Habitat and Conservation
Pheasants Forever: Creating Habitat
Since our inception as a local organization, we have spent over $54,000 on habitat within Muskegon and Oceana county resulting in planting more than 900 acres of food plots and 1000 acres of nesting cover habitat. We plan to do a lot more with your help!
ARBOR DAY 2010 (April 30)
WILDLIFE SHELTER BELT PLANTING UPDATE
With the help of 22 high school students from Oakridge and 4 from Muskegon Alternative Education from Muskegon Community Education, 750 trees, shrubs and bushes were planted at the Muskegon County Wastewater site. Each tree was provided a new home which included surrounding mulch and a good, long drink of water. White Spruce, Blue Spruce, Sargent Crabapple, Elderberry, Service Berry, Gray Dogwood and Ninebark comprised the majority of the trees that were planted. The students worked hard and finished the plantings in 2 hours. A hamburger and hotdog lunch was provided to all prior to returning to school. A grant from the Alcoa Foundation through the Muskegon Soil Conservation District will cover the materials for the project with Pheasants Forever providing everything else. Our thanks to Muskegon County Wastewater for allocating the property for this use, along with thanks to Martin Hulka for the mulch delivery, Double L Industries, Inc. for the watering truck and manpower, National Wild Turkey Federation and our dedicated Pheasants Forever volunteers for the clearing and preparing the planting areas ahead of Arbor Day, along with those that worked side by side with the students and those that prepared and served the food. Thanks to all for making this happen.
WASTEWATER PROJECT UPDATE
Last spring (2009), the native prairie grasses and wildflowers were planted on 112 acres. The prairie grasses have been slow in gerninating so far (too cold and not enough rain) but we are told to be patient as these planting may take up to 3 years to be effective. The next phase has also begun as 147 acres were sprayed in June, 2009, mowed in August and sprayed again in September, 2009 to kill out the spotted knap weed and other weeds there. One more spraying will take place and then the next 147 acres will be planted with prairie grasses and wildflowers yet this spring (2010). This is the largest project ever undertaken by Pheasants Forever in Michigan and, for the record, east of the Mississippi River.
HABITAT REPORT - FALL 2009 From Project Overseer
Muskegon Waste Water Treatment Area – WHIP
Fall of 2008 - An area for planting warm season grasses was identified and inventoried by PF Biologist and NRCS District Conservationist. A conservation plan with goals and objectives was written for the property. A contract was signed with dollars obligated toward implementation. Control invasive species. Spotted Knapweed was controlled with an application of Transline.
An application of Glysophate was applied to control quack grass now coming into the area. Area planted to rye cover.
Spring 2009 - An application of Glysophate was applied to kill rye cover and any other weeds that were coming into area. Area planted to warm season grasses in specified location.
Summer 2009 - Site visit to inspect planting germination by PF Biologist and NRCS, plants were just coming up nicely
Fall 2009 - Site visit to inspect planting germination by PF Biologist and NRCS. Planting is doing fine for the first year. Area will need to be brush hogged to help control undesirable species.
Talked with the manager of the treatment plant about turning in receipts for the project. He indicated that he would contact this office after harvest of other crops. It was mentioned to the manager that there needed to be some type of weed control/brush hog in the area planted to warm season grasses. He indicated that he would do that after harvest.
Spring 2010 - area will have to be re-evaluated and treated for weeds before grasses and wildflowers appear.
Muskegon State Game Area – Pheasants Forever/FACF (CTA)
Fall 2008 - an area for planting warm season grasses was identified and inventoried by PF Biologist Muskegon PF and NRCS District Conservationist. A conservation plan with goals and objectives was written for the property. A contract was signed with dollars obligated toward implementation, between Fremont Area Community Foundation, Pheasants Forever, and MDNR Wildlife Division. Land was slightly disked to even out the field where there were potholes from brush being pulled out. An application of Glysophate was applied to control undesirable species existing in the area.
Spring 2009 - Area planted to warm season grasses in specified location.
Fall 2009 - site visit to inspect planting germination by NRCS. Planting is hard to identify for the first year. Area will need to be brush hogged to help control undesirable species. Called contractor to have area brush hogged.
Spring 2010 - area will have to be re-evaluated and treated for weeds before grasses appear.
2010
Seeds Available Through the Muskegon County Chapter of
Pheasants Forever
2010 Food plot seeds need to be ordered by October 15, 2009. Please review the following flyer from the Michigan PF State Council on seed prices. Please contact Dave Farhat at d44far@gmail.com to order food plot seed.
Habitat seed can be ordered by Feb 2, 2010 by contacting Dave Farhat at d44far@gmail.com or 231-767-0222. Costs are determined by the Michigan State PF Council.
