts. But why is the North American prairie so endangered? What is PF doing about it? Chris Helzer’s cover photo captures a scene magic but fleeting: native prairie grasses silhouetted against a backdrop of the aurora borealis. Together as a PF community, let us make sure North American prairie lands continue to grace our landscape, fill our skies with pheasants, and create a magic that is forever. -TOM “CARP” CARPPENTER, EDITOR Join or renew at the link below by October 27 to be sure you get The Prairie Issue. bit.ly/4xJHnnc Cover image by: Chris Helzer

Volunteers from 26 Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever chapters have joined together to form the second Upland Caucus, following a successful inaugural effort in 2025-26. Congratulations to this group for being selected to represent not only their chapter, but also our organization’s policy priorities in Washington, D.C. and state capitals across the country. Thank you all for being dedicated advocates for the uplands! The name, state, and chapter for the 26 members of the second cohort of the Upland Caucus include: Returning Members Jon Lee, Montana (Five Valleys) Trevor Oetken, Iowa (Plymouth County) Rob Peterson, Kansas (Ringneck Rustlers) Stuart Smith, Arkansas (Big Rock) Justin Varner, Michigan (Bay-Midland) New Members Ryan Abbott, Indiana (SW IN) Glenn Bishop, Illinois (Montgomery) Kyle Broadfoot, Nebraska (Republican Valley) James Brown, South Dakota (Black Hills) Adam Bruscher, North Dakota (James Valley) Ben Burns, Ohio (Deer Creek) Shawn Carlson, Kansas (Flint Hills) David Clifford, South Carolina (Newberry SC) Mark Dean, Minnesota (Tri-County) Jeremy Flores, Iowa (Jasper) Danny Glenn, Texas (High Plains) Larry Hanks, Missouri (Missouri River Valley) Wade Heidemann, Nebraska (Rock Creek) Gary Krukar, Wisconsin (Southeastern WI) Keith Lewis, Iowa (Wapello-Davis) Josh Melby, Colorado (Yuma County) Bill Priddy, Tennessee (Smoky Mountain) Tim Rowan, Pennsylvania (North Central PA) Jim Schoeck, Illinois (Rock Island-Henry) Kevin Seehafer, Minnesota (Big Stone) Tony Selley, Utah (Cache Valley) Photo: Pictured above is the 2025-26 Upland Caucus and the government affairs team in Washington D.C.

Pheasant Country Weather. Opening weekend in South Dakota. Be safe out there, be courteous to other hunters and respect the game. Have a good one folks!

Three Legs and a Spare When Davy, a 3-year-old Black Lab and upland guide dog, got tangled in wire and broke his leg, his owner faced a tough choice: risky surgery or amputation. Advice from fellow bird-dog folks changed his outlook: "Dogs are born with three legs and a spare." Davy had the amputation, and just five months later he was guiding a full season across multiple states. He even beat his littermate to a retrieve on a running rooster. Now he's got more to prove than ever, and he's proving it. Read the full story by Jack Watring here: bit.ly/3UufRw3

Where should you chase quail in 2026? Quail Forever Journal editor Ryan Sparks joins On the Wing to break down QF’s 2026 Quail Hunting Forecast species by species, revealing where habitat, rainfall, and bird numbers are lining up for a productive season. Listen now at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts. bit.ly/4dGlq0V The 2026 Quail Hunting Forecast is presented by Duck Camp

Field Finds - @BoytHarnessCo Gun Club Pro Series Shotgun Case Welcome to Field Finds where we dive into new and noteworthy gear for uplanders. At first glance, the case immediately strikes you as a really clean and well put together. The quality canvas exterior and leather trim gives it a durable and timeless look, while the thick interior padding provides peace of mind that your firearm is well protected on those rugged back roads. At 52 inches long, this case will fit any shotgun you throw at it. Check out the Field Finds here: bit.ly/4B1P1vG

Cubby's for Conservation! From now through March 2027, stop at any @Cubbys_stores in Nebraska, Iowa or South Dakota, round up your purchase at checkout, and tell your hunting partners to do the same. So the next time you stop in for fuel, coffee or a snack on the way to the field, round up. Those few cents add up to healthy wildlife habitat. 100% of round-up donations support Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s upland habitat conservation work for pheasants, quail and other wildlife. Click the to learn more and find your nearest Cubby's. bit.ly/4hQ9riC

For over 40 years, CRP has been a critical part of the farm safety net, helping producers manage risk on their most sensitive acres and sustaining working lands. Thank you to @SecRollins and @USDA for supporting farmers, ranchers, and rural communities through this vital program!

