Pheasants Forever to Give Prizes for Banded Birds

Grant County Pheasants Forever and the Milbank Area Chamber of Commerce are hosting a banded bird contest for youth and adult hunters. Bands can be turned in for automatic prizes and the Grand Prize to be awarded in January 2017.

Banded adult pheasants were released prior to the youth season opener, on Saturday, October 1. “We released the birds before the youth season, to give the kids the opportunity to shoot the birds first,” stated Aaron Micko, past president of Grant County Pheasants Forever.

The birds were released in several public walk-in hunting areas within the county. “We released them in three different places all within ten miles of Milbank,” said Darin Mertens, chairman of the local group. “We placed them where they will stay instead of scattering into neighboring corn fields.”
Each banded bird bagged will be awarded an instant prize. Bands can be turned in until January 4, 2017, to S&D One Stop of Milbank. Those bands will also be entered into the end of the season drawing for the grand prize.

Resident and nonresident youth ages 12 through 17 must possess a valid hunter safety certificate and a small game license. The regular pheasant hunting season begins October 15 and ends January 1, 2017. “I think this is a great event to help promote hunting in Grant County,” stated Micko. “It is also another way to get people outdoors for some physical activity.”

Pat Blauert, secretary/treasurer of Grant County Pheasants Forever, and Dan Sorenson of S&D One Stop were instrumental in creating the contest. Sorenson, who is also a chamber board member, secured a grant to help fund the contest and lined up prizes.

Instant prizes for the contest were donated by: Top Hat Lanes, Hardee’s, Taco Johns, Food & Fuel, Casey’s, Pizza Hut, and S&D One Stop. For questions or more information, please contact Mertens at Milbank Ford or at 605-949-2459.

Pictured Left: Chelcie Eischens,  Dan Sorenson, Darin Mertens, Dr. Aaron Micko, Laura Kelly

Bottom: Pat Blauert, Dr. Aaron Micko