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We are Brown County Minnesota Pheasants Forever Chapter #166 (BCPF), a nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1987 dedicated to the protection and enhancement of pheasants and other upland bird populations in North America.
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OVERVIEW & PRESIDENTS REPORT
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Brrrrr. Now that the hunting seasons are over around here it’s time to focus on recovering from the holidays and looking forward to Banquet Season!
We are now deep into the planning of our 2026 Banquet. As we do this, we are actively looking for help sponsoring this event as well as creating general fundraising for our chapter. We are looking for sponsors for specific games and raffles or for specific fundraising efforts. Corporate and personal donations and sponsorships help us ensure a successful event and help us provide more opportunities to adhere to the mission statement of the Pheasants Forever organization as a whole. Corporate sponsorships will be recognized for their efforts with advertising at our banquet, on social media, in our newsletter, and more. Please contact any of our board members if you are interested in becoming a sponsor.
Our 2026 version of the ‘Hunters Dream Raffle’ is selling pretty well. If you haven’t got a ticket yet, I’d suggest getting a hold of one of our board members soon. We’ve also dropped some tickets at Meyers Bar and the Serviceman’s Club in Sleepy Eye if that is easier. Like last year, there will again be 3 winners picked in the raffle
The prizes include:
1. Benelli Ethos Supersport 12 ga Shotgun.
2. Christensen Arms Ridgeline 6.5 PRC Rifle.
3. Banks Stump 2 Phantom Deer Blind.
Ticket cost is $20 per ticket. Please contact any of our board members if you’d like tickets.
Upcoming Meeting: Thursday February 12th at the Tavern 507 in New Ulm. We are always looking for more active members to help run the banquet, fundraise, sell raffle tickets, and run youth events. Attendance at these meetings is open to all and a great way to meet us and get your foot in the door with the chapter!
Upcoming Events: There are many like-minded local area organizations with upcoming banquets and events. See the section below titled "Other Conservation Organizations News" for a list of local events.
Thanks again for the support! - Steve
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Thanks, Steve Eckstein,
President Brown County Pheasants
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Upcoming Events - 2026 BCPF Banquet
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The Brown County Banquet & Family Fun Night is being held Saturday, March 21, 2026, with doors opening at 4:00 pm. This event is being held at the Sleepy Eye Event Center.
Tickets this year can be purchased online or at the door only! If you purchase at the door they will be at premium price. Anyone who does not wish to purchase tickets online may reach out to Tim directly for assistance.
Tickets can be acquired at: BCPF Banquet Tickets or scan the QR Code below.
Ticket(s) and ticket packages are as follows:
Silver Sponsorship - Individual or Couple's Package
Price: $200.00
Gold Sponsorship - Family Package
Price: $225.00
Platinum Sponsorship - Corporate or Table (8) Package
Price: $850.00
Associate Membership + Meal Ticket
Price: $75.00
Spouse or Life Member Meal "Only" Ticket
Price: $25.00
Youth Ages 5-15 (Ringneck) Membership + Meal Ticket
Price: $15.00
Student Ages 16-25 (Student) Membership + Meal Ticket
Price: $50.00
New Life Membership + Meal Ticket + Package
Price: $1,500.00
On-site Adult Associate +Meal (In-Person Only)
Price: $100.00
Your membership matters! It supports PF's unique model that allows chapters to retain 100% of the funds that they raise to support our mission and allows PF to be the greatest habitat organization! Membership includes: a subscription to five issues of the Pheasants Forever Journal of Upland Conservation, PF decal & member card, Pheasants Forever Hunter’s Calendar (mailed annually in the fall), monthly "On-The-Wing" newsletters, and access to the Annual Pheasant Hunting Forecast!
Note: If you are already signed for "Auto-Renewal" of your Pheasants Forever Membership, you will have your membership fee of $45 deducted from the ticket price. It is already set to auto-renewal on your renewal date. If you want to sign up for Auto-Renewal it will give you this option when purchasing banquet tickets.
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Scan the QR Code for Tickets
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Many games and activities will be like past events, but we are hoping to add some new ones as well. Some of these are:
- Shot-shell game / raffle
- Buy-a-shot game / raffle
- Scheel's banner raffle
- Ford F-150 truck raffle
- Gun board(s) raffle
- Cooler full of pork raffle
- Pallet of beer raffle
- Kids game / raffle
- Hunters Dream raffle
- Live auction
- Silent Auction
- Shot-n-Sizzle live auction
- ... and more
The gun prizes will require FFL background checks.
