New Quail Forever chapter to host its first fund-raiser

Nevada, Mo. -- The local fledgling chapter of Quail Forever will be conducting its first fund-raising event on Saturday, Sept. 22, in Cedar County at the Silverline Ranch, located about five miles east of El Dorado Springs on U.S. Highway 54, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The group, known as the Cherokee Plains Chapter, currently serves Vernon, Barton, Cedar and St. Clair counties. and is led by Missouri Department of Conservation private lands biologist Scott Sudkamp. Plans are also in place to serve parts of Bourbon County, Kan.

Sudkamp has extensive experience and expertise in quail management.

The national organization of Pheasants Forever launched Quail Forever in August 2005 to address the continuing loss of habitat suitable for quail and the subsequent quail population decline. Chapters promote local, state, and federal conservation programs that help landowners protect environmentally sensitive acres for quail and other wildlife.

Local chapters keep 100 percent of the control of funds raised locally, and those funds will be put to use in local habitat projects and youth programs. Only membership fees go to the national office.

"Because quail don't migrate, we don't think our dollars should, either," Sudkamp said in a press release about the upcoming fund-raising event.

The event will include a silent auction, drawings, and virtual reality shooting skills activities for youth. A dinner will be served, featuring buffalo, fried chicken and more.

"We need folks to understand the importance of plant diversity, bare ground, and quality brushy cover," Sudkamp said. "What's encouraging is that the folks completing quail habitat projects are seeing results. I know of one landowner who five years ago had one covey on his 200 acre property, but by doing nothing more than creating good habitat conditions through CRP and CP-33, he's now got six to eight coveys on that same ground."

In addition to Sudkamp, the chapter has elected Brian Pilcher of Nevada as treasurer, Sara Jean Peters of Collins, Missouri as habitat chair and Pam Hayes of Nevada as youth/education chair.

For additional information about Quail Forever, please visit www.QuailForever.org.