Midland, Texas High School Student Starts 5th Quail Forever Chapter in Texas
Next meeting open to the public on Thursday, October 19th
Source: Quail Forever
Published: Sep. 19, 2006
MIDLAND, TX - September 19th - David Harrison, 18, a senior at Midland's Robert E. Lee High School, has formed the fifth chapter of Quail Forever (QF) in Texas. The new chapter will be called the West Texas Chapter of QF and already includes members from Midland, Howard, Ector, Martin, and Andrews Counties. The other four Texas QF chapters are based in Lubbock, Dallas, Wheeler, and Houston.
"My father introduced me to quail hunting as a young boy," explained Harrison, who has been elected as the chapter's president. "Back then, my family didn't own dogs. We just walked the pastures and hoped to kick up some birds. Fortunately, living in Texas, there were birds to be found. I know that's not the case across the rest of the country, and there's no guarantee it'll be the case here in Texas if we don't do something to protect our quail habitat. So that's why I got involved with Quail Forever and that's why my dad's also a member."
The U.S. quail populations are in trouble. Bobwhite population losses over the past 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.
On August 10, 2005, Quail Forever was formed to address these quail habitat losses and the subsequent quail population decline. The West Texas QF Chapter's habitat efforts will focus on landowner education and the impact over-grazed pasture lands have on quail and other wildlife. In addition to habitat, Harrison reports that the new chapter will also focus on engaging youth in conservation and the outdoors.
"I love my dogs and they have really got me hooked on quail hunting at a young age. But beyond dogs, I had adults that took me outside and exposed me to quail hunting. My dad, of course did, but I also look at Dr. Dale Rollins as a big influence on my passion for bird dogs and quail conservation. He's become a great friend and a person I respect through his involvement with the Texas Brigades," said Harrison.
"Our chapter will certainly focus on quail habitat issues in West Texas, but getting West Texas kids into the outdoors is also a primary goal of our chapter." Harrison is a former cadet of the Texas Brigades and is currently a dog training instructor in the program.
He is also involved with the Texas Wild Intensive Leadership Development Program. He participates in competitive dog trialing and is the proud owner of two English pointers and two Brittanys. He hopes to be a pre-veterinary student at West Texas A&M at this time next fall.
Joining Harrison as a chapter leader is Carles Gibson of Midland as treasurer. The new West Texas Chapter of QF plans to hold their next meeting on Thursday, October 19th. The public and media are invited to attend. For more information about the chapter or meeting, please contact Harrison at (432)978-6075 or via email at dpharrison07@cox.net.
To learn more about starting a QF chapter in Texas, contact Sara Bales Lyda at (405)612-6889 or via email at sbales@quailforever.org. QF applies the successful Pheasants Forever (PF) model of empowering local chapters with the responsibility to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds will be spent.
QF and PF are the only national conservation organizations that operate through this truly grassroots structure. This local control allows members to see the fruits of their efforts in their own communities, while belonging to a national organization with a voice on federal conservation policy in Washington D.C. In the organization's first year, 69 QF chapters have formed in 23 different states.
Quail Forever is a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to the protection and enhancement of quail and other wildlife populations in North America through habitat improvement, land management, public awareness, and education. Such efforts benefit landowners and wildlife alike.
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