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Some Chicago firefighters will try to bag some birds this weekend during a pheasant hunt in the Fort Dodge area that was organized to show appreciation for their service.
They will be joined by members of the Webster County Chapter of Pheasants Forever and some Fort Dodge firefighters. It was hoped that Terry Branstad, the former Iowa governor who became the American ambassador to China, could join as well, but he indicated on Friday he could not make the trip.
The concept of the hunt started with Jim Kersten, of Fort Dodge. One of his friends from college does investment management for the Chicago firefighters' union. Over the summer, the two began thinking about ways to recognize the firefighters.
"Maybe we can show them a thank you," Kersten said.
He enlisted the help of Jerry Beck, the treasurer and banquet chairman of the local Pheasants Forever chapter.
"That's a great way to give a little honor to these people who are doing so much for us," Beck said of the hunt.
The hunting will take place on farmland owned by Richard Stark, of Woolstock; Bob Van Diest, of Webster City; and Gus Macke, of Lake City.
Matt Garner, the president of the Pheasants Forever chapter and members Greg Davis and Bruce Walker, will serve as guides for the hunt. Each of them will bring a trained hunting dog. Also along for the hunt will be Tom Beneke, who will bring two hunting dogs. Like Kersten, Beneke is a vice president of Iowa Central Community College.
The Fort Dodge firefighters going on the hunt are Capt. Jason Vandi, Lt. Eric Conell and Firefighter Mike Wiltzius.
"We're going to have a small, but very organized group," Kersten said.
The chances of success for the hunters look pretty good, according to Beck.
"We have seen a ton of birds," he said.
He added that the number of pheasants is up in most areas of the state.
Iowa's pheasant hunting season started the last week of October and runs through Jan. 10.
This is the first local pheasant hunt organized to show appreciation for public safety personnel, but it might not be the last.
"We might make this an annual deal," Kersten said.
Pheasants Forever invests in habitat
While most of its members are hunters, preserving habitat for pheasants is actually the core mission of the Webster County Chapter of Pheasants Forever.
"Our main emphasis is to get habitat on the ground," said Jerry Beck, the chapter's treasurer and banquet chairman.
He said that in its 36 years of existence, the chapter has invested about $1.4 million on local habitat and education efforts, he said.
Perhaps the biggest single investment was of $30,000 spent on habitat at Miller Marsh near Vincent.
Beck said all the money raised by the local chapter stays in the Fort Dodge area.