The Pennsylvania Waterfowl Heritage Society was founded in 2007 by a group of dedicated waterfowl hunters that realize giving back to this area is a small way to say "Thank-You" to the area and flyway we call home. While there are many great local and regional organizations that give back to the cause, there is always room for more when it comes to conservation. While in the big scheme of things our monetary donations may be small, our goal is to put the money directly into areas where it will make a difference in PA and the Atlantic Flyway. This isn't about pounding chests and patting each other on the back, this is all about making things better for the present and the future generations to come. As the PA Waterfowl Heritage Society evolves and more people get involved, we envision projects that will benefit waterfowl hunters in all areas of Pennsylvania and the Atlantic Flyway. Also, by joining up with other great local organizations and the PA Game Commission, we will be able to maximize our dollars and put that money to good use for the birds we chase in the fall.

Contact Jason- 814-746-2703

jasoncfowler@gmail.com

Jason Fowler – Having grown up small game and deer hunting just south of Pittsburgh, it wasn’t until roughly 8 seasons ago that I caught the rabid bug that is waterfowl hunting.  A friend offered to take me on a trip to Geneva swamp for opening day and that was all that it took.  After 2 seasons of “sky busting” with the other opening-day warriors, I was finally exposed to some very serious waterfowl hunters, who demonstrated that there is a lot more to it than a couple boxes of shells and shots of 50 yards or more. That was all it took to get hooked and now my passion for waterfowl has lead me to other states and soon to be countries chasing the bug.

    I currently reside in Erie, PA with my wife Melissa and 3 yr-old daughter, Abby.  I have been fortunate to have gone back to graduate school later in life and because of this, I have been able to spend greater than 40 days in the field each of the last two seasons.  I spend my time mainly in northwestern PA, chasing puddle ducks and geese with my 4 yr-old black lab, Murphy. Additionally, I frequent the big water of Lake Erie in search of divers when the weather cooperates. In the off season I can usually be found near a sporting clays range on the weekends.

    Over the past 8 seasons, I have evolved into a very conservation minded duck and goose hunter.  Duck identification and prudent shooting are two issues that I take very seriously.  I am also an ardent supporter of Delta Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited and Waterfowl USA.  The idea for the PAWHS was born out of conversations I had with Dave Rearick and one of our biggest supporters, Doug Larsen of David Denies Wingshooting.  While we are all supporters of the above mentioned conservation groups, we wanted to be able to contribute something significant that would impact the duck and goose production and habitat in our own back yard.  After having read a number of Internet reports and magazine articles of hunters from all over the eastern US reporting bands coming from Linesville, PA, we figured this was the ideal place to start.  If Pymatuning birds are being reported all over the Atlantic Flyway, that really says something about the number of birds being produced in our area.

    After a year of basic planning, we finally got down to business and got the ball rolling after talking to Jerry Bish, the PA Game Commission Land Manager for Crawford County, whose territory includes the entire Pymatuning area.  All you need to do is have one conversation with Jerry to realize what a truly dedicated waterfowl conservationist that he is.  Jerry’s goal is to “put one duck or goose in front of every hunter who has the desire to hunt them.”  Like many state and federally mandated agencies, Jerry and the PAGC have seen their share of cut-backs in recent years.  The goal of our very first fund-raiser is to be able to provide Jerry with some additional resources that will aid him in his goal of producing more ducks and geese!

Contact David- 724-496-2631

djrear2@zoominternet.net

David Rearick - Being brought up with a waterfowler for a father, it made it easy for me to get into the sport. Even when I wasn't allowed to hunt yet, I would tag along to enjoy the day. When I turned 12 and could partake in the action, I quickly became hooked. Once I received my driver's license, things really heated up and I would go as much as possible after school, on Saturday's, and every chance I could. Although my spots were less than "good" at the time, I kept going back just for the opportunity to see and work birds. While times have changed, my passion for waterfowl is still the same. I hunt as many days as possible and even try and sneak in hunts before or after work, just for chance at enjoying the show. While I have "grown up" so to speak and have a little more time to hunt and a little better set of gear to use, the reason behind it has not wavered. Simply put, the reason I like to hunt waterfowl is because you never know what may happen. From a banded bird or something different to just witnessing a great show from the birds is what brings me back day after day. I just don't see how this could ever get old...

