Switzer Will Oversee S.D. Pheasant Management

PIERRE, S.D.—South Dakotans are not only interested in pheasants, they are involved and passionate about pheasant management. Those South Dakotans will now rely on Chad Switzer to provide guidance and management recommendations for ringnecks in his new position as senior upland wildlife biologist for the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department.



Based in Huron, Switzer will oversee research, habitat and management issues concerning pheasants and other upland game birds like grouse and quail. That position was previously held by Tom Kirschenmann who was recently promoted to game program administrator.



Switzer comes to his new position as the state enjoys near record numbers of pheasants. One of the biggest challenges Switzer and the department will face is the possible loss of prime habitat as the fate of the Conservation Reserve Program has yet to be decided in Washington, D.C.



“One of our goals has to be maintaining a solid base of CRP on the landscape to serve as the habitat foundation for South Dakota's wildlife resources,” Switzer said. “We also need to work with decision- and policy-makers to ensure that all conservation practices are financially attractive to landowners.”



Switzer’s background as a habitat biologist will serve him well in that regard. Since 2002 he as worked for GFP as a private lands habitat biologist developing and implementing habitat programs with landowners across the state. Prior to that, he was a wildlife biologist for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.



Originally from Clearwater, Neb., Switzer earned a bachelor of science degree in wildlife management from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Switzer and his wife have three children and live in Huron.