The Webster County Chapter of Pheasants Forever takes the idea of fellowship and philanthropy one step further every November with a special event that has become a staple of the organization in recent years.

The sixth annual “First Responders Hunt” will be this weekend on a number of different properties around the region. Chicago firefighters and police officers visit the area for a weekend of hunting and camaraderie in an outing that was first organized by Fort Dodge’s Jim Kersten and his former college roommate, Doug Aller of Chicago.

Many members of the local chapter have joined to both lead the way and show an appreciation for the work the first responders do in their respective communities.

“It’s our way of saying thanks,” commented long-time Webster County Pheasants Forever member and current treasurer and banquet chairman Jerry Beck. “We have the guys coming in from Chicago, along with two Fort Dodge firefighters, two from Badger and one from Otho. We’d like to add some from the (Webster County) sheriff’s office or the (Fort Dodge) police department as well.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Before taking to the field, a group of pheasant hunters plan who’s going to go where. The hunters are part of a group of veterans who gather here every year for a pheasant hunt.

“It’s an honor for us to serve as guides and show them the lay of the land, so to speak. We have a lot of fun. It’s something we look forward to and enjoy (hosting) every year now.”

In recent autumn hunts, the group has visited private land in Webster, Wright, Calhoun and Pocahontas counties. All of the property has been part of the federal Conservation Reserve Program.

Kersten and Aller — also an Iowa native — started this tradition in 2020 for a few first responders from the Chicago area. Aller manages investments for the union that represents Chicago firefighters. He had also previously been involved in a “No Child Left Indoors” program that Pheasants Forever offered for children of Chicago firefighters and police officers.

There are very few fruitful areas for pheasant hunters in northern or central Illinois. Kersten, Aller and the local members saw an opportunity to play the role of gracious hosts while showing their guests what rural Iowa has to offer.

DNR predicts: ‘This

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Matt Carlson, of Fort Dodge, stops to give Xenia a drink after hunting a field north of Badger with a group of military veterans who gather yearly to hunt here.

year could be excellent’

The area numbers support the popularity of pheasant hunting in 2025. Beck has witnessed a steady trend upward in Webster County Pheasants Forever membership, which now stands at close to 600 overall.

This season — the 100th of pheasant hunting in Iowa, which started Oct. 25 and will run through Jan. 10 — is predicted to be ideal for a number of reasons.

“I expect our hunter numbers to be similar to 2023, when we had nearly 84,000 resident and non-resident pheasant hunters,” Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), said in a recent press release. “If we hit 90,000, that would be the highest in years.

“Crop harvest will likely be 70 to 80 percent, which is similar to last year. If that’s the case, we could have a tremendous start to the season.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Joe Back, of Charlottesville, Virginia, watches as his dog Stella works the edge of a field during a recent pheasant hunt north of Badger. Back, a retired Army colonel, is part of a group of veterans that gather here every year to pheasant hunt together.

Bogenschutz estimates Iowa could see between 600,000 and 700,000 roosters bagged this fall.

Favorable weather has played a factor in the recent surge as well.

“We’ve had really three years in a row of decent, mild winters and excellent springs, and it hasn’t been too terribly wet during nesting season,” Beck added. “And I’ve heard the road count in a lot of areas is way up (compared to recent memory).”

According to the Iowa DNR, the statewide average of 28 birds per route is the highest since 2005.

“Last year was a decent year for pheasant hunting,” Bogenschutz said. “2023 was a good year for pheasant hunting. This year could be excellent.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Matt Carlson, of Fort Dodge, at left, along with Guy “Doc” Dooley, of Greenwood, South Carolina, pose for Libby Degan, right, after a hunt through a field north of Badger. The hunters are part of a group of veterans that gather here every year to enjoy a pheasant hunt together.

Safety first

Beck emphasizes the importance of taking necessary precautions and preparations when hunting, “regardless of whether you’re a beginner or you’ve been doing it for your whole life.”

“Safety always comes first,” Beck said. “Normally, you’re hunting in groups and within a pretty close proximity to each other. It’s important to know who you’re hunting with, what your target is, and to consistently communicate. Wear the proper attire. Just stay on the same page.

“You have to be careful above all else. And courteous. Obey the rules, both when it comes to the (formal start and stop) dates for the season and where you choose to hunt.”

The Webster County Pheasants Forever chapter hosted two youth events for ages 15 and under in recent months: a trap shoot in August at the Iowa Central Community College range, and a mentor hunt during the Iowa-designated youth-only season Oct. 18 and 19. Safety was the primary theme.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Led by Xenia, a group of hunting dogs answer the question of just exactly why did the dogs cross the road during a recent hunt north of Badger with their humans, a group of veterans who gather here every year for a pheasant hunt.

“We had 15 kids at the Iowa Central trap shoot, and 18 for the (preseason youth day of hunting),” Beck said. “For both events, we spent the first hour with all of them at Kennedy Park going over all of the rules and regulations and safety tips first. It was a great learning experience.”

The Webster County Pheasants Forever group celebrated its 40th anniversary at the annual banquet last March.

“Everything from our chapter stays local,” Beck said. “That’s what makes Pheasants Forever unique. Each county has its own group, and (the money raised) doesn’t go to a national organization. It’s all used right here.”

The first pheasant season was held in October of 1925, with 13 counties in north-central Iowa open to hunting. That year, hunters were allowed a three-rooster limit for a half a day of hunting, according to the Iowa DNR. An estimated 75,000 hunters participated.