Quail Forever Volunteers Launch New Chapter in Texas

Quail Forever is pleased to announce a new chapter in central Texas. Officially chartered as the Post Oak Savannah chapter of Quail Forever #3328, local volunteers have begun planning outdoor education opportunities, learn-to-hunt events and future habitat conservation projects to promote the region’s hunting heritage, protect public lands and conserve critical wildlife resources.
 
“I’m really excited about the newest chapter in the central Texas region,” said Dustin McNabb, the Texas regional representative for Quail Forever. “This chapter was started with a heavy focus on our habitat mission in mind. Lee County has built a strong wildlife association that cares about making a difference the right way, with quality, connected habitat.”
 
With the addition of the Post Oak Savannah chapter there are 19 Quail Forever and Pheasants Forever chapters in Texas, with a total membership of over 2,500 statewide.
 
At their initial meeting, Quail Forever staff introduced themselves and briefed the new chapter members on what they do and how important their work with state & national partners is in building quality habitat on private land. 
 
“One exciting development in that meeting was the added focus on hunting heritage and the desire to impact that as well,” McNabb said. “The extension office there does a tremendous job working with youth shooting sports and that will be another focal point for this chapter. There are great things on the horizon for this chapter and the Quail Forever mission.”
 
Through its staff of biologists, partnership efforts with Texas Parks & Wildlife and chapter volunteers, Quail Forever has impacted several hundred thousand acres in Texas over the past two years. Quail Forever currently has 11 staff members in Texas with more on the way thanks to amazing partnership efforts with organizations like TPWD, NRCS, NFWF and OPJV. It’s this grassroots, local conservation model that will be embraced by the Post Oak Savannah Chapter of Quail Forever as they contribute to further habitat improvement projects, state initiatives and hunting/outdoor education events in their region.
 
“As chapters have grown and become more active in our mission, financial contributions have increased,” McNabb said. “That means more support going to improvements on public access acres, privately owned acres, youth shooting sports and youth education and outreach events.”
 
There were 18 members in attendance at the chapter’s first meeting last month. Newly elected chapter president Billy Gillum said they’re hoping to finalize the meeting schedule this coming month and begin planning their kick-off banquet. Gillum is a retired county agriculture agent and lifelong upland hunter who’s been laying the groundwork for the Post Oak Savannah chapter for some time.

“We want to get wild birds back in this part of the country,” he said. “I’ve hunted bobwhite quail all my life, that’s my passion. So we want to do whatever we can to help reestablish them in our area.”
 
For more information about the chapter or to become involved, please contact Billy Gillum at billy.gillum@yahoo.com.
 
For more information about Quail Forever in Texas, to join a chapter or inquire about starting a chapter, contact Texas regional representative Dustin McNabb at (806)-781-3724/ dmcnabb@quailforever.org.

 
About Pheasants 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 120,000 members and 750 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Since creation in 1982, Pheasants Forever has spent over $975 million on 560,000 habitat projects benefiting 22 million acres nationwide.
 
Media Contact
Casey Sill
(402)-657-4143
csill@pheasantsforever.org