Tallahassee Home to Florida’s Newest Quail Forever Chapter
Quail Forever 04.25.13
Bobwhite quail numbers in Florida have declined by 70 percent since 1980
Tallahassee, Florida residents have formed the state’s newest Quail Forever chapter. Known has the Red Hills Quail Forever chapter, the group becomes the third active “QF” chapter in Florida dedicated to improving bobwhite quail habitat.
As a Quail Forever chapter, the north Florida group will utilize Quail Forever’s local approach to wildlife habitat conservation. Unique among national conservation organizations, Quail Forever gives local Quail Forever chapters the ability to decide how 100 percent of their fundraised dollars are spent. This local control gives chapters and members the ability to make things happen for wildlife in their communities, while belonging to a national organization that gives wildlife and conservation a voice in Washington, D.C.
Named after the 300,000-acre geographic region located between Tallahassee, Florida and Thomasville, Georgia, the Red Hills QF chapter is located amongst a number of national and state forests and wildlife management areas where there is potential for public upland habitat projects. The group hopes to do its part to reverse the quail trend in Florida, where the overall bobwhite quail population has declined by 70 percent since 1980, mainly due to habitat loss.
In addition to bobwhite quail habitat restoration, the Red Hills Quail Forever chapter is also focused on getting youngsters connected to conservation. Already, the chapter’s youngest committee member, 14 year-old Nate Shafer has been elected to Quail Forever’s National Youth Leadership Council. This 20-member group represents their age group on hunting and conservation issues and advises Quail Forever on youth programs.
“The unique fundraising model of Quail Forever gives us the opportunity to significantly impact habitat, youth and education in the Red Hills region,” says Chapter President Steve Shafer. “Since all monies raised at the local level are spent on local projects, we can generate positive, lasting influence in our local community by meeting the needs our residents deem important.”
Red Hills Quail Forever chapter
- The chapter has also elected Tallahassee residents Robert Sault as treasurer, Chuck Simpson as youth/education chairperson and Chris York as habitat chairperson.
- The chapter’s next regular meeting will be Thursday, May 9 at 6:00 PM at Po’ Boys Restaurant at Village Square.
- For more information about the Red Hills Quail Forever chapter, visit the chapter website, like the chapter Facebook page and/or contact Steve Shafer at (850) 510-3010 / Email Steve.
The Red Hills QF chapter joins the Kissimmee River Valley QF chapter and South Florida Flatwoods QF chapter as Quail Forever chapters in Florida.
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. Bobwhite population losses over the last 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.
