09-26-2007, 09:10 PM
Nashville, Tennessee- Conservationists, quail hunters and bird dog enthusiasts in the Nashville, Tennessee, area have formed the state's newest Quail Forever (QF) chapter, the Nashville Basin Chapter of QF.
The chapter will work to boost local quail populations by improving quail habitat in Nashville's surrounding counties. "Currently, there are essentially no wild quail to speak of, and that's because quality quail habitat is nearly non-existent" said Chris Sarkowski, a resident of Christiana and the chapter's newly-elected president. Just last fall, the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies - whose members manage wildlife in 16 states, including the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency - suggested the bird could disappear from some areas of the South by 2010.
"We have a group of people who enjoy the outdoors and want to make sure that there will always be wild quail to hunt - and places to hunt them," Sarkowski said, "Nothing against the Midwest, but we don't want to have to travel there to do our upland hunting."
The Nashville Basin chapter plans on improving habitat on public land, including local Wildlife Management Areas. "By working on public areas, we have opportunities to allow many more people to benefit from our work," Sarkowski added." The chapter also plans to work with private landowners on the benefits of conservation practices.
"Creating habitat is the answer for bringing back quail in this area, and the Nashville Basin is a group of dedicated Quail Forever members that understand this and will do everything it takes to make it happen," said Andy Edwards, QF Regional Wildlife Biologist in Tennessee.
The Nashville Basin chapter has also elected Todd Foutch of La Vergne as treasurer. The chapter will hold its next meeting on Thursday, October 11, at 6:30 PM at the First Presbyterian Church in Smyrna. The chapter will also be holding a sporting clay shoot on Saturday, October 13th from 10 AM to 2 PM at Long Meadows Farm in Greenbrier. The event is free, and open for all to attend. For more details on both upcoming events, contact Chris Sarkowski at (615)306-8565 or via email at sharpointe@comcast.net.
For more information on QF in Tennessee, to start a chapter or join one of the state's seven existing chapters, contact Andy Edwards at (931)424-3211 or via email at aedwards@quailforever.org.
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. QF chapters promote local, state, and federal conservation programs that help landowners protect environmentally sensitive acres for quail and other wildlife. They also employ the organization's unique model of empowering local chapters with 100 percent control of the chapters' locally-raised funds to complete habitat and youth education projects in the chapters' own communities. Since the organization's inception, 90 QF chapters have formed in 26 different states. The QF mission is accomplished through habitat improvement, land management, public awareness, education, and conservation advocacy
Media Contact:
Anthony Hauck (651)209-4972
The chapter will work to boost local quail populations by improving quail habitat in Nashville's surrounding counties. "Currently, there are essentially no wild quail to speak of, and that's because quality quail habitat is nearly non-existent" said Chris Sarkowski, a resident of Christiana and the chapter's newly-elected president. Just last fall, the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies - whose members manage wildlife in 16 states, including the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency - suggested the bird could disappear from some areas of the South by 2010.
"We have a group of people who enjoy the outdoors and want to make sure that there will always be wild quail to hunt - and places to hunt them," Sarkowski said, "Nothing against the Midwest, but we don't want to have to travel there to do our upland hunting."
The Nashville Basin chapter plans on improving habitat on public land, including local Wildlife Management Areas. "By working on public areas, we have opportunities to allow many more people to benefit from our work," Sarkowski added." The chapter also plans to work with private landowners on the benefits of conservation practices.
"Creating habitat is the answer for bringing back quail in this area, and the Nashville Basin is a group of dedicated Quail Forever members that understand this and will do everything it takes to make it happen," said Andy Edwards, QF Regional Wildlife Biologist in Tennessee.
The Nashville Basin chapter has also elected Todd Foutch of La Vergne as treasurer. The chapter will hold its next meeting on Thursday, October 11, at 6:30 PM at the First Presbyterian Church in Smyrna. The chapter will also be holding a sporting clay shoot on Saturday, October 13th from 10 AM to 2 PM at Long Meadows Farm in Greenbrier. The event is free, and open for all to attend. For more details on both upcoming events, contact Chris Sarkowski at (615)306-8565 or via email at sharpointe@comcast.net.
For more information on QF in Tennessee, to start a chapter or join one of the state's seven existing chapters, contact Andy Edwards at (931)424-3211 or via email at aedwards@quailforever.org.
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. QF chapters promote local, state, and federal conservation programs that help landowners protect environmentally sensitive acres for quail and other wildlife. They also employ the organization's unique model of empowering local chapters with 100 percent control of the chapters' locally-raised funds to complete habitat and youth education projects in the chapters' own communities. Since the organization's inception, 90 QF chapters have formed in 26 different states. The QF mission is accomplished through habitat improvement, land management, public awareness, education, and conservation advocacy
Media Contact:
Anthony Hauck (651)209-4972