Board Members

President
Brian Winter, Glyndon, MN

Vice-President, Secretary, Archivist
Ross Hier, Crookston, MN

Treasurer
Earl Johnson, Detroit Lakes, MN

Board Members
Terry Wolfe, Crookston , MN
Dan Svedarsky, Crooston , MN
Raymond Reading, Ada , MN
Doug Wells, Fergus Falls , MN
David Trauba, Watson , MN
Paul Anderson, Fergus Falls , MN
Cliff Steinhauer, Thief River Falls , MN
Doug Hedtke, Fergus Falls , MN
Rob Naplin, Park Rapids, MN
Stacy Salvevold, Fergus Falls , MN
Greg Hoch, Moorhead, MN
Irvin Halbakken, Rothsay, MN
Scott Kahan, Perham , MN
Sara Vacek, Appleton , MN

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A Message from the MPCS President Brian Winter

I am pleased that you have decided to visit the Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society’s website! As you’ve likely seen from other portions of our website, MPCS is run by a dedicated group of volunteers. MPCS was formed in 1973, and since that time we, as well as our committed members, have worked hard to bring more awareness to the plight of the greater prairie chicken and their habitat in Minnesota. It is this dedication and the cooperation of other individuals, agencies and non governmental organizations like The Nature Conservancy that has helped to increase the population of prairie chickens in Minnesota. In fact, without the focused conservation effort on prairie chickens and their habitat the last 40 years, it is doubtful that they would still “boom” each spring in Minnesota.

One of the many activities of the MPCS is providing free viewing blind opportunities for the general public throughout the prairie chicken range. If you've never watched this comical bird perform its mating ritual, you are missing one of nature’s greatest events. One blind visitor said “I knew the chickens would be good – but the whole experience exceeded our high expectations!”

In addition to coordinating many viewing blinds, MPCS has been the driving force behind the annual census of prairie chickens in Minnesota. Recently MPCS has been working with Minnesota Department of Natural Resource wildlife staff to enhance the management of the prairie grasslands that the birds need to thrive. Trees have been cut, prairie has been planted, and grasslands have been improved thanks to this cooperative Heritage Enhancement Effort. I would like to thank all those volunteers involved with these many Wildlife Management Area projects.

Another large project the Society has been involved with is the reintroduction of the prairie chicken to southwestern Minnesota and also to other states like North Dakota, Wisconsin and Illinois. More information on these projects can be found in the news section of the website. All these efforts have paid off in many ways, but one which brings even more attention to the prairie chicken in Minnesota is the return of a prairie chicken hunting season.

After over a 60-year absence, those lucky enough to draw a very special hunting permit can once again take their favorite sporting dog and hunt the greater prairie chicken in Minnesota. This year my son and I were two of the lucky hunters that were drawn from the lottery to hunt prairie chickens in Minnesota. This was an experience I will never forget, and I am happy to have been a part of bringing this unique hunting experience back to the residents of Minnesota!