Des Moines Slated to Become the Pheasant Capital Next January; Pheasants Forever's 3rd-Ever National Pheasant Fest coming to the Iowa Events Center.

DES MOINES, Iowa -- At a press conference this morning, Pheasants Forever (PF) President and Chief Executive Officer Howard Vincent announced that PF's National Pheasant Fest would be coming to Des Moines for the Fest's third-ever stop. National Pheasant Fest, which is slated for January 19, 20, & 21, 2007, will be held at the Iowa Events Center. Previous Fests were held in Bloomington, Minn. (2003) and Omaha, Neb. (2005). Omaha officials estimated that the 24,205 people who attended the 2005 Fest had a $2 million to $2.5 million dollar economic impact on the city.

National Pheasant Fest combines a national consumer show, habitat seminar series, and family event complete with puppies, tractors, shotguns, and art. National Pheasant Fest 2007 promises to be the country's largest event for upland hunters, sport dog owners, and wildlife habitat conservationists. The Fest will also be home to PF state meetings for Iowa's 103 PF chapters.

"We are honored to host the 2007 Pheasant Fest in Des Moines, our capital city. We look forward to welcoming thousands of hunting and conservation enthusiasts from throughout the country to one of the Midwest's most vibrant communities," said Governor Tom Vilsack. There are approximately 2 million pheasant hunters nationwide. PF has over 110,000 members nationwide with 21,000 in Iowa.

"Des Moines was the natural destination for our 3rd National Pheasant Fest. The Des Moines events and tourism contingent has been very helpful and excited about bringing us here and the Iowa Events Center will be a great venue. But, most importantly, Iowa is home to some of our organization's most dedicated chapter volunteers," explained Vincent. "Since Pheasants Forever's beginnings, Iowa PF chapters, along with the Iowa DNR and county conservation boards, have been leaders for our wildlife habitat conservation efforts. This event will be a tremendous celebration for all of their accomplishments."

PF was formed in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1982. The organization formed its first Iowa chapter in 1984 with the creation of the Iowa Pioneer (north central Iowa) Chapter. Since that time, PF has grown to 103 chapters and 21,000 members in the state. In fact, PF has spent more than $25 million on Iowa's wildlife habitat. Those dollars have completed 77,416 habitat projects in the state, which today are benefiting over 750,000 acres.

"Pheasants Forever members across the state of Iowa are excited to showcase our habitat accomplishments through Pheasant Fest," said Mike Schmitz, PF's Iowa State Council President and Greeley, Iowa resident. "This will be a well-deserved celebration for thousands of members, landowners, pheasant hunters, and natural resource professionals that have made a real impact for wildlife in Iowa. We hope to make this the best Pheasant Fest to date."

National Pheasant Fest 2007 will feature hundreds of exhibits, seminars, and special events. Special attractions will include the National Bird Dog Bonanza presented by Nestle's Purina PetCare, the Landowner Habitat Help Desk, and a variety of seminars covering topics ranging from dog training to picking a pup, wildlife habitat planting to upland hunting tips, and wild game cooking to becoming an outdoors woman.

For additional information about Pheasants Forever, please visit www.PheasantsForever.org

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