Quail hunters and conservationists in the Tulsa, Okla. area have formed the newest Quail Forever chapter in the state. The group, known as the Tall Grass Heritage Quail Forever chapter, becomes the fourth active Quail Forever chapter in the state and the second new chapter to form there this month, part of a resurgent effort led by volunteers to conserve quail habitat and improve the state’s bobwhite quail population.
“Rare is the person who doesn’t want to hear the whistle of the bobwhite quail more regularly in the Oklahoma countryside,” says Lee Francis, a Collinsville resident and the chapter’s newly-elected president, “The bobwhite is part of Oklahoma’s identity, and through upland habitat work, we can ensure the whistle is heard for generations to come.” The Tall Grass Heritage Quail Forever’s chapter’s name pays homage to the tallgrass prairie, grasslands that once spanned parts of 14 states, including Oklahoma. While mere remnants remain, Francis says it’s important to conserve what’s left, improve existing habitat and create new grassland acres where possible. “Where we have grasslands, we have bobwhite quail.”
Like all Quail Forever chapters nationwide, the Tall Grass Heritage Quail Forever chapter will utilize Quail Forever’s signature fundraising model. Unique among national conservation organizations, Quail Forever chapters are empowered with 100 percent control over the funds they raise at banquets and other events. This allows chapters to direct their funds to complete upland habitat projects and host youth conservation events in their areas.
“It’s so exciting to see folks get on board this train to help our bobwhite quail,” says Laura McIver, Quail Forever’s regional representative in Oklahoma, “Tulsa is a great place to get a chapter going, with more than 300 past and present Quail Forever members to draw on for support, and we hope even more as we establish our conservation footprint.”
Tulsa Tall Grass Heritage Quail Forever chapter:
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The chapter has also elected Jeannette Eiden of Broken Arrow as treasurer, Keith Lindsay of Broken Arrow as vice president and Roy Loris of Jenks as youth/education chair.
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The chapter’s next meeting is Thursday, June 26th at 7 pm at the Reasor’s Foods meeting room in Jenks, Okla. Those with an interest in joining the chapter or learning more about the group’s mission are invited to attend.
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For more information, contact Lee Francis at (918) 371-4525 / email.
Quail Forever in Oklahoma
Oklahoma is home to four Quail Forever chapters. For more information about Quail Forever in the state, to join a chapter or inquire about starting a chapter, contact Laura McIver at (907) 750-2600 /
email.
About Quail Forever
Quail Forever is the quail conservation division of Pheasants Forever. The organization is the nation’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 140,000 members and 745 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Chapters are empowered to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds are spent; the only national conservation organization that operates through this truly grassroots structure. Since creation in 1982, the organization has spent $508 million on 475,000 habitat projects benefiting 10 million acres nationwide.