CP2 – Native Prairie Mixture: 5 Grasses & 10 Wildflowers, 1 Pound Wildflowers
Mixture meets USDA requirements for landowners enrolling in CRP CP2. The mixture contains 5 native grasses and 10 wildflowers. All species are native to Michigan. Mixture: 1.3 lbs/acre Big Bluestem, 1.4 lbs/acre Indiangrass, 1.0 lb/acre Little Bluestem, 1.0 lbs/acre Canada Wild Rye, 0.3 lb/acre Switchgrass, 1 lb/acre Wildflowers. Total: 5.5 lbs seed/acre. All rates listed Pure Live Seed (PLS). Wildflowers: Purple Coneflower, Lanceleaf Coreopsis, Yellow Coneflower, Purple Prairie Clover, Black-eyed Susan, Oxeye Sunflower, Partridge Pea, New England Aster, Lead Plant and Wild Bergamot. Sold in 2 acre bags.
CP25 – Diverse Native Prairie Mixture – Increased Wildflowers! 18 species -1.5 lbs – Top Quality Nesting Cover for Wildlife!!!
Mixture meets USDA requirements for landowners enrolling in CRP CP25 – Rare & Declining Species. Only $10 more per acre will give 8 additional species and an additional 1/2 pounds of wildflowers. The increased quantity and diversity of wildflowers provides outstanding wildlife habitat and will be ideal for demonstration sites or landowners that desire a very showy prairie. Compared to the standard CP2 mix, this diverse mixture contains 1.5 lbs of wildflowers and 18 native wildflower species. Mixture: Same as Standard Prairie, Plus Culvers Root, Marsh Blazing Star, Compass Plant, Cup Plant, Evening Primrose, Smooth Penstemon, Stiff Goldenrod and Hoary Vervain. Sold in 2 acre bags.
CP25 – Diverse Wildflower Mixture – Wildflowers Only
A diverse wildflower mixture perfect for upgrading existing prairie stands or to increase quantity & diversity of other prairie plantings. Wildflower mixture contains 18 species listed in Diverse Prairie Mix. Sold by the pound.
CP38 – CRP SAFE Shortgrass Prairie Mix – NEW! 5 Grasses & 15 Wildflowers –Excellent Nesting Cover for Pheasants & Quail!!!
Mix meets USDA requirements for CRP SAFE plantings. Grasses: Little Bluestem, Canada Wild Rye, Sideoats Grama, Prairie Brome, Junegrass. Wildflowers (1.5 lbs): Butterfly Weed, New England Aster, Partridge Pea, Coreopsis, Purple Prairie Clover, Purple Coneflower, Wild Bergamot, Marsh Blazing Star, Yellow Coneflower, Stiff Goldenrod, Silky Aster, White Wild Indigo, Wild Lupine, Smooth Penstemon and Golden Alexander. Sold in 2 acre bags.
CP38 – CRP SAFE Pollinator Mix – NEW! 3 Grasses & 21 Wildflowers (3 lbs): Watch the Wildflowers Bloom!!!
Mix meets USDA requirements for CRP SAFE Pollinator plantings. This mix contains a diverse mix of wildflowers chosen to bloom throughout the entire growing season and benefit pollinating insects. A great landscaping option too! Mix contains 3 lbs of wildflowers and 2 lbs native grass. Grasses: Little Bluestem, Big Bluestem, Indiangrass. Wildflowers: Butterfly Weed, New England Aster, Coreopsis, Purple Coneflower, Wild Bergamot, Yellow Coneflower, Stiff Goldenrod, Leadplant, Common Milkweed, Partridge Pea, Prairie Coreopsis, Ox-eye Sunflower, Prairie Blazing Star, Great Blue Lobelia, Smooth Penstemon, Black-eyed Susan, Rosinweed, Cup Plant, Showy Goldenrod, Hoary Vervain and Golden Alexander. Sold by the acre.
Switchgrass: Winter Cover for Wildlife, Sold in 25 lb bags (plants 4-5 acres)
1. Wisconsin Ecotype: A 5’ tall variety collected in southern WI. Well suited to Michigan soils & climate. Ideal for pheasants & other
wildlife.
2. Cave-in-Rock: A 6’ tall variety. Ideal for deer management or wet sites.
Product: Acre/Bag Cost/Acre* Cost/Bag*
CP2 - Prairie Mix 2 $75 $150
CP25 – Diverse Prairie 2 $85 $170
CP25 – Wildflower only 1 $40 $40
CP38 – Shortgrass Prairie 2 $105 $210
CP38 – Pollinator 1 $120 $120
Switchgrass: WI Ecotype 4-5 $6.25 $156
Switchgrass: Cave-in-Rock4-5 $11.25 $281
* Prices include shipping and handling to MSU. Please call if you need direct shipping.
** Please include a deposit of at least 50%. Please call for special arrangements.
REMEMBER THE WEED CONTROL! FERTILIZE!
The following is another type of habitat that Pheasants Forever promotes:
Prairie Flower Highlights
Partridge Pea 
Blooming period July-August, Light Requirements: Full Sun, Soil Types: Dry to Mesic
Partridge pea is a reseeding annual legume. Peas provide an abundance of seed during winter that is highly nutritional for pheasants, quail & other wildlife. The plant also attracts a profusion of insects for chicks to feed on. The plant is popular because it is long-lived, a nitrogen-fixing legume and grows well on a variety of soils.
For more habitat information go to the National Pheasants Forever website.