Quail Forever Volunteers Offer Grassroots Backing of Kansas’ Historic Bobwhite Resurgence

Quail Forever continues to expand its mission in the Great Plains with the formation of the East Central Kansas Chapter of Quail Forever. Based in Franklin County, more than 40 diehard quail hunters formed the new local committee last month with the intent of working alongside landowners to restore native bobwhite habitat, while engaging area youth in outdoor activities.
 
“We’re thrilled to add an enthusiastic crew of bobwhite hunters to the ranks of Quail Forever in Kansas,” stated Marc Glades, south region director for Quail Forever. “The East Central Kansas Chapter of Quail Forever will be partnering with the Kansas Quail Initiative and other programs to effectively promote and restore quail habitat in their region. They’ve also committed to funding support of the Kansas Habitat Fund, directly impacting habitat conservation efforts and youth outreach initiatives right here in our state.”
 
Located in the Osage Cuestas region which historically produced the highest densities of bobwhite quail in the state, the East Central Kansas Chapter of Quail Forever will work to restore the degraded landscape level changes – reduced quality and quantity of quail habitat – that have led to an overall decrease in bobwhite abundance for the region. Yet, the 2017 Bobwhite Whistle Count Survey completed in July 2017 shows the statewide population index for bobwhite quail is the highest ever recorded in the history of the survey. As the Kansas Quail Initiative (2012-2017) begins to summarize results from its fifth and final year, the East Central Kansas Chapter of Quail Forever will support state efforts to maximize quail habitat conservation efforts in their region, while looking towards the future at new ways to positively impact “the whistle.”
 
“The genesis of our chapter is the decline of the bobwhite quail population in an area that once boomed. This frustration led to studying the decline, acquiring an understanding of how habitat has changed, and ultimately implementing management efforts through native grass and prescribed burning to impact quail numbers locally,” said John Newhouse, habitat chair for the East Central Kansas Chapter of Quail Forever. “The results of these efforts were amazing and as we began sharing this information with friends, we realized the interest level of so many people to restore bobwhite habitat. At the end of the day, I hope my son and his generation can enjoy chasing bobwhite quail through our chapter efforts.”   
 
East Central Kansas Chapter of Quail Forever
 
  • The East Central Kansas Chapter of Quail Forever has appointed Scott Dwyer as president, Dave Rogers as treasurer, David Dwyer as banquet chair, John Newhouse as habitat chair, and Todd Weekes as youth/education chair. All chapter officers reside in Wellsville, Kansas.
  • The chapter will host its first event as part of the 2017 Wellsville Days Parade on September 23rd. Hunters and conservationists interested in joining the chapter as volunteers are encouraged to attend and ask for more information at the event for upcoming meeting dates.
  • For more information about the chapter or to become involved, contact chapter habitat chair, John Newhouse, at (913) 207-0622 or john@newcoconcreterc.com.
For more information about starting a chapter of Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever in Kansas, or becoming a volunteer within an existing chapter, contact regional representative Marc Glades at (620) 218-0557 or mglades@quailforever.org.
 
About Quail Forever
 
Quail Forever is a leading organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation efforts for the United States’ native quail species. Since its creation in 2005, Quail Forever has conducted more than 8,500 habitat projects across the nation benefitting quail and other wildlife. Along with its affiliate organization Pheasants Forever, it has committed more than $708 million to improve more than 15.8 million acres of wildlife habitat. Quail Forever has more than 16,000 members and 165 local chapters across the country. Both Quail Forever and Pheasants Forever are part of Pheasants Forever, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit.  
 
Media Contact
Jared Wiklund
(651) 209-4953
jwiklund@quailforever.org