    I think in every waterfowler's life, they think, "How can I give back to the sport?" I belong to all the waterfowl organizations I can, participate in dinners and raffles, and have served on many different committees; but still I question what else I can do to help. When Jason brought up the topic of this raffle, I was all for it. I have always been a big supporter of money going to this flyway, so logically this is a great way to make it happen. I think the bigger picture in any hunters mind is conservation, or at least it should be. By far the money donated and raised by hunters is the reason many of this structure and habitat exist. Without the support of the hunting community, state and federal money alone could not support the resource.  Everyone getting together and combining pots of money and their efforts makes a huge difference for what we all enjoy, the birds. Not only do I enjoy the resource by partaking in a tradition that goes back many years, I also enjoy photographing birds and studying their habits in the off season. 

    Preserving the resource for years to come is something I feel is crucial. Allowing our kids and their kids to see what we've seen is the driving force keeping me doing whatever I can, wherever I can. Being involved on the Avery Pro-Staff allows me to meet and talk with much of the hunting community. Deep down everyone I talk to agrees that they they have conservation at heart. While many struggle at how to balance what they do and question what more they can to do help, everyone knows they are working towards the greater good. I think the waterfowling community is a very tight knit and family oriented group that not only drives towards a common goal, but works as a team to get things down. With that attitude, their is nothing we cannot accomplish.

Contact Erik:

nenilsson@zoominternet.net

Erik Nilsson - I began waterfowling in 1985 with a few buddies of mine, and since that time have been chasing birds all over the flyway from September to February. I am 39 years old and I currently live in Butler, Pa with my wife Brenda, a son Mathew, a daughter Alyssa and our yellow lab "Gauge". I love spending time with my family and teaching my children and others how to appreciate the outdoors and to give back so that others may enjoy it..

    Having grown up in the Northwest part of Pa, we frequented the Pymatuning area quite a bit. Back then I realized just how important the management end of conservation is to the birds, and how important that this region is to the Atlantic Flyway. Just to see the different birds at the refuge and to see the flights come in was simply a spectical of nature. From the Goose management area to the duck areas we were fortunate enough to enjoy some really great times there. Hunting there could be described as a friendly tradition we all enjoyed sharing. I was really honored when Dave and Jason approached me about the project because its something that I felt as a waterfowler and outdoorsman that gave me the chance to give back to the resource so that others will enjoy the times spent afield as I have.  I enjoy banding birds, helping out with nesting structures and have completed a few of my own projects but this one really hits home in such a key area for 2 flyways.

    As a member of the Zink Calls staff, I have  the opportunity to meet many waterfowlers sharing the same interest and so many are conservation minded and show a keen interest in the future of the sport. I am very proud to be part of a great project.

Contact Mike:

mbard@ksrinc.com

Mike Bard – I had the opportunity to grow up close to my grandfather, Don Bard, who used to take me out hunting with him, as a spectator, when I was too young to actually pull the trigger. My father, Gary, preferred fishing and used to take my brother and I out at least weekly, during the summer months, until I was in high school and too cool to spend time with my parents and began hunting and fishing with friends. Through out my childhood, I had two great teachers, which both taught me a lot about hunting, fishing, conservation and the outdoors in general. Today I have the opportunity to pass along that same wisdom and values that my grandfather and father taught me to my kids and I’m enjoying every second of it.

For over a decade, I’ve been devoting my hunting efforts exclusively to waterfowl, as well as, working on the pro-staffs for Avery Outdoors, Zink Calls and Momarsh.  Today with various environmental factors affecting the birds I enjoy to chase so much, I’ve been a member and supporter of organizations, such as DU and Delta and beginning in 2008 PAHWS. I enjoy attending the DU dinners and participating in fundraisers that both DU and Delta hold, but I’m very excited about being a member of PAWHS, as all of our funds we raise will go towards projects that will support the Atlantic Flyway, where my friends and family live and hunt.

I want my children and anyone else’s children that share the same passion for waterfowling, to have as good or better of a waterfowl resource, as I have grow up with.