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