[mou] Quail Forever

[Jim Williams]

Why is it always hunters who get the job done?
Jim Williams
Wayzata


NEWS RELEASE:

Pheasants Forever (PF) has announced it is extending its successful
approach to pheasant conservation to another beloved upland bird 
species:
quail. Quail Forever will build on PF's track record of successful local
chapter development, localized habitat initiatives, and national public
policy leadership and advocacy.  Plans for the new organization include
recruitment of additional wildlife biologists and a phased chapter
development plan.

PF has a steady track record of success, including the completion of 
more
than 300,000 habitat projects benefiting 3.4 million acres for wildlife
since inception.  PF has also participated in over 800 land acquisitions
totaling more than 100,000 acres now open to public hunting.  All told, 
PF
has spent more than $170 million nationwide on wildlife habitat projects
and conservation education during its 23-year history.

In forming Quail Forever, PF plans to deploy its current organizational
model – localized decision-making with lean, low-overhead central
administration.  Pheasants Forever already has a strong presence in 
states
where quail and pheasants share habitat – Idaho, Illinois, Iowa,
Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Ohio, Oregon, and
Pennsylvania.  In fact, Pheasants Forever members have been responsible 
for
delivering more than 2 million acres of wildlife habitat in those shared
habitat ranges.  Those same states have also been some of the country's
most successful at enrolling acres in the bobwhite buffers (CP-33)
component of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).

PF is outlining a phased approach to establishing the Quail Forever
organization.  Initial focus will be on states with both pheasant and 
quail
hunters and habitat.  Quail Forever's expansion south and west will be
based on chapter interest and available resources.  In the 
organization's
first year, Quail Forever has set a goal of forming 50 chapters and
recruiting 12,000 members to work on quail habitat projects.