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41 APPENDIX B. PHEASANT HABITAT GOALS FOR SELECTED WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS Eight regions in the state (Figure 2) were picked to focus efforts for habitat management and hunter access, based on concentra ng work where it will be most effec ve. Within those eight regions, 17 wildlife management areas (WMAs) were selected to implement intensive management for pheasant and quail habitat (Figure B1). Selec on of these WMAs was based on favorable landscapes in which they are located, their rela vely large size, and their poten al for enhancing exis ng upland game bird popula ons. Management plans for these 17 WMAs will consist of an evalua on of the current habitat condi ons and determina on of future desired condi ons. Future desired condi ons are what the land managers would like the areas to look like within a 5-year period, to contain the op mum amounts and juxtaposi on of habitat types to maximize pheasant and quail produc on. Realis c goals were established to a ain these desired habitat condi ons. Acreage goals, current habitat condi ons and annual work plans for each 17 areas are listed in Table B1-B17 and represent current condi ons, future desired condi ons and the me period needed to reach those desired condi ons. Current condi ons were obtained from land manager evalua ons of current habitat condi ons and future desired condi ons were based on the best available research and informa on about pheasant-habitat rela onships. Annual work plans provide details on how land managers will a ain habitat goals. Cost figures (see Table B18) were determined by calcula ng the average cost of vendor contracted work mul plied by the increase in acres treated over a five year me period. Average costs were derived from recent projects costs of these habitat manipula ons. Approximately one half of the habitat work will be accomplished by Commission staff and one half will be contracted to private vendors. Area Descriptions and Objectives WMAs located within the Southwest and Southcentral Focus on Pheasant areas are Clear Creek WMA (6,118 acres; Table B1), Medicine Creek WMA (8,044 acres; Table B2) and Sacramento-Wilcox WMA (2,313 acres; Table B3). These areas are large in size and contain good interspersion of habitat types required by upland game birds. There are no designated focus WMAs in the Northern Panhandle and Southern Panhandle Pheasant Opportunity Areas. WMAs in the Northeast Pheasant Opportunity Area include Elk Point Bend WMA (660 acres; Table B4) and Grove Lake WMA (1,985 acres; Table B5). Grove Lake WMA contains a combina on of grassland and woodland cover suppor ng both quail and pheasant popula ons. Elk Point Bend is primarily grassland/forb cover suppor ng pheasant management. WMAs in the Central Pheasant Opportunity Area include Davis Creek WMA (2,450 acres; Table B6), Pressey WMA (1,579 acres; Table B7) and Sherman WMA (3,180 acres; Table B8). Sherman WMA and Davis Creek WMA are predominantly grassland areas suppor ng pheasant popula ons. Pressey WMA contains a combina on of grassland, cropland and woody cover to support both pheasant and quail management. WMAs in the Central Pla e Pheasant and Quail Opportunity Area include Pintail WMA (480 acres; Table B9), Bassway Strip WMA (884 acres; Table B10), Cozad WMA (198 acres; Table B11), Darr Strip WMA (981 acres; Table B12), Dogwood WMA (407 acres; Table B13) and North River WMA (681 acres; Table B14) Pintail WMA and North River WMA are technically outside the Central Pla e Opportunity Area boundaries, but are included because enhanced management is also desired on these areas. The majority of these areas are long linear areas bounded on the north by Interstate 80 and on the south by the Pla e River, which presents some management challenges. Management will focus primarily on quail, which were historically present on these areas. WMAs in the Southeast Pheasant and Quail Opportunity Area include Alexandria WMA (670 acres; Table B15), Alexandria

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