Ron Schara and Raven leading parade of over 25 different sporting dog
breeds through downtown Saint Paul

Saint Paul, Minn. – January 9, 2008 – A Bird Dog Parade will kick off Pheasants Forever's National Pheasant Fest 2008 presented by Cabela's. On January 18th, local outdoor personalities Ron Schara and Raven will head a parade of over 25 different sporting dog breeds and their owners through portions of downtown Saint Paul, leading to the opening of Pheasants Forever's National Pheasant Fest and 25th Anniversary Convention at the Saint Paul RiverCentre.The Bird Dog Parade begins at 12:30 PM at Roy Wilkins Auditorium, site of the Bird Dog Stage presented by Purina at National Pheasant Fest. The parade route will then make its way outdoors around the Xcel Energy Center, starting at 5th Street West, then 7th Street West, and finally onto Kellogg Blvd West. The parade will conclude at the Saint Paul RiverCentre entrance prior to the ribbon cutting and opening of National Pheasant Fest at 1 PM.

Schara, the host of Pheasants Forever Television, and his black lab Raven will be the parade's Grand Marshals. "The Bird Dog Parade will expand the definition of bird dog, for sure, as dogs of any ilk have been included in the parade lineup, just as anybody who wants to help wildlife - not just pheasants - is welcome to join PF’s habitat mission," Schara said. The parade is free to the public and is a great event for the whole family. Discount coupons on Pheasant Fest admission tickets and other special prizes will be distributed along the Bird Dog Parade route.

Dog breeds already scheduled to participate in the parade include: Boykin Spaniels, Brittanys, Deutsch Langhaars, English Pointers, Springer Spaniels, English Springer Spaniels, Field Spaniels, German Shorthairs, Munsterlanders, Small Munsterlanders, Labrador Retrievers, Llewellin Setters, Pointing Labs, Pudel Pointers, Spinone Italianos, and Viszlas.

National Pheasant Fest opens to the public at 1 PM on Friday, January 18th. Dogs will be a major attraction of this year's Fest. The Bird Dog Bonanza, sponsored by Nestle Purina® Pro Plan Brand® dog food and SportDOG Brand® electronic dog training systems, will offer presenting seminars and demonstrations on bird dog breeds, training, nutrition, and equipment. The Bird Dog Alley will also be home to many breeds of hunting dogs and organizations. Breed organizations will be in the Alley answering questions about their particular breeds.

For the special price of $30, a National Pheasant Fest advance ticket includes floor admission for the entire three-day weekend, as well as aone-year membership to Pheasants Forever. The PF membership includes a free PF hat (a $17 value), a subscription to the Pheasants Forever Journal of Upland Conservation (5 issues) and PF member card and decal. Purchasing advance tickets to National Pheasant Fest is a $77 value at less than half the price, a savings of over 60 percent! Tickets are available at any Ticketmaster outlet (find links at www.NationalPheasantFest.org) or by calling (651)989-5151. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Saint Paul RiverCentre Box Office (located in the southeast lobby of Xcel Energy Center).  Adult daily tickets are $10 and youth ages 6-16 are $5.Youth under 5 are free.

National Pheasant Fest 2008 presented by Cabela's will combine a national consumer show, habitat seminar series, and family event complete with puppies, tractors, shotguns, and art. In fact, the Fest promises to be the country's largest event for upland hunters, sport dog owners, and wildlife habitat conservationists. For more information about National Pheasant Fest 2008 presented by Cabela's, please contact Pheasants Forever toll free at (877)773-2070 or log onto www.NationalPheasantFest.org.