QUAIL FOREVER VOLUNTEERS LAUNCH NEW CHAPTER IN NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA Quail Forever is proud to announce a new chapter start in the extreme northwest corner of Oklahoma. The Panhandle Nomads Chapter of Quail Forever is based in Texas and Cimarron Counties, and local volunteers have their sights set on investments in public lands, habitat management efforts for quail, and youth events for the surrounding communities. “I'm very excited about the future impact of this chapter for this region,” said Laura McIver, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s regional representative in southern Kansas and Oklahoma. “The extremes in weather patterns for this area make it a challenge for not only our upland birds, but for all wildlife in the panhandle of Oklahoma and adjoining states. I look forward to seeing the positive impacts that this chapter will bring to the area while creating unique solutions to help our wildlife and provide educational opportunities too.” Elizabeth Brown of Guymon, Okla. is the chapter’s newly elected president. Brown’s family has a long history in Texas County, and she’s been connected to the outdoors in northwest Oklahoma all her life. “My great grandparents settled in northern Texas County, making the trip in a covered wagon,” she said. “My dad taught me about shooting sports when I wasn’t much bigger than a rifle, but it wasn’t until I met my husband did I start upland hunting.” The Panhandle Nomads began meeting in June and are currently working on setting up a youth event, public land advocacy work, and habitat projects. The chapter meets the second Tuesday of every month at the Texas County Activities Center in Guymon, Okla. Hunters and conservationists interested in joining the chapter as volunteers are encouraged to attend. For more information about the chapter or to become involved, please contact Panhandle Nomads chapter president Elizabeth Brown at elizabethpeacockbrown@gmail.com https://bit.ly/3zTHG2o

GAMEBIRD GOURMET // UPLAND PIZZA Ever think of combining gamebirds with one of your favorite foods? Who doesn’t love pizza! Upland pizza is a great way to make wonderful use of that package of legs and thighs you have been wondering what to do with, or maybe those breasts that need some judicious trimming and chunking up because you really centered your shot. Check out all the variations from Lukas Leaf here:

HABITAT TIP Edge feathering is accomplished by hinge cutting trees that are growing adjacent to an upland prairie, therefore producing a well-protected "soft" edge that will allow grassland species to maneuver along with a lower instance of predation, especially from raptors https://bit.ly/3bUh9dt #thehabitatorganization #quailforever

QUAIL FACTS FRIDAY The bobwhite quail nesting season runs from March through October with the peak of the hatch often occurring during May through August. Bobwhites nest on the ground, and the average clutch size is 12 eggs with an incubation period of 23 days. Bobwhite chicks are precocial, meaning they leave the nest with the adult shortly after hatching. Learn more about quail biology & habitat at https://bit.ly/2vV1Lop

Who still has last season's quail in the freezer? Don't let them die a second death as freezer burn. Turn those birds into something delicious this summer on the grill.

On the Wing Podcast, Episode 178: A 10,000 Mile Trip in Pursuit of Eight Upland Birds Starting in Alaska On this episode, host Bob St. Pierre is joined in KFAN’s Twin Cities studios for a conversation with Birds, Booze, and Buds Podcast Page podcaster Tyler Webster and his buddy Bruce Potter as they kick off a bird hunting adventure that will take them to Alaska in search of ptarmigan for the country’s earliest upland opener. The duo then plans to drive south to Oregon in pursuit of mountain quail and valley quail before swinging east toward Montana where they’ll hunt dusky, ruffed, sage and sharp-tailed grouse.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO QUAIL FOREVER! TODAY MARKS QUAIL FOREVER’S 17TH ANNIVERSARY By Howard K. Vincent, President and CEO I wanted to take a moment this week to personally thank all the chapter leaders, members, supporters and donors who’ve made Quail Forever possible over nearly two decades. August 10 marks Quail Forever’s 17th anniversary. Pheasants Forever, founded in 1982, celebrated its 40th anniversary just last week. I’ve had the great privilege of watching both organizations grow from their infancy to the formidable conservation warriors they are today, and none of it would’ve been possible without the grassroots support of folks who care deeply about habitat. It’s an important reminder of just how impactful a small idea can be. Pheasants Forever started as the result of a single newspaper column in 1982, written by Dennis Anderson, that warned of disappearing rooster habitat in Minnesota. In 2005, in response to continued declines in quail populations and suitable quail habitat, Pheasants Forever formed our quail division, Quail Forever. Since that time, “The Habitat Organization” has grown to more than 400 employees nationwide and employs more wildlife biologists than any organization in the country other than the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We now boast a nationwide network of 754 chapters spread across North America, each of which is working to protect habitat in their local area. Through their dedication, and with support from our biologists, support staff, board members and other partners, we’ve dedicated more than $1 billion to 567,500 habitat projects — benefitting 22 million acres and contributing 220,000 acres of public land for Americans to enjoy. All that from one newspaper column, one small idea. So as we take time to celebrate our history this week, remember that small ideas can make a big difference. Embrace what you care about in conservation, whether that means planting a small patch of pollinator habitat in your backyard, or introducing a new hunter to the upland world — you never know what it might blossom into down the road. Howard K. Vincent has been involved with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever as a volunteer and employee since shortly after the organization's inception. Over the years he has also served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He was appointed CEO in January 2000. A native of Duluth, Minnesota, and a graduate of the University of Minnesota - Duluth, Howard and his wife Wendy live in White Bear Lake, MN, where he enjoys chasing the wily ringneck with his two sons.