Note: Brown County PF Chapter reserves the right to change any item for this raffle if it is not available. Any substitutions will be at a similar value and item.
Dinner as stated above will be provided again by Gutes Essen Deli & Catering. The menu will include:
- Main Entrée Choices – Roast Beef and/or Bacon Wrapped Chicken
- Sides – Mashed Potatoes/Gravy and Green Beans w/Onions & Bacon
- Salad – Tossed Greens w/Dressing
- Kids Meal – Chicken Strips and Macaroni & Cheese.
We hope to see you there and enjoy some time donating to a great program.
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BCPF Seed Program
Mathiowetz Construction has stepped up to be the sponsor for the BCPF Food Plot Seed Program. We want to thank them for assisting the local area in habitat for wildlife to help make it through tough winter months.
Mathiowetz Construction is sponsoring this effort in Memory of Brown County’s biggest conservationist Richard J Mathiowetz who passed his legacy of stewardship to his family 26 years ago at his passing.
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Seed order deadline has passed. But, if you are interested in acquiring seed for a food plot, reach out to Brandon below ASAP.
To help pheasants and planting a food plot of at least 2-5 acres. It should as well, be somewhat close to pheasant wintering cover like cattails or willow patches. The wintering cover should ideally be more than 5 acres. You don’t want the birds to travel too far. Additionally, plant food that can help in providing cover and not get blown in and buried by snow. Such as sorghums and milo or blends for food plots like the "Signature Series or Food Plot Seeds". See https://www.pfhabitatstore.com/store/items/FP/ for more details.
In supporting these efforts BCPF will help supply food plot seed to Members who are interested in participating.
The following is the criteria we set for receiving food plot seed.
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Must be an active member of Pheasants Forever
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Must be a food plot in Brown County
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Food plot seed is what the chapter can supply
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We may share seed bags with others is a full bag cannot be used
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Must agree to seed contracts from suppliers and cannot resell or harvest the seed
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BCPF reserves the right to inspect the food plot
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Supply BCPF the number of acres to be planted and what type of seed.
This year we have access to a variety of seed types. These will include:
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Roundup ready corn or soybeans.
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Blizzard Buster (Sorghum mix)
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- Rooster Booster (Sorghum, corn, buckwheat, millet mix)
- Winter Shield (Sorghum and millet mix)
- And more…
How can you get your hands on seed for a food plot next spring? Reach out to Brandon Kral at kralerlee@gmail.com or at (507) 217-0214.
Landowners with RIM Easements
In 2023, BWSR received $2 million for the purpose of enhancing existing RIM easements to promote vegetation biodiversity, improve wildlife habitat and pollinator resources, among other positive benefits for the landscape. Enhancement funds will prioritize projects where the landowner is willing to purchase a custom seed mix(es), did not receive any portion of the original easement payment, and are willing to provide an elected cost match (cash or in-kind).
Projects best suited for enhancement will be on sites that are surrounded by existing habitat, were enrolled prior to 2014, have low diversity, and/or are threatened with noxious weed pressure. If approved by BWSR, projects are reimbursable at up to $1200 an acre to complete enhancement work. Work activities can include: tree removal, prescribed burning, chemical application, tillage, seed mix, seed installation. Seed installation must be completed as part of the work plan!
Applications will be reviewed at the end of every month. Funding is available until spent or June 30, 2029, whichever comes first.
Please contact your local SWCD office at (507) 794-2553 or Teddy Giefer at teddy.giefer@brownswcdmn.org for more information to see if you would be eligible.
Easement Enhancement Guidance Document - https://bwsr.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/2024-11/Easement%20Enhancement%20Program%20Guidance.pdf
BWSR Resources - https://bwsr.state.mn.us/node/11841
Wetland Enhancements
If you are a landowner and have wetlands that are in need of restoration and/or enhancements, reach out to the NRCS office in Sleepy Eye to review your request and see what program might be available for these efforts. Contact Matthew Rose at (507) 794-7997 Ext. 101 or at matthew.rose@usda.gov .
