Landowners in Iowa’s pheasant counties can get funding to restore their habitat with help from the Iowa Pheasant Recovery – State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) program. It is a new U.S. Department of Agriculture effort implemented through the Conservation Reserve Program to restore native grasslands and wetlands where they will be the most beneficial for ring-necked pheasants.
Restoring top quality winter and nesting/brood-rearing habitat will help pheasant populations recover and could boost annual harvest by 100,000 roosters. Landowners should contact the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Bureau to discuss eligibility and cost share assistance. More information is available at www.iowadnr.gov/habitat