Saint Paul, Minnesota -

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever today praised a decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to release $50 million in funding for the "Open Fields" Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program, a new effort to encourage owners and operators of privately held farm, ranch and forest lands to provide public access to their lands for wildlife-dependent activities such as hunting and fishing.

"Open Fields is the first federal landowner incentive program of its kind to enhance access for hunting and fishing - and has been a flagship issue for the TRCP since our group's inception," said TRCP President and CEO Whit Fosburgh, who spoke at the event. "Today's announcement by the federal government is an unqualified victory for fish and wildlife conservation and our hunting and fishing traditions."

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