fbpx

CLICK HERE TO PAY FOR TICKETS!

Preserving our Hunting Heritage

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Hunt for Habitat!

 

 

My father, John Leo Hayden, used to talk passionately about the vibrancy of the small town he cherished most, Goodland. He reminisced about street dances, the Elks Club, Sugar Hills Country Club, church organizations, the G Club, dragging main, bird hunting, and the wonderful friends who populated the town. While Goodland is still full of incredible people and many of the same traditions, he lamented the lack of visitors and friends during the entire pheasant season. My dad believed this was a fixable issue and he insisted that it needed attention.

A solution dad believed in focused on establishing grassland habitat on pivot corners and other small tracts of marginally productive acres. Dad’s vision helped inspire Hayden Outdoors to partner with Pheasants Forever on the Corners for Wildlife Program. This program stands out because it calls on everyone who could benefit from the pheasant season to contribute to its success. In simple terms, businesses and community-minded families sponsor upland habitat restoration by making a donation, landowners participate, people visit and spend money, and everyone comes out ahead. We should bid farewell to the days of empty main streets during the opening weekend of the season and, frankly, the following 90 days. My dad and Ken Johnson hunted pheasants together for 68 opening days straight, demonstrating their passion and bond. Let’s give our youth, friends, and families more reasons to cherish these longstanding traditions and memories by bringing them back to their ‘Goodland’ a few more times each year.

The Corners for Wildlife program is straightforward: farmers enroll corners of their pivots and establish pheasant habitat, either receiving payment per acre from privately donated funds or by donating their habitat by opting out of the enrollment payment to Pheasants Forever, a 501(c)(3) organization. An event in Goodland will raise funds for enrolling additional land and maintaining existing corners in the program. The initial sign-up period is for five years, with farmers receiving $75 per acre, totaling $525 on a 7-acre pivot corner. It’s common knowledge that farmers are our finest land stewards; they deserve to benefit from their participation. A heartfelt thank you goes out to them for their years of commitment to hunting tradition and their willingness to provide access.

 

Best Wishes,

Dax Hayden

 

 

“Our youth need deer, pheasants, turkey, and elk! They need time in the outdoors with family and friends. This rich traditions runs deep in our country and we must preserve it.” – John Leo Hayden

 

How to Participate?

Fill in the form below, pay for tickets online, and get ready to hunt!

Individual Event Tickets

Participants: Each Hunt for Habitat participant is asked to contribute $500.00, which covers the cost of sponsoring a corner for an entire year. This amount will be directly allocated to the landowner through Pheasants Forever. Your donation grants you access to the welcome reception, breakfast, Hunt for Habitat Gala, and two days of hunting as well as a total of two tickets to each of the events.

Friends and Family: We warmly invite friends, family, and community members to join us for this special event. For those who wish to attend the welcome reception and Hunt for Habitat Gala without participating in the hunting activities, a non-hunting ticket is $125.00 and will include both the Welcome Reception and Hunt for Habitat Gala. Donations for a full corner are still encouraged in support of habitat and local landowners.

Hunt for Habitat

Our Mission: Hayden Outdoors is partnering with Pheasants Forever to raise money, develop wildlife habitat and increase awareness for the Corners for Wildlife Program.

Our Event: In an effort to raise financial resources to achieve our goals, Hayden Outdoors is producing an annual event in Goodland, Kansas on the opening weekend of pheasant season. The 3-day event aims to encourage more landowners to enroll their corners in the program, boost the local economy, raise funds for conservation efforts, and bring together friends and family from across the state and country for this yearly tradition.

The John Leo Hayden

Hunt for Habitat 2025

This special event is more than just a hunt; it’s a celebration of community and conservation. We look forward to bringing together local residents and outdoors enthusiasts from across the state to enjoy a weekend filled with camaraderie, tradition, and a shared passion for preserving our natural habitats. Join us in fostering a sense of unity and purpose as we work together to support wildlife conservation and strengthen our local community.

 

Friday, November 7th: Join us for the Welcome Reception on Friday, November 7th at 4:30 pm at the Price Convention Center in Goodland, Kansas. Hunters will check-in to receive their written permission and hunting groups. Afterwards, relax and network at our welcome reception with a cash bar and dinner provided.

