A new chapter of Quail Forever has been added in Texas’ South Plains region, through the hard work of local quail hunters and conservationists. The new chapter is to be officially known as the Llano Estacado Chapter of Quail Forever. Their main goal is to improve the local habitat and educate groups about conservation as a way to create an environment for sustainable populations of quail, scaled quail and other wildlife in Texas.

“We’ve formed our chapter with the goal to help restore a Texas tradition that has suffered from a lack of suitable wildlife habitat in the South Plains,” Dustin McNabb, the elected president of the new Quail Forever chapter recently stated. “Future generations deserve an opportunity to experience quail hunting and with any luck, our chapter can be part of the solution for the plight of bobwhite and scaled quail.”

This new chapter comes at a very important time for the state’s quail population along with other positive news regarding the future of upland game birds. The protection and promotion of traditional quail hunting in the state is a prime concern. That is why Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has recently donated $4 million in grants to be used in quail habitat conservation.

There are currently three quail areas identified in the state where these funds can be used in a broad habitat conservation plan named the Texas Upland Game Bird Strategic Plan.

The 2014 Quail Hunting Forecast had good results due to the core quail habitat areas receiving vital rainfall in May and June. This helped encourage vegetation, insects and a significant improvement in bobwhite breeding.

The population of quail is often dependent on the amount of rainfall that the region receives. If there is little rainfall in a year, then there are fewer surviving chicks and therefore every quail hunter hopes for a wet May and June.

Are you a quail hunter? Was your quail hunting productive this year?