Promoting habitat work, public access and outreach across historic quail range
Quail Forever is proud to announce a pair of new chapters in Missouri and Texas. 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.
The Southeast Missouri Habitat Chapter
The Southeast Missouri (SEMO) Habitat Chapter is based in Cape Girardeau, Perry and Bollinger Counties. The group will look to continue improving habitat across the Show Me State, while also advocating for public access and introducing new hunters to the outdoor community.
“I’m extremely excited to add another chapter in my home state of Missouri,” said Ayden Carey, Quail Forever’s regional representative in Missouri. “What’s particularly exciting about this chapter, is they’ve decided they want to be called “SEMO Habitat,” because they’re so driven to put more habitat on the ground in their local communities.”
The chapter will be represented heavily by the local Foothills Prescribed Burn Association, and will work closely with that group to use fire as a habitat tool across their area.
“I think the collaboration between the two groups will pay huge dividends in ultimately achieving both of their goals, of making and maintaining wildlife habitat in southeast Missouri,”Carey said. “I want to thank every single volunteer that came to our first two meetings and decided to become a founding member of the new chapter.”
The chapter’s next meeting will be held on September 28, where they will decide the date and location of their first event.
For more information on the SEMO Habitat Chapter of Quail Forever, contact chapter president Brian Sullivan at (573)-382-4346 or honkerman4b@gmail.com. To learn more about Quail Forever in Missouri, contact Ayden Carey at (314)-288-5646 or at acarey@quailforever.org.
North Texas Chapter
The North Texas chapter of Quail Forever is based in Dallas, Denton, Collin and Rockwall counties. They also hope to impact habitat in their area, as well as bring new hunters, conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts into the fold.
“Growth is an essential part of any organization, and we’re just getting started here in Texas,” said Dustin McNabb, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s regional representative in Texas. “I’m very excited to see this new chapter take off in the northern part of the state. We had 19 members at the first meeting, and their enthusiasm for not only quail hunting, but wildlife conservation, the R3 movement and advocacy are outstanding. I can’t wait to see what they will accomplish in the years to come.”
For more information on the North Texas Chapter of Quail Forever, contact chapter president Duston Burns at duston.burns@gmail.com. To learn more about Quail Forever in Texas, contact Dustin McNabb at DMcNabb@QuailForever.org or (806) 781-3724.