 

Saturday November 8th: Join us on Saturday for an action-packed day starting with breakfast at the Price Convention Center from 5:30-8 am, followed by the kickoff of our pheasant hunting activities. Following a day in the field, the Hunt for Habitat Gala will commence at 6 pm. The evening will feature a dinner, live music, and a cash bar to unwind and enjoy the camaraderie.

 

Sunday, November 9th: On Sunday, hunters will have independent access to the fields, allowing them to pursue their hunting activities at their own pace and discretion.

 

Don’t miss this chance to contribute to conservation while enjoying a memorable hunting weekend!

Support the Cause

Sponsorship Opportunities

Flush Sponsorship:

Sponsor of 5 corners (for one year) totaling $2,500 will receive the following benefits:

  • Logo placement on event banners, with size and position determined by sponsorship level
  • Logo featured on the Hayden Outdoors website leading up the event
  • Inclusion in at least one Hayden Outdoors newsletter before the event
  • Promotion on Hayden Outdoors’ social media platforms as an event sponsor
  • 4 tickets included to the cocktail hour and fundraising banquet

 

Rooster Sponsorship:

Sponsor of 10 corners (for one year) totaling $5,000 will receive the following benefits:

  • All benefits from Flush sponsorship, plus:
  • Logo placement in local print ads including High Plains Journal
  • Enhanced logo placement on event banners and event ads
  • 8 Tickets included to the welcome reception and banquet

 

Legacy Sponsorship:

Sponsor of 20 corners (for one year) totaling $10,000 will receive the following benefits:

  • All benefits from Level 1 and Level 2 sponsorship, plus:
  • Priority logo placement on event banners, Hayden Outdoors website, and in TV commercials
  • Radio advertisements with prominent mention at the end of the commercial
  • Exclusive exposure through roller ads in the local area.
  • Featured prominently and frequently on Hayden Outdoors social media platforms
  • Choice of ‘Thank you’ gift provided by Hayden Outdoors
  • 12 tickets included to the welcome reception and banquet

 

Gold Sponsorship:

Sponsor of 50 corners (for one year) totaling $25,000 will receive the following benefits:

  • All benefits from Flush, Rooster, and Legacy sponsorship, plus:
  • Dedicated sponsor advertisement on TV and Radio Commercials
  • Boosted Social Media campaigns on Facebook and Instagram
  • Dedicated Google Ad campaigns
  • Placement on all event promotional materials including shirts, tickets, and more
  • Prominent banner featured at the event with sponsor logo
  • Opportunity to place a promotional table at the Welcome Reception
  • Special sponsor ‘Thank you’ gift from Hayden Outdoors
  • Sponsorship recognition with an award/plaque following the event
  • 16 tickets included to the welcome reception and banquet
Presenting Sponsorship:

Sponsor of 100 corners (for one year) totaling $50,000 will receive the following benefits:

  • All benefits from Flush, Rooster, Legacy, and Gold Sponsorship, plus:
  • First choice on hunting field assignments
  • 15 minute stage time at the Welcome Reception
  • 20 minute stage time at the Hunt for Habitat Gala
  • 24 tickets included to the welcome reception and banquet
  • A personalized Presenting Sponsor Award

A Partnership for Success

Corners for Wildlife

The Pheasants Forever Kansas Corners for Wildlife Program offers producers the opportunity to improve both ROI and habitat opportunities by providing 5 years of annual rental payments for planting enrolled acres into an approved conservation cover mix. The program is available to landowners in three counties in Northwest Kansas (Sherman, Thomas, Logan). Pivot corners, playa, and other in-field wetland buffers, field borders, waterways, and other waste ground are eligible. Contracts are 5 years in length and provide an annual rental payment of $75 per acre.

Building a Legacy

In Memory of John Leo Hayden

February 3, 1945 - March 3, 2023

John Leo Hayden devoted his life to conservation and habitat development, aiming to safeguard the tradition of pheasant hunting for generations to come. His deepest passions included his faith, his beloved wife, his family, and the great outdoors. Leo Hayden played a crucial role in the Build a Wildlife Area® program, facilitating Pheasants Forever's acquisition of 1,080 acres of land in Sherman County, Kansas. This land has since been transferred to the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks and is now known as the Veteran's Wildlife Area. It is open to public hunting and is meticulously managed to sustain wildlife habitat.

Sponsored By

Join the Incredible List of Event and Media Sponsors

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the generous sponsors whose support is crucial in advancing wildlife conservation efforts, enriching local communities, and celebrating the cherished tradition of pheasant hunting.

 

Skip to content