New Quail Forever Chapter Sprouts in Indiana
Quail Forever 02.26.13
Habitat and youth education are priorities for Indiana-based chapter
Bobwhite quail enthusiasts in Indiana have formed the nation’s newest Quail Forever (QF) chapter. Named North Central Indiana Quail Forever, hunters and conservationists created the Pulaski County-based group to be an active force in reestablishing quail habitat in the region.
The chapter is led by chapter president, upland hunter and Indiana native Kent Wamsley. A longtime supporter of Pheasants Forever’s habitat mission, Wamsley served as the Twin Lakes Pheasants Forever chapter’s (White County, Ind.) habitat specialist and most recent vice-president. Having recently moved to Pulaski County, Wamsley and others saw an opportunity to continue the organization’s habitat mission by starting the North Central Indiana Quail Forever chapter.
“When we found out there wasn’t a chapter in the area, it seemed like the logical idea to start a chapter. Pulaski County has a number of areas, on both public and private ground, that would be perfect for habitat restoration through Quail Forever chapter work,” notes Wamsley. “Indiana Division of Wildlife’s Winamac Fish and Wildlife Area is one area that we hope to use chapter funds and time to increase wildlife through the planting of food plots and native Indiana grasses, as well as through youth outreach and education at the facility. The chapter also hopes to complete other projects in Pulaski County that reclaim habitat for quail and other wildlife.”
“The North Central Indiana Quail Forever chapter has a group of individuals who have dedicated their lives to conservation and Indiana’s wildlife,” says Brian Nentrup, Quail Forever regional representative. “The combined conservation knowledge of the chapter members is a foundation that will result in great things for wildlife in Indiana.”
In addition to habitat projects, the new chapter plans to host a community youth event with the intention of introducing Indiana youth to upland hunting and the outdoors through archery, wingshooting, hunter safety seminars, and much more. The chapter will also have an educational aspect to the event, teaching youth about the importance of native wildflowers and grasses for wildlife.
The North Central Quail Forever chapter
- The North Central Quail Forever chapter has also elected Rock Roudebush of Pulaski as vice-president, Linda Byer of Monterey as secretary, and Jeff Richwine of Winamac as treasurer.
- The chapter will hold its next meeting March 13, 2013 at Pablano’s Mexican Restaurant in Winamac, Ind.
- For more information on the North Central Indiana Quail Forever chapter, please contact Kent Wamsley at (574) 595-0636 / Email Kent.
Pheasants Forever launched Quail Forever in August of 2005 to address the continuing loss of habitat suitable for quail and the subsequent quail population decline. Bobwhite population losses over the last 25 years range from 60 to 90 percent across the country. The reason for the quail population plunge is simple - massive losses of habitat suitable for quail. There are five major factors leading to the losses of quail habitat; intensified farming and forestry practices, succession of grassland ecosystems to forests, overwhelming presence of exotic grasses like fescue that choke out wildlife, and urban sprawl.
