Wings Over Texas
Vol 3Jan - Mar 2026The Power of Grassroots:
How Texas Chapters Drive Our Mission
cOLTON lUSSON - state REPAt its core, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever is a grassroots organization built upon four critical mission pillars: Habitat Improvements, Public Access, Education & Outreach, and Conservation Advocacy.
Our success across these pillars is driven by our local chapters who understand their specific eco regions better than anyone else. Each chapter has the freedom to build its own "Identity" or "DNA." We have chapters that strictly emphasize fundraising events to support our four pillars, while others prefer getting their hands dirty with Hands-on Habitat events.
When it comes to carrying out our mission, chapters have complete flexibility in how they choose to make an impact. For example:
Palo Duro PF prefers to focus on physical, Hands-on Habitat events directly in the field.
High Plains PF prioritizes vital monetary support generated from their popular banquet in February.
Top O’ Texas QF proudly does both, contributing financial support while also getting out in the field for some true sweat equity.
Here’s how the Texas Chapters have impacted the 4 pillars so far this fiscal year…
Habitat Improvements
Through the third quarter of our fiscal year, our chapter network (led by Top O’ Texas, High Plains, and Palo Duro) contributed $28,000 to our State Program Fund to directly support our boots-on-the-ground staff. This critical funding helped us acquire a new truck to haul our beautifully wrapped equipment trailer across the state to various habitat restoration projects.
Field Projects:
North Texas QF recently purchased a localized seed mix tailored for the greater DFW area.
Texas Women on the Wing used a custom seed mix in Fredericksburg to help a landowner restore bare ground following cedar tree removal.
Heart O’ Texas QF, thanks to partnership with US Army Corps of Engineers, has begun collaborating with Lake Waco officials to organize local volunteer efforts for wildlife habitat restoration.
Public Access
Expanding access in a state that is primarily privately owned is a massive challenge, but our volunteers are not letting up. As our eyes and ears on the ground, they scout for optimal properties to utilize the Build A Wildlife Area® (BAWA) program. While establishing a BAWA project in Texas is a long-term goal, our local and national teams remain highly motivated to secure and convert private lands into public spaces everyone can enjoy.
Thank you to our top chapter contributors for supporting public access: Lonestar QF, Top O’ Texas QF, High Plains PF, and Gulf Coast QF.
Education & Outreach
Conservation cannot survive without a new generation of stewards. Texas chapters have contributed $8,000 to the Path to the Uplands program, which goes directly toward supporting our next generation of upland hunters and conservationists.
Top O’ Texas Chapter hosted their annual guided youth Learn to Hunt event, sparking an early passion for the outdoors.
Rolling Plains Chapter hosted an educational workshop, providing local landowners with the tools and knowledge to restore wildlife habitat.
Conservation Advocacy
Conservation begins with policy. Thanks to our chapters raising $23,000 for the Legislative Action Fund (LAF), our Government Affairs (GA) team can work full-time on the issues that matter most to Texans:
Influence at the Capital: Strengthen the CRP and other conservation programs in the Farm Bill
Expanding Access: Advocating for programs like VPA-HIP, which seeks $52 million to incentivize private landowners to open their gates to the public.
Gaining Partners: We joined the U.S. Forest Service, the Boone and Crockett Club, and fellow conservation groups in a new national agreement dedicated to expanding public land access and wildlife recreation across our national forests.
Thank you!
Thanks to our amazing members, we’ve already hosted 50+ events across the state this year! We hope this momentum inspires you to take the next step with our mission by visiting our local events page to find a gathering near you. If you are able to attend, we'd love for you to join us. And if you’re looking to do a little more than just hold a membership, consider asking the chapter how you can volunteer, bringing a friend along, or helping us grow our community
Texas’ Oldest Chapter
When it comes to grassroots dedication in the Lone Star State, the Gulf Coast QF Chapter holds the title of the longest-running chapter in Texas. Originally established in the early 90’s as a Pheasants Forever chapter, the group naturally transitioned to Quail Forever to better align with regional conservation needs.
For the majority of that impressive journey, Scott Wilson has led the charge in the greater Houston area. What keeps him motivated year after year? His passion for upland hunting, a deep commitment to conservation, and the joy of seeing families come together to enjoy a beautiful Saturday morning out in the field.
Chapter DNA: European Tower Shoots
Every chapter has its own identity, and for Gulf Coast QF, it’s their two annual European tower shoots held each November and February. These highly anticipated events are the perfect blend of camaraderie, family, and a shared love for the uplands.
By the time noon rolls around, attendees have had their fill of gunpowder, Texas barbecue, and a chance at a handful of raffle items. It’s an action-packed morning that brings the community together for fun, food, and a great cause: supporting wildlife.
