Promoting habitat work, public access, and outreach across historic quail range
Quail Forever is proud to announce the formation of two new Quail Forever chapters in Georgia and Kentucky. Spread across America’s historic quail range, new ranks of chapter volunteers will provide a welcomed boost to habitat conservation work, hunter recruitment and advocacy efforts in their respective communities.
Unique among national conservation organizations, the new chapters of Quail Forever will retain 100 percent decision-making control over their locally raised funds. Under this model, volunteers can develop wildlife habitat projects and conduct conservation education events in their region, while belonging to a national organization with a voice regarding state and federal conservation policy.
Central Savannah River Area Chapter
The Central Savannah River Area Chapter of Quail Forever is based in Columbia County, Georgia. The chapter will be hosting their kick off event on July 27.
“Georgia is of course a key state in the bobwhite quail range, and the Savannah River Chapter will be a welcomed addition to the organization’s efforts to help restore quail across the Southeast,” said Kenny Barker, Quail Forever’s regional representative in Georgia. “The chapter is already off to a great start, and I look forward to seeing what they can accomplish throughout the rest of 2023 and beyond.”
For more information on the Central Savannah River Area Chapter of Quail Forever, contact chapter president Rob Wren at 706-833-1385 or rob.wren2@ferguson.com. To learn more about Quail Forever in Georgia, contact Kenny Barker at 850-251-0638 or kbarker@pheasantsforever.org.
Southeast Kentucky Chapter
The Southeast Kentucky Chapter of Quail Forever encompasses Bell, Knox, Clay, Owsley, Breathitt, Knott, Perry, Letcher, Harlan, Floyd and Pike Counties. The chapter meets at 6:00 p.m. every third Friday of the month, at Big Blue Smokehouse in Hazard, Kentucky. They’re currently working on a sporting clays event, which is tentatively scheduled for August.
“From the perspective of wildlife habitat, our new volunteers are in a great location,” said Nicholas Golias, Quail Forever’s regional representative in Kentucky. “There are pockets of bobwhite quail making a living in this region, as well as Appalachian grouse at the higher elevations. The chapter is in a great position to make a real difference for habitat conservation in southeast Kentucky, and their work will continue to strengthen regional upland bird populations, among other wildlife.”
For more information on the Southeast Kentucky Chapter of Quail Forever, contact chapter president Evan Bentley at (606)-670-9531. To learn more about Quail Forever in Kentucky, contact Nicholas Golias at (708)-408-0944 or ngolias@quailforever.org.