Quail hunters and conservationists in the coastal plains of South Carolina have started a new chapter of Quail Forever. Officially named the Little Pee Dee River Chapter of Quail Forever, local volunteers are determined to make an impact for bobwhite quail habitat while focusing on youth conservation education efforts in their local communities.
“The Little Pee Dee River Chapter of Quail Forever is a great example of local volunteers turning their passion for quail hunting into action for bobwhite conservation,” stated Andy Edwards, regional representative for Quail Forever in South Carolina. “This chapter is ready to work with private landowners and state agencies to restore the pastime of quail hunting in South Carolina, and I believe their efforts will make a difference in the Pee Dee region.”
Historically, South Carolina was a hotspot for quail hunting and quail management with over 500,000 bobwhites harvested annually in the early 1990’s. Since that time, urbanization throughout the state, changes in modern agricultural practices, and diminishing uses of habitat practices (such as prescribed fire and rotational disking) have contributed to a lack of nest and brood-rearing cover – limiting factors for most quail landscapes in the Southeast.
“We have seen a renewed interest in bobwhite quail here in South Carolina with the potential for new chapters and innovative partnerships throughout the state,” added Edwards. “With the recent addition of South Carolina’s new quail coordinator, Michael Hook, and volunteers stepping up in the form of new Quail Forever chapters, this state is ready to make a giant leap for bobwhite conservation efforts in the coming year.”
Little Pee Dee River Chapter of Quail Forever
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The Little Pee Dee River Chapter of Quail Forever has elected Pete Peterson of Conway as president and Kenneth Ward of Aynor as treasurer.
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Hunters and conservationists interested in joining the chapter as volunteers are encouraged to contact chapter president, Pete Peterson, at (843) 222-5581 for more information.
Quail Forever is the quail division of Pheasants Forever. South Carolina is home to three Quail Forever chapters, and nearly 400 members of "The Habitat Organization." For more information about Quail Forever in South Carolina or to start a chapter, contact Andy Edwards at (931) 638-9478 /
email.
About Quail Forever
Pheasants Forever, including its quail conservation division, Quail Forever, is the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 140,000 members and 700 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, Pheasants Forever has spent $577 million on 489,000 habitat projects benefiting over 12 million acres nationwide.
Photo Credit: Roger Hill
Media Contact
Jared Wiklund
(651) 209-4953
jwiklund@pheasantsforever.org