Looking Toward the Future
Scott and his wife, Leslie, understand the growing urgency for restoring habitable lands across Texas. Now that they are both retired, they are turning their sights toward spending even more time growing the chapter, fundraising for the mission, and raising critical awareness about the loss of native wildlife habitat.
While the chapter officially covers Montgomery, Harris, and Waller counties, their gates are wide open—anyone from any county is welcome to join the fun at their November and February shoots.
What's Next? Keep your eyes peeled! The Gulf Coast Chapter will be hosting a membership event later this summer/fall. Stay tuned!
State of the Union
Thomas Janke - state coordinatorA Message to Our Members
Habitat improvements, public access, education, and conservation advocacy are our four official mission pillars raised by the organization, but what truly makes us special is the people.
While we now have a nationwide army of 600+ staff across 40+ states delivering on our mission daily, our chapter members always have been and always will be the true lifeblood of our organization.
Our 170,000+ members do so much more than just show up to fundraising banquets. You willingly and excitedly volunteer your time, talents, and treasures whether you are running local learn to hunt programs, leading Hands-on Habitat events, or voicing your concerns directly to state legislators. We simply could not do this without you.
Lately, I have been incredibly inspired by the growing collaboration between our Texas staff and local chapters. Over the past few months, we have teamed up to:
Facilitate more meaningful, action-oriented membership meetings.
Work side by side on the fire line during critical prescribed burns.
Plan ambitious multi-chapter events designed to reach the majority of a county's youth in a single day!
The energy from these combined efforts is absolutely contagious. I will continue to push my team to stay deeply engaged with their local chapters and I highly encourage all of our chapters to reach out and invite your local staff to your upcoming meetings and events.
Keep up the great work, and God Bless!
The Impact by the Numbers
Our Texas boots-on-the-ground team has had a massive past quarter! Thanks to the incredible support of our chapters and partners, our technical staff has been crisscrossing the state to deliver serious wins for Texas wildlife habitat.
Here is a look at what we accomplished together over the last fiscal quarter:
450+ Landowner Contacts & 125+ Site Visits: Our team is out there every day listening to land managers, walking the fields, and putting conservation plans into action.
290,000+ New Acres: We provided tailored technical guidance on over 290,000 acres of Texas land that we hadn’t previously worked on. To put that in perspective, that is an area slightly larger than Rocky Mountain National Park!
27,000+ Acres of Habitat Enhancement: Our team helped landowners develop more than 65 comprehensive conservation plans to restore and improve native habitat.
8,000+ Acres Refreshed with Fire: We actively participated in and helped implement over 30 prescribed burns to clear invasive brush and stimulate healthy, native plant growth.
20+ Education & Outreach Events: From field days to workshops, we've been sharing the message of upland conservation with communities across the state.
Team Update: We Are Fully Staffed!
We are thrilled to announce that we have hired three phenomenal new team members, completely filling all of our regional vacancies! Please join us in welcoming our newest Coordinating Wildlife Biologists (CWBs):
Sarah Smith (CWB) – Based out of the Clarendon USDA office
Bradley Pruitt (CWB) – Based out of the Gonzales USDA office
Kaitlyn Johnson (CWB) – Based out of the Snyder USDA office
With a full team on the roster, we are ready to scale up our impact even further next quarter!
Habitat Hints
Now is just as important a time to be thinking about the needs of our beloved wildlife. Here are three simple ways you can give our local wildlife a helping hand this summer:
Hold off on the Shredder
Though we may like our fields and ditches to look pristine and nicely mowed or shredded, please keep in mind that quail and other wildlife may be relying on these strips of refuge for nesting or fawning cover.
The Fix: Either raise your shredders at least 8 inches, or even better yet, try and hold off on mowing efforts until at least August.
Check Your Water Troughs
If you have any water troughs, it is good practice to make sure they have wildlife-friendly ramps.
The Fix: Place stones, logs, or other safe structures in the water so insects, birds, and other critters can safely access and escape.
Gather a Crew for a Hands-on Habitat Event
Before it gets too hot, I encourage folks to get outside and do something good for nature, whether it is a trash pickup, removing invasive plants, or anything else that aligns with your abilities and the needs of the area.
Need Extra Hands? If you have a project that is too much for you and your family, or would be more enjoyable and productive with a larger group, please reach out to your local PF QF chapter or another conservation focused group to conduct a Hands-on Habitat event. No matter how big or small, they are all impactful in their own ways!
Texas Staff Wish List
Kyle Lusson - development officerWe want to extend a deep and sincere thank you to our