sad...

As we began to pick up the pieces of Quail Unlimited 2 ½ years ago, and tried to determine exactly what condition QU was in, we quickly realized that this was not going to be easy. As caring and determined members, we stood together and we overcame one obstacle after another, after another. This has been a valiant effort by everyone and we should all be proud. I would personally like to thank every member for your support. Our great staff and our great Board of Directors have stood the test and they have given their very best effort. However, the entire Board of Directors and I have made the difficult decision to cease Quail Unlimited operations and go out of business effective immediately.
I have a saying which is really a philosophy that I have shared with my staff since 1983. "We never have problems. However, we will have opportunities." That is the case once again with our QU. There are a few large challenges that we are about to be faced with. Could we possibly overcome them? We might be able to, but it would require money that we do not have and it would be a huge distraction from our basic purpose - Quail & Youth. I'm left to reflect on how best to accomplish those goals in light of QU's end, which leads me to recommend Quail Forever as the future of quail conservation in America.
I am reminded of a statement that my uncle shared with me many years ago. His statement was, "Your pride can sometimes get you into trouble, and your ego could keep you there." We share in an obligation to our mission of supporting quail and youth. It is time for us to assure ourselves that we stay focused on our mission. It is my firm belief, at this time, that our beloved quail need us to unite our efforts. In the near future you will receive a letter from Quail Forever explaining exciting news and opportunities. We hope you will support them in these efforts. We all know that we are stronger when we work together for a common goal. Our quail and our youth will benefit from your membership in Quail Forever. QF supports its members & chapters in a way that we will all be proud of.
Please call me personally if you have any questions at (229)347-0698.

Thanks for the information. Hate to see the loss of QU..
Whom is taking their place now. Quail Coalation?

They are pushing QuailForever

What happened?

It's about time. They presided over the biggest decline of a species I remember. I ran a couple of dogs in one of their last national trials in Alabama. All the officers were there living high on the hog.

The first Quail Forever magazine had an article about quail roosting in low hanging branches. They lost a lot of creditability with me.

Quail Coalition just raised $70,000 in the Houston area for whatever they do. I'm helping out on two of their donated hunts, but I don't belong. I'm not sure what can be done, and what it will mean to you and me.

I am a total newbie on the Quail Politics and I am a strong supporter of Quail and Youth and would do all I could to help the cause if theres a way. I have donated quail hunts to Duck Unlimited, DWWC and Park Cities Quail.

Please count me in if I can assist.

QU has been a joke for years, money given at the local level used for high rollers to shoot throw down birds and party. One look at their mag should tell you something, page after page of expensive pay to shoot places and never an example of QU money spent for local projects for the benefit of the average hunter. Leaders taking outrageuos pay for putting on the party hunts. And the worst was the money they did spend on restoration was on private land that members would never step foot on.

The best bet now is to keep your money with local groups that will spend it in Tx. and a close second is QF which has started on the right foot and hopefully will continue to do so (though I'm a little nervous since as QU going out is pimpimg for QF). We need help and that wasn't part of the QU program.

BINGO!!! They showed up at the QU trial in a $300,000 RV.

Real well said. What is Quail Forever doing for hunters in Texas? I am going to guess nothing but i rally don't know.

I help start the 1st QF chapter in Texas. Had pretty good exposure to the QF leadership. They didn't understand or really have an appetite to recognize the cultural differences between how things worked in MN (the Pheasant's Forever way) vs TX (high % of private property and hunting leases). Their model works well for 80-160 acre parcels. Not so much on a 5-10K acre ranches. The biggest pet peave I had with QF was the corporate focus on having a banquet. They would force you to have one and you had to buy a minimum amount of products through their catalog. Overpriced junk that nobody would buy. It was a racket.

Think about how many states have habitat stamps for upland hunting. Rarely are those dollars collected spent on researching or preserving upland birds. It's a joke.

Don't kid yourself, quail in TX is headed down the same path as the SE.....near extinction for wild birds.

Agreed. Exactly why I don't participate in Trials. Quail hunting is not a competitive sport. It has lost its " Sport of Gentlemen " appeal.
Quail hunting should be conducted with a brace of dogs, guns and with honor to the bird,dogs and guns. One mans opinion for what its worth.