Pheasant Country Weather. Opening weekend in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana is shaping up to be exceptionally warm. Be safe out there this weekend and be smart with those bird dogs. 🍻 to another opener!

Hunting our favorite upland birds can become an expensive endeavor. There are two major limiting factors that prevent hunters from taking that next hunting adventure: time and money. We're here to help. We are back again with a second iteration of Birds on a Budget, this time around, Andy Fondrick is joined by friend and colleague Will Clayton, PF & QF Sr. Regional Representative. The duo is chasing roosters in western Minnesota while sharing some of our favorite tips and tricks to help you keep cost low and upping your chances for success along the way. If you find the time, we’ve compiled some hacks to help you save the dollars. Check out the full film here: bit.ly/3UihSeC This film was made possible by our partners at onX Hunt, Grain Belt Beer and @IrishSetter1950.

Introducing the Hot Shots Raffle! Enter the Hot Shots Raffle, sponsored by Scheels, for your chance to be one of 50 winners. Open now through October 29, you won't want to miss your chance at taking home one of these great shotguns. Some of the guns up for grabs include: Benelli Super Back Eagle III, Browning A5, Akkar High Noon and a BERETTA 686 Silver Pigeon. Plus, some packages include great items from other brands like Federal Premium, Tetra Gun Care and Patternmaster. Head to the raffle page to learn more and get your entries today! Enter here: bit.ly/3TI5eWb

For the fourth year in a row, the farm bill expired at the end of September, leaving programs like CRP, and the farmers and ranchers who rely on them, in limbo. We need your voice to tell Congress that we need a new five-year farm bill NOW! The Senate Ag Committee advanced their bill out of committee last month and the House passed their version in April, but the work isn’t done. We need Congress to finish the job and pass a farm bill this year that provides the certainty and predictability that rural America needs. Click the link to take action now! pheasantsforever.quorum.us/c…

"As I have no qualms shooting a young rooster early in that hunting season, I have no qualms about shooting young grouse. But, about a decade into a love affair with sharptails that is now going past 40 years, I started to give a kitchen pass to birds that were noticeably small and clearly innocent. But I decided to pay some annual penance for what I sometimes did to the birds in September. Especially the small, young ones. That meant going out to hunt sharptails on-purpose in October, the later the better for paying a full price. And sometimes, November. I pay this penance with miles, with wind-burned cheeks, with fingers slowed by cold instead of sweating inside of gloves, and with the specter of “maybe just maybe” instead of “when” it will happen." Read "Penance" by Tom Carpenter here: bit.ly/4AOVnyo Artwork by Ross Hier

Ready to lace up the boots? The 2026 pheasant hunting forecast is here, and there’s plenty of reason for upland hunters to be optimistic. In this episode, the crew breaks down where hunters may find the best opportunities across Montana, the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, and a few “sleeper” states off the radar — from classic mixed-bag country to overlooked public-land pheasant potential. You’ll also hear practical tips for finding birds in dry conditions, hunting early-season cover, using onX to mark productive ground, and getting bird dogs ready for changing temperatures. Because at the end of the day, a great season isn’t only measured in limits — it’s measured in good dogs, wild places, habitat, friends, family, and the days we make count. Listen now at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts. pheasantsforever.org/upland-… On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by @ProPlan

This time on The Conservation Minute, we discuss the two types of ecological succession and what makes them different. We also see how secondary succession plays a key role in managing habitat. If you're interested in learning more about a career in conservation, check out the Journey to Conservation Careers program here: bit.ly/4hYZgKl

Sporting Dog Shorts Fueled by @ProPlan - Don't Let Rattlesnakes Derail Your Hunt A little knowledge about where rattlesnakes live, when they're active and how dogs respond to them can help keep an unpleasant encounter from ruining an otherwise great day in the field. Click the link below to read the full article by Dr. Seth Bynum bit.ly/4rmpCIB