Episode 17
Ken Dalton is now affectionately known across Michigan as "The Pheasident."
Ken Dalton is now affectionately known across Michigan as "The Pheasident."
If you see Ken Dalton engaged in conversation with two or more people, you can bet
the discussion centers around one of two topics: the bountiful gifts bestowed upon us by
the Lord, or, more than likely, his fervent passion for pheasant hunting!
A
lifelong Michigander, Ken was born and raised in the Great Lakes State. While
he enjoys pursuing whatever game is in season, the arrival of pheasant season
commands his full and undivided attention. Ken witnessed a dramatic decline in
Michigan's pheasant population due to habitat loss through changing farming
practices. This led Ken to investigate what other states were doing to enhance
pheasant hunting. He discovered that nearly half of all states released
roosters on public lands to provide opportunities for pheasant hunters.
Despite
initial resistance from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Ken's
determination was unwavering. He successfully lobbied state legislators, and in
2019, a bill mandating a pheasant release program was signed into law by the
governor. Thanks to his relentless pursuit of restoring pheasant hunting, Ken
Dalton is now affectionately known across Michigan as "The Pheasident."