General CRP
Currently, more than 25.8 million acres are enrolled in CRP, with nearly 9.7 million acres in Grassland CRP. On May 12, FSA opened General and Continuous CRP enrollment for 2025. FSA is currently reviewing submitted offers and will announce accepted offers at a later date. Due to the 27-million-acre statutory cap, only 1.8 million acres are available for all CRP enrollment this fiscal year. Stay tuned this may change in the near future.
Continuous CRP
Unlike General CRP, Continuous CRP offers are not subject to a competitive bid process. To ensure enrolled acres do not exceed the current statutory cap of 27 million acres, FSA is awaiting further enhancements to this program as part of the US Farm Bill renewal.
Continuous CRP participants voluntarily offer environmentally sensitive lands, typically smaller parcels than offered through General CRP including wetlands, riparian buffers, and varying wildlife habitats. In return, they receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving vegetative cover.
For more information on CRP participant and land eligibility, approved conservation practices and detailed program fact sheets, visit FSA’s office or reach out to Reva – Brown County Pheasants Forever Land Biologist at (507) 794-4491 Ext. 110 or at recker@pheasantsforever.org.
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Our future habitat day is scheduled for April 25, 2026. We hope you can come join us in enhancing and improving our public lands. Activities may include: noxious tree/shrub removal; posting new signs; creating public parking areas; removing barbed wire; etc.
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BCPF has acquired a few new parcels over the last couple of years. One parcel being 80 acres which is part of the expanding Bashaw complex. During our habitat day we posted and removed most but not all the barbed wire fencing so this parcel will be open to the public.
Additionally, we had donated to us a 40-acre parcel which will be posted and added we hope open to the public this spring. Another 80+ acre parcel was acquired in March and again we hope will open to the public this spring. Stay posted for updates on these two parcels.
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Key Dates to Mark Your Calendar
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February 12, 2026 - BCPF Board Meeting at the Tavern 507 in New Ulm
March 21, 2026 – 2026 Brown County Banquet & Family Fun Night
April 25, 2026 - Adopt-a-WMA Habitat Day
October 10, 2026 - MN Pheasant Opener
MN DNR Hunting Season Dates
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Other Conservation Organizations News
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Upcoming area events: There are many like-minded area organizations with upcoming banquets and events. Here is a local list if you’d like to show them some support:
- Friday January 30th: Sioux Trails Ducks Unlimited Banquet at the (New) New Ulm Armory
- Saturday January 31st: Der Deutsche Longbeards Banquet- Courtland Community Center
- Sunday February 1st: Sleepy Eye Sportsmans Club Ice Fishing Contest- Sleepy Eye Lake
- Saturday February 7th: New Ulm Area Sportfisherman Ice Fishing Contest- Clear Lake New Ulm
- Saturday March 14th: Whitetails Unlimited Banquet at the Comfrey Event Center - Comfrey
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The monies we receive through donations, fund raising, and membership are critical to us enhancing or purchasing lands for all the public to enjoy. We encourage everyone to renew their membership to Pheasants Forever or upgrade to a Lifetime membership.
Pheasants Forever is the only national organization with a model of chapters keeping 100% of the funds they raise. While belonging to a larger national organization that has a voice on federal and state conservation policies, chapters are tasked with finding projects for their funds. Minnesota takes full advantage of this model using funds raised for projects locally as well as other areas in the state of Minnesota.
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Again, we want to thank all our members and volunteers who do so much to help in the Brown County Pheasants Forever (PF) mission.
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BROWN COUNTY PHEASANT’S FOREVER ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
- FOUNDED 38 YEARS AGO and SPENT OVER $6 MILLION in Brown County for HABITAT.
- OVER 500 HABITAT PROJECTS benefiting OVER 5,000 ACRES on PRIVATE land.
- PRESERVED OVER 3,500 ACRES for PUBLIC ENJOYMENT & HUNTING. Brown County has NEARLY 40 WMA/WPAs encompassing OVER 5,000 ACRES.
- BROWN COUNTY HAS OVER 24,000 acres in HABITAT.
- HOSTS AND PARTICIPATES IN ANNUAL MENTORED YOUTH HUNTS with more than 200 KIDS PARTICIPATING
- SUPPORT our LOCAL TRAP SHOOTING TEAMS.
- PARTICIPATE in MN DNR Adopt-a-WMA program. Planting food plots, replacing signs, removing trash & barb wire, creating parking areas, and more.
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Brown County Pheasants Forever
1783 Buerkle Circle
St. Paul, MN 55110
United States
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