Volunteer Quail Forever Chapter Lending a Hand in Tennessee
Quail Forever 08.07.13
Chapter’s annual banquet this weekend at Hartman Farms in Ten Mile
Tennessee is home to a new Quail Forever chapter known as the Volunteer Quail Forever chapter. Bobwhite quail hunters, conservationists and youth educators in the region formed the local conservation group to make a difference for quail habitat while creating outdoor opportunities for area youth.
Bill Taylor, the chapter’s newly elected president, said the chapter’s goal is to increase wild quail populations in eastern Tennessee. Taylor, who hunts with his two sons, six year old Llewellin setter, Chance, and many times just a camera, enjoys introducing people to quail hunting. “(Quail hunting) is so neat; it’s an activity with nothing but gentlemen. I find it amazing that you can get so much joy, laugh your head off and have fun with friends from just spending time afield.”
Taylor also noted, “Our chapter and the quail hunting community are indebted to Gene Hartman. He cuts a wide swath as a leader in the community and in the chapter, furthering quail and quail hunting throughout Tennessee. He has also been kind enough to host our banquet at his farm.”
“Bobwhite quail populations won’t rebound by themselves. It takes people who care about quail, care about rolling up their sleeves and doing the necessary habitat work, and care about showing younger generations there is excitement beyond a box and a plug-in,” said Tim Caughran, Quail Forever east region field manager, “The Volunteer Quail Forever chapter is off to a great start, and I am looking forward to seeing what they accomplish.”
“Our chapter looks forward to ‘the hunt.’ The dream is to have more hunting for everyone and to have everyone included,” continued Taylor.
As a Quail Forever chapter, the Volunteer Quail Forever chapter will utilize Quail Forever’s local approach to wildlife habitat conservation. Unlike other national conservation organizations, Quail Forever gives local Quail Forever chapters the ability to decide how 100 percent of their fundraised dollars are spent. This local control provides chapters and members the ability to make things happen for wildlife in their communities, while belonging to a national organization that gives wildlife and conservation a voice in Washington, D.C.
Volunteer Quail Forever chapter
- The Volunteer Quail Forever chapter is holding its annual banquet on August 10 at Hartman Farms in Ten Mile, Tennessee.
- For more information, please contact Bill Taylor at 865-560-5766 or email Bill.
Launched in August of 2005 by Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever exists to address the continuing loss of habitat suitable for quail and the subsequent quail population decline. For more information on “The Habitat Organization” in Tennessee, please contact Andy Edwards, Quail Forever regional representative in Tennessee, at 931-638-9478 or email Andy
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.
