A single newspaper column sparked one of America’s greatest upland conservation movements, here’s how it happened.
Before there were banquets, chapters, or habitat acres on the ground, there was a typewriter and an idea. In this episode of On the Wing Podcast, PF & QF’s Bob St. Pierre and Jared Wicklund sit down with Star Tribune Outdoors Editor Dennis Anderson, the man whose 1982 newspaper column launched Pheasants Forever.
Anderson reflects on the early days of pheasant hunting across Minnesota and Iowa, how changing farm practices and vanishing grasslands inspired him to act, and what it took to turn a single column into a nationwide conservation force. He also shares his lifelong passion for upland bird hunting, his fascination with British Labradors, and his firsthand stories of duck and grouse hunting across the Midwest.
Listeners will come away with a deep appreciation for how grassroots action, community, and habitat conservation changed the future of pheasant hunting and why today’s hunters must continue that fight. Whether you’ve been chasing roosters for decades or are just stepping into the uplands, this discussion offers rare insight from one of the most influential voices in outdoor journalism.
Show notes
- Dennis Anderson will be the keynote speaker at PF & QF’s National Celebration Dinner on Saturday, February 21st in Minneapolis during National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic 2026. Tickets for this special dinner celebrating Pheasants Forever’s origin story are now on sale at www.PheasantFest.org
- Use the code PFQF at onxmaps.com/hunt/app for 20% off your onX Hunt membership to plan your next bird hunting adventure.
On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.