Mahaska County Pheasants Forever Celebrates Governors Hunt
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds with members of the Mahaska County Pheasants Forever Chapter.
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Dignitaries from around the State of Iowa gathered this weekend in Mahaska County for the 31st Annual Governor’s Pheasant Hunt.
Oskaloosa Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt addressed the crowd, recognizing Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Senator Ken Rozenboom, and Mahaska County Supervisor Willie Van Weelden.
Krutzfeldt referenced a presentation he gave Friday morning in Mt. Pleasant about the arts and cultural event and how it makes Oskaloosa a wonderful place to live.
“As I was thinking about that on the way home, I was thinking yeah, but we’re doing so much more,” added Krutzfeldt. “I started thinking we don’t spend enough time talking about the natural resources we have here in Oskaloosa and the surrounding area.”
“This area works very hard for a multi-cultural, multi-dimensional education for its people, especially enjoying nature. We see Pheasants Forever as a part of it,” said Krutzfeldt in conclusion.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said the annual hunt began in 1986 “really as an economic development tool.”
“A lot has changed since 1986, but the original purpose remains the same, and that’s really doing everything we can to showcase the best that rural Iowa has to offer,” added Reynolds, who was on her first official Governor’s Pheasant Hunt.
“I couldn’t be more proud to have it in Mahaska County with the Mahaska County Pheasants Forever group,” added Reynolds.
This was the first time the Mahaska County Pheasants Forever chapter has hosted the hunt.
Reynolds thanked the Pheasants Forever members for passing on the hunting tradition to the next generation of Iowans.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds with members of the Oskaloosa High School Pheasants Forever Chapter. The first of its kind in the nation.
“I love this time of year because it gives sportsmen and women an opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy the beauty that Iowa in the fall has to offer,” said Reynolds. “It’s a great time to reconnect with some great friends.”
In an interview with Oskaloosa News, Reynolds said that hunting opportunities like those for pheasant help to bring in tourism dollars to the state.
Reynolds commended the Mahaska County Pheasants Forever Chapter, “I appreciate all they do for conservation practices and really to help drive interest in hunting, especially with the young people.”
Reynolds has been deer hunting in the past, but Saturday’s hunt was her first time walking for pheasants. “I grew up with a family that hunted. My dad would go every year, and my brothers. I’m familiar with it; I’ve just never gone out. It would be nice if I could bag a bird.”
Nearly 60 hunters took part in the hunt on Saturday.
When it comes to raising funds for conservation and water quality in Iowa, voters in 2010 approved a constitutional amendment creating the Iowa Natural Resources and Outdoor Trust Fund. That money would come from ⅜ of a cent if an increase in sales tax were approved.
That amendment sits untapped as no additional sales tax has been approved.
“I hope that a water quality bill is one of the first bills that I get to sign as governor,” said Reynolds.
Reynolds believes that legislation that has already passed the house and senate but not in the same year could prove to be the best option. “I’ve been trying to tell people that I’d like to get something done. I think it’s really important that we get something done.”
Governor Kim Reynolds (center) with her hunting group on Saturday morning.
“I just really think it’s important that we get a water quality bill to my desk in this next legislative session,” said Reynolds.
Reynolds said that broadband connectivity for precision farming is another technique that helps with soil health, to apply only the needed nutrients to the soil in specific locations.
Mahaska County Pheasants Forever Treasurer Wyndell Campbell said: “it was really awesome to be able to host the Governor’s Hunt.”
Campbell was honored that Mahaska was chosen out of all the Pheasants Forever chapters in the state, but believes that recent work to acquire 200 acres and put back into habitat helps to raise awareness of the work going on in Mahaska County. Of all the PF chapters of the state, the fact that they chose Mahaska County.
“We were able to get the Governor and seven other hunting parties out on mostly public but some private ground,” added Campbell.
“We wouldn’t have been able to get it all done without other organizations helping out. The Oskaloosa Kiwanis, Oskaloosa Rotary Club, and local sponsors Musco Lighting and Clow Valve Co. stepped up to make a great event,” said Campbell.
Mahaska County Pheasants Forever President Jeff VanDerBeek gave special thanks to all the volunteers, local businesses, and local landowners who made the weekend possible.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds hunts for pheasant in Mahaska County on Saturday.
“We featured Iowa based companies for the hunter’s gifts, Grizzly Coolers in Decorah and Fox River Mills in Osage Iowa. NAVHDA (North American Versatile Hunting Dog Assoc.) volunteered their time and dogs for the day. 66 hunters found 44 roosters and four quail,” said VanDerBeek.
Also on hand to help were representatives from Iowa County and Jasper County Pheasants Forever Chapters.
VanDerBeek also thanked Penn Central Mall for hosting the dinner, and JD Fiechtner for our breakfast and lunch spot on Saturday. A shout out to the Mahaska County Conservation for their assistance.
Committee members from Mahaska County Pheasants Forever were:
Jeff & Janet VanDerBeek, Ben Hoskinson, Jason and Cherlynn Waite, Wyndell & Janel Campbell, Brad & Missy Schlesselman, Dave Pfeifer, Rocky Hizer, Barry Allison
