Pheasants Forever

Nebraska’s 3rd Annual Upland Slam concluded January 31st, 2021 hosted by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Pheasants Forever, and Quail Forever. The challenge is to harvest a sharptailed grouse, greater prairie chicken, pheasant, and quail. In total there were 904 submissions from 314 hunters, 144 competition completions, 119 first time harvests, 13 youth slam participants, and 17 states that partook in the challenge.

New for the 3rd Annual Slam was recognition for dogs that assisted in the Upland Slam with a shiny engraved dog tag and a chance at a Resident Youth Lifetime Hunting License for youth who completed the slam.

Before announcing the grand prize winners, a recap of our monthly winners who won prizes along the way for each harvest submission:

Carl Hutchison of Neosho, MO September Monthly Winner

September’s Winner–> Carl Hutchison of Neosho, Missouri won with his sharp-tail grouse photo submission, it was his first time hunting the species. Carl came to Nebraska with 3 friends just for the Upland Slam and said, “The Upland Slam is definitely something to get you out hunting. It’s tough but it’s definitely worth it!” His prize includes an OnX Membership, Quail Forever Tumbler, and Nebraska Red PF Hat.

Danny Anderson and Bowen of Hay Springs. NE October Monthly Winner

October’s Winner–> Danny Anderson of Hay Springs, NE won with his prairie chicken submission. Danny decided to participate in the Upland Slam to get his 15 month old golden retriever, Bowen, out hunting for the very first time! Danny and Bowen are receiving a pheasant metal wall décor! Congratulations!

Chip Aegerter from Seward, NE November Monthly Winner

November Winner–> November Upland Slam monthly winner is Chip Aegerter from Seward! Chip was super excited because he never wins anything, well congratulations Chip! All those hot and dry miles you put in for a Sharpie were worth it. You will be receiving handmade ornaments with our upland birds represented in them, a membership, and a Quail Forever Orca.

Trevor Johnson of Lincoln, NE is December’s Monthly Winner

December Winner–> Trevor Johnson of Lincoln is December’s Upland Slam monthly winner! Trevor and his 4-year old black lab, Conrad, love to hunt quail. This is the first year Trevor has participated in the Upland Slam and he is very happy he did! Trevor received a Pheasants Forever membership, a Nebraska PF hat, gun cleaning mat, and specially cut Upland Slam metal ornaments.

Stephen Rider of Lafayette, IN is January’s Monthly Winner

January Winner–> Stephen Rider of Lafayette, IN is our January Upland Slam monthly winner! This was his first time hunting in Nebraska with a few of his buddies. Stephen mentioned that the great thing about Nebraska is all the CRP and public ground for hunting that’s available through our partnership with Nebraska landowners! Stephen wins a Game Birds of North America book, PF membership, Nebraska PF hat, and PF stemless wine glasses.

Typically, the Grand Prize winners are drawn live at the State Habitat Meeting. Due to the strange year we have had, we opted to do a live Zoom drawing instead. Congratulations to our hard working Upland Slam participants! We hope to see everyone participate again next year!

Grand Prize Winners:

Dog Kennel–> Andy Seelhoff of Syracuse, NE

Print of the Year–> Shawn O’Connor of Greely, NE

Youth Lifetime Resident Permit–> Faith Zimmer of Genoa, NE

Browning Maxus 12 Gauge–> Craig Lowe, Webb City, MO

Andy Seelhoff of Syracuse, NE grand prize winner of the Ruffland Kennel

I would like to thanks Nebraska Game and Parks, Pheasant Forever, and Quail Forever for the Ruff Land dog kennel I won in the Upland Slam Drawing. More importantly I would like to thank all involved for implementation of Upland Slam program. Being from southeast Nebraska I have enjoyed hunting pheasant and quail most of my life and until you came up with this program I had not ventured to the Sandhills of western Nebraska to hunt sharp tail grouse and prairie chickens. I have many pictures and memories that will last a lifetime of our hunts. Thank you. – Andy Seelhoff

Faith Zimmer of Genoa, NE is the grand prize winner of the Resident Youth Lifetime Hunt Permit

Faith Zimmer was at school when the announcement took place. Her father, Kenton Zimmer, video recorded her response when he told her of the Resident Youth Lifetime Hunt Permit she had won. She thanks Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever of Nebraska and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for making it happen. Faith is an avid outdoorswoman that will be putting the permit to great use.

Shawn OConnor of Greeley, NE is the grand prize winner of the Print of the Year

Craig Lowe of Webb City, MO is the grand prize winner of the Browning Maxus 12g semi-automatic shotgun

Craig Lowe will be receiving the Browning Maxus 12g semi-automatic shotgun as the grand prize winner. Craig hails from Webb City, MO and had a best friend who encouraged him to come to Nebraska for the Upland Slam, though they didn’t think they would, they completed the slam. Craig was very excited to be announced as the winner, and says he has plans to gift the gun to his friend for the encouragement.