I am not sure what you are referring to when you say it has lost its "Sport of Gentlemen" appeal. It takes some bucks to hunt wild quail. The unwashed masses just can't afford it(Including me...Why do you think I guide?...Simply to be a part of it).. Trust me, at least here in South Texas, if you aren't wealthy, you just can't afford it. It is still a game for the elite.

BTW: It was my understanding that of two years ago, all Texas Chapters of Quail Unlimited were converting over to the Quail Coalition.

I guess I'm not sure what you're talking about. I love to hunt birds and have for 45 years, and I field trial a pointer for the same reason I hunt, to enjoy the outdoors, a good dog, and fellowship with people that feel the same way. Not sure what kind of dogs you run but if it's pointers or setters than the blood behind them was developed and proven in trials. Trials aren't new they have been going on for a hundred years. If by sport of gentlemen you mean a side by side and a tie with riding pants then I guess it's been gone for 50 years. Maybe I'm just misreading you post?

Conservation organizations that seek contributions from the masses but only benefit the few deserve to fail. I like conservation groups that seek to preserve habitat and provide access to the public. All of the quail orgs seem to focus on manicuring private property for the benefit of the property owners.

No one really has to take their place. I think we all have enough return address labels to last a lifetime. TPAWD will help landowners. They have a division for quail restoration. I'm hunting with one of them tomorrow, who is helping out a local rancher

Sadly,there are a number of so-called "conservation" organizations for sportsmen that exist primarily for the benefit of their bigwigs-and were formed just for that purpose. You shouldn't be fooled by a high-sounding name as that's often just part of the con. Unfortunately, many are....

Many of the Quail Coalition groups in Texas are former QU chapters. Quail Coalition was started because the Texas QU chapters got tired of sending in huge amounts of money to QU to get virtually nothing in return. Each Quail Coalition chapter decides where they are going to spend their money. If you want say in where that money is spent, get involved in one of their chapters help to run the banquets and raise money, and get help decide how the money is spent.
Quail hunting is not doomed in this state, Quail Tech has probably done more for the state of Quail in the Rolling Plains that any other organization. The ranches that are participating in their studies, and following their recommended best practices are seeing dramatic increases in quail populations as compared to ranches that are not.
Only when the hunters give up will the birds be doomed. Also, TPWD is a joke when it comes to quail management, TPWD is concerned with Deer and Turkeys because they are the big ticket items, Quail are just a talking point for them.

+ a bunch

What most of you are pointing out on here as flaws with the big organizations is exactly why Quail Coalition was formed. The Texas chapters (starting with the Park Cities Quail Chapter) grew tired of sending almost half of their money raised to South Carolina, only to see very little of it returned for projects in Texas. None of the money raised goes to improve private landowner properties, and probably 80% of the money raised goes directly to quail research to try and solve the problem. The QC chapters broke away and formed Quail Coalition, virtually eliminating QU in Texas, other than individual memberships, in 2010.

Go to the QC website, www.quailcoalition.org, and you can see more, but they have only one employee and strive to keep overhead to a minimum. No "headquarters" building, only a P.O. box in Highland Park, no fleet of trucks, and no celebrity "big wig" hunts. All of the chapters raise their own money through their events, and they have 100% control over where the money is spent, as long as it is focused on quail conservation and research, and it stays in Texas.

Quail Forever is another great organization, and is not as bad as QU was in that they didn't go into debt building new facilities and padding wallets of executives in their organization. That being said, they don't relate to Texas as well, as another user pointed out. They are more focused on quail and pheasant in the northern and southeast states.

Quail Unlimited has been on life support for 3 years, and have been begging for infusions of money to pay off their debt, but the hardcore supporters already saw the writing on the wall. It's sad, but there were a lot of issues with the mis-management of the association that got them to that point.

Thanks for the information and Welcome to THF QuailAg95.

Way off on this one bud!

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/re...2&nrsearch=

If they cared very much about them they would have lowered the bag limit and shortened the season, given their drastic and unprecedented decline.

Just to acknowledge the problem if nothing else...

JMHO

I huted with one of their guys yesterday, and he'll be busy for most of the spring helping on quail restoration. Here you go;

You da man with that camera, Oxner!

Man I like those red dogs beautiful