New Quail Forever chapter conducts first fund-raiser

The Cherokee Plains Chapter of Quail Forever held its first banquet and auction on Saturday, Sept 22, at Silverline Ranch.

Chapter president Scott Sudkamp, Nevada, said, "We were pleased with the turnout of nearly 200 persons interested in helping our declining quail population. For our first banquet it was a big success."

The new chapter is made up of members from Barton, Cedar, St. Clair and Vernon counties. Sudkamp said, "Our chapter has two primary goals. The first is quail habitat and our other focus will be on education. There are many factors that have had a negative effect on the quail population over the past 30 years, without a doubt, the greatest of these has been the loss of quality habitat. How do I know this? Because I have seen the birds come back after working with land-owners who have done nothing more than restore good habitat. It's not always easy, but it works. Providing funding for land-owners who want to bring back quail will be one of our top priorities. Our chapter will work hard to raise funds that can be matched by the Missouri Department of Conservation to make habitat projects possible in our area."

The chapter president stressed the new chapter will be working to introduce young people to the great outdoors and teach them outdoor skills like gun safety, hunting with dogs, habitat and conservation.

The chapter also has a Youth Bird Hunt for 20 youngsters slated for next month.

Sudkamp said, "There is a critical need for youth education. The sad fact is that most young people today have never heard a quail whistle on a June morning, and wouldn't know a shorthair from a sheepdog. We plan to use a good portion of the funds raised to introduce youngsters to hunting, wildlife and the great outdoors."

Donnie Oldham, Stockton, auctioned 30 items including artwork to help raise funds for the chapter. Sudkamp said the committee members want to thank everyone who helped make the first fund-raiser a success.

Mingling with the crowd of people who want to see the bobwhites population come back, many traded stories of past hunts when it wasn't anything unusual to find four or five coveys of birds while on an afternoon hunt.

"Its not like that today," one hunter said. " Last fall I only found one small covey where I used to flush at least three or four big coveys. It's going to take a lot of work to bring back the good old days and that's why I am here."