New Quail Forever Chapter Focused on Alabama's Conecuh National Forest
Chapter hopes to improve habitat for quail on Forest's 84,400 acres
Source: Quail Forever
Published: Oct. 04, 2006
ANDALUSIA, AL - Over 40 quail enthusiasts gathered in Andalusia for a chapter formation meeting of Quail Forever (QF) last week. The group formed the Conecuh Forest Chapter of QF to focus on improving quail habitat in Covington, Escambia, and surrounding Alabama counties.
The new chapter's next meeting is slated for Tuesday, October 24th. "This was the largest chapter-start meeting I've ever held," reported Andy Edwards, QF's regional wildlife biologist for Alabama.
"There is a tremendous amount of interest surrounding quail and quail habitat restoration in southern Alabama. These folks are passionate about improving quail habitat and future hunting opportunities in the state."
Phillip Crow of Andalusia was instrumental in organizing the chapter's formation meeting. Crow explained that the new chapter is particularly interested in improving habitat for quail in the Conecuh National Forest.
"There is never enough time or money for the U.S. Forest Service to accomplish the habitat management practices necessary on 84,400 acres. The folks in this chapter care about quail and the public quail hunting opportunities that the Conecuh provides. We are here to help make a difference on those acres for quail."
Alabama quail hunters are four decades removed from their glory years of harvesting 2.7 million wild bobs a season.
These days, Alabama's quail harvests are in the 100,000 to 300,000 bird range with an unknown number of those being released birds. Habitat loss is the culprit to the quail population decline in Alabama and across the bobwhite's range.
Forestation, intensified farming, and exotic grass pastures are all major factors contributing to quail habitat losses in Alabama.
The Conecuh Forest Chapter of QF will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, October 24th in the Community Room of the Southeast Alabama Gas District.
The meeting is slated to begin at 6:30PM. The public and media are invited to attend and learn more about the new chapter and organization.
For more information about the meeting, please contact Phillip Crow at (334)222-7232 or via email at pccrow@alaweb.com. To learn more about starting a QF chapter in Alabama, contact Andy Edwards at (931)424-3211 or via email at aedwards@quailforever.org.
Pheasants Forever (PF) launched QF on August 10, 2005 to address the continuing loss of habitat suitable for quail and the subsequent quail population decline.
Unlike all other national conservation organizations, QF and PF empower local chapters with the responsibility to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds will be spent.
This local control allows members to see the fruits of their chapter efforts in their own communities, while belonging to a national organization with a voice on federal conservation policy in Washington D.C.
In the first year of existence, 71 QF chapters have formed in 23 different states. Alabama's other QF chapter, the Wiregrass Chapter, was formed last year in Headland.
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