For Immediate Release

Missouri River Valley on the Rise to Help Quail

The "Show Me State" now boasts 22 Chapters of Quail Forever

Washington, Mo. - June 18 -

Quail enthusiasts from Missouri's Franklin and Warren Counties have started the Missouri River Valley Chapter of Quail Forever. The group is focused on improving area habitat for quail and has identified a four-pronged strategy for accomplishing their chapter's goals.

The chapter's strategy is focused on land management practices able to improve the area's available habitat for quail, as well as benefiting other species of wildlife. Those four practices include:

1) Convert fescue grasses to wildlife-friendly natives mixed with forbs (flowers), which are important to insect production and a young quail chick's diet.

2) Cedar tree removal in areas where they have invaded grasslands and are currently providing predator perches.

3) "Covey Headquarters" development to provide escape cover for quail. Edge feathering, the practice of cutting trees along woodland edges to provide brush piles for quail is one of the many ways to provide covey headquarters.

4) Chapter officers agree it's important to educate landowners about quail habitat needs and available conservation options, while also introducing youngsters to conservation and the outdoors.

"This chapter has tremendous potential to improve a diverse mix of woodland and grassland habitat for quail. They have a thoughtful action plan and the passion to make a positive impact," reported Elsa Gallagher, Quail Forever's regional wildlife biologist for Missouri.

"Missouri has experienced such a dramatic downturn in our quail population," explains Arvil Kappelmann, the new chapter's treasurer. "Personally, I got involved with this chapter because I've always loved to hear the whistle of bobwhites on my farm. I enjoy a good bird dog working a covey, I enjoy the flush of a covey and I know that good quail habitat means good things for a wide variety of other wildlife species."

Missouri quail hunters harvested 3.9 million birds during the 1969 season. That number was cut in half by 1987 when 1.9 million birds were taken. In 1996, the harvest fell under a million and it dropped to under half a million in 2000. In 2008, Missouri hunters harvested just 191,172 quail.

"It's now or never time for quail," added Larry Hanks, president of the new Missouri River Valley Chapter. "My son is studying wildlife biology in college. Like fathers and sons for generations, wildlife, quail and quail hunting brings us together. I want to be a part of making sure quail are around for generations of fathers and sons to come."

Missouri River Valley Chapter of Quail Forever

• Chapter officers include Larry Hanks (President) of New Haven, Mike Dempsey (Vice President) of Washington, Arvil Kappelmann (Treasurer) of Washington, Jeff Dierking (Co-Habitat Chair) of Union, Jeff Esely (Co-Habitat Chair) of Warrenton, Greg Aholt (Youth/Education Chair) of Union, and Bill D. Miller (Secretary) of Washington.

• The Missouri River Valley Chapter of Quail Forever plans to hold their next meeting on Thursday, July 22nd at 7PM. The meeting will be held at The Landing bar & grill in Washington. The public and members of the media are welcome.

• For more information about the chapter, please contact Hanks at (573)619-8237 / champ@fidnet.com or Kappelmann at (314)603-6731 / boeuf39@sbcglobal.net.

• To learn more about starting a Quail Forever chapter in Missouri, please contact Elsa Gallagher at (573)680-7115 or via email at egallagher@quailforever.org.

Quail Forever was formed in 2005 by Pheasants Forever (PF) to help reverse the rapid decline of quail populations across their U.S. range. Quail Forever applies the unique and successful Pheasants Forever model of empowering local chapters with the responsibility to determine how 100% of their locally raised conservation funds will be spent. There are 22 chapters of Quail Forever in Missouri and 123 chapters nationwide.