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| Fruits of the hunt! (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
CIMARRON — Rob Peterson, 53, of Colorado Springs, has donated his 640-acre property near Cimarron to Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever as part of the organization’s Grassroots Conservation Campaign. The donation provides a place for future hunters and conservationists to enjoy forever. Peterson, a long-time Pheasants Forever member and Pikes Peak Colorado Pheasants Forever chapter co-chair, noted that his father’s passion for the outdoors and the time they spent hunting and fishing are the main reasons to make Pheasants Forever the recipient of his gift.
A retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, Peterson grew up in Minnesota where he hunted and fished with his father, Robert Peterson, Sr. “We spent a lot of time in the outdoors,” Peterson said. “The success of the hunt was not always a big deal to us. It was the experience of spending time together that we valued most.”
Those outdoor experiences are what shaped his dream of honoring his father’s memory. In 2010, during one of the last conversations Peterson had with his father, he told his dad of his plan to dedicate a piece of land in his memory, so his outdoor legacy could live forever. Shortly after this conversation, his father lost his battle with cancer.
The property is currently being converted to productive wildlife habitat. “Habitat is my vision because I realize if we don’t have the habitat, the upland hunting is going to dry up,” Peterson said. “If we don’t have the habitat, we can’t ensure there will be an opportunity for young people to hunt 20, 30, 40 years from now.”
Peterson credited Pheasants Forever’s Farm Bill biologist program for providing expert guidance with grassland restoration through the federal Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). Pheasants Forever development officer Jordan Martincich helped execute the gift through the organization’s Grassroots Conservation Campaign.
Peterson will continue managing and enjoying the property throughout his lifetime. Upon his passing, Pheasants Forever will oversee the property for wildlife habitat and public use. In addition to the land gift, Peterson has donated a significant portion of his estate to Pheasants Forever with the goal of furthering the outdoor traditions that both he and his father enjoyed.
For more information on Pheasants Forever’s Grassroots Conservation Campaign and how Pheasants Forever can help you leave your legacy, phone Martincich at 816-560-1070.
