High Hopes for Bobwhite in Missouri with Creation of New Quail Forever Chapter

Quail hunters in Missouri’s Linn and Sullivan counties have formed the newest Quail Forever (QF) chapter in the country. Officially known as the Green Hills Chapter of Quail Forever, the group is committed to creating and improving habitat for bobwhite quail other upland wildlife, as well as providing ample conservation education opportunities for area youth.
 
“We’re excited to host the chapter’s first fundraiser and use the proceeds to benefit wildlife habitat and conservation education for local students,” said Tyler Gordon, elected president for the Green Hills Chapter of Quail Forever. “Our hope is to produce conservation efforts that not only benefit bird hunters and wildlife, but also enhance the lives of residents in our local communities.”
 
The formation of the Green Hills Chapter of Quail Forever comes at a crucial time for quail populations in the state of Missouri. Coming off a record low roadside survey last year as conducted by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), quail populations showed dramatic increases statewide in 2014 with the highest statewide population average since 2010. In addition to local Quail Forever chapters making a difference for bobwhite conservation efforts, the MDC has established twenty-one quail emphasis areas throughout the state with a goal of sustaining one quail per every two acres in each specific emphasis area. The complementary work of Quail Forever and the MDC will help continue the quail recovery.
 
“The leadership represented within the Green Hills Chapter of Quail Forever is second to none,” said John Wallace, Quail Forever’s regional representative in Missouri. “Most of the committee is characterized by young and enthusiastic minds wanting to make a difference for conservation. The chapter also claims the volunteer expertise of two Quail Forever Farm Bill wildlife biologists in Andrew White and Scott Engelman. I believe this chapter will make a huge difference for upland conservation in both Linn and Sullivan Counties.”
 
Green Hills Chapter of Quail Forever
 
The Green Hills Chapter of Quail Forever has elected Tyler Gordon of Brookfield as president, Andrew White of Chillicothe as secretary, Scott Engelman of Milan as habitat chair, Broc Finney of Bucklin as banquet chair, and Emily Creech of Brookfield as youth/education chair and treasurer.
 
The chapter will host their next banquet meeting on Wednesday, December 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the Brookfield Area Career and Technical Center (behind high school) located at 122 North Pershing Drive, Brookfield, MO 64628.
 
For more information about the chapter or to become involved, please contact chapter president, Tyler Gordon, at (660) 734-1278 / tylerallengordon@gmail.com.
 
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever in Missouri
 
Missouri’s 5 Pheasants Forever chapters and 23 Quail Forever chapters account for 3,406 members statewide. Those chapters have spent over $1 million to complete 4,790 habitat projects since the first Missouri chapter formed in 1990. Those projects have improved 38,000 acres for wildlife. For more information regarding Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever in the state or to start a local chapter, contact John Wallace, regional representative in Missouri at (937) 459 -8085 / 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.

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