Nevada – January 27, 2012 – Pheasants Forever  and Quail Forever announce the hiring of two new Farm Bill Range/Wildlife Biologists in Nevada, representing the first biologists of this kind for the state. Sam Sanders will cover Elko and Humboldt counties, while Scott Scroggie will cover White Pine, Lincoln, Nye, Lander and Eureka counties. These biologists will work with area landowners, farmers and ranchers to implement wildlife habitat conservation measures aimed at fulfilling the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) Sage Grouse Initiative in Nevada.

The Sage-Grouse Initiative targets program delivery within high sage grouse abundance centers or ‘core areas’ to help maintain large and intact grazing lands. This new ‘conservation triage’ approach enables NRCS to prioritize conservation program implementation in the right places to expect a positive sage grouse population-level response. In 2011, Pheasants Forever was selected to manage Sage Grouse Initiative funds in building field delivery, scientific knowledge, as well as communications capacity for the NRCS Sage Grouse Initiative.

“The partnership is essential to increase the capacity to apply meaningful conservation measures under the Sage Grouse Initiative,” Tim Viel, NRCS State Biologist for Nevada. “The success of this program, and other similar programs being implemented in the West, could very will play an integral role in improving habitat conditions for the Greater Sage Grouse which may ultimately help prevent a listing of the bird under the Endangered Species Act.”

“The Nevada Department of Wildlife welcomes the opportunity to partner with Pheasants Forever, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Intermountain West Joint Venture on this program,” said Elmer Bull, Nevada Department of Wildlife Habitat Division Chief. “We are optimistic that the two biologists hired under this program will be highly successful in identifying opportunities to implement effective conservation programs on critical Greater Sage Grouse habitats in the eastern Nevada area.”

Sam Sanders will be located in Elko and act as a Range & Wildlife Conservationist for Pheasants Forever. Originally from central Nevada’s ranching community, Sanders spent most of his recreational time outside in the desert valleys and mountains fishing, hunting, trapping and sightseeing. He received his BA in Environmental and Natural Resource Science from the University of Nevada, Reno. Prior to joining Pheasants Forever, Sanders worked as a Wildlife Biologist with the USDA helping the farming and ranching community in Nevada. Sanders can be reached at 775-750-8936 or via Email.

Scott Scroggie will be located in Ely and act as a Range & Wildlife Conservationist for Pheasants Forever. A recent graduate of the University of Idaho, Scroggie has a triple major in Rangeland Ecology, Forest Resources, and Fire Ecology. During his time in school, he was employed with the Army Corps of Engineers, where he worked as a Wildlife/Range Technician. Scroggie can be reached at 775-293-7345 or via Email.

“Collaborative partnerships such as this one leads to a true win-win for resource agencies and private landowners,” says Sam Lawry, Pheasants Forever’s Western Farm Bill Coordinator. “We are looking forward to the great things both Sam and Scott are going to accomplish.”

Pheasants Forever’s Farm Bill Wildlife Biologists work to provide technical assistance to farmers and ranchers—through one-on-one consulting—regarding the benefits of conservation programs (such as the Conservation Reserve Program). By working with landowners to develop and implement individual wildlife management plans, these biologists represent Pheasants Forever’s on-the-ground efforts in ensuring landowners are aware of conservation program options. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever initiated the Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist Program in 2003 with 4 positions, and it has since grown to 98 partnership positions located in 17 states.

For more information regarding Pheasants Forever’s Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist program or the Sage Grouse Initiative, please contact Sam Lawry, Pheasants Forever’s Western Farm Bill Biologist Coordinator, at (406) 552-5052 / Email Sam.

Pheasants Forever, including its quail conservation division, Quail Forever, is the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 130,000 members and 700 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Chapters are empowered to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds are spent, the only national conservation organization that operates through this truly grassroots structure.



Pheasants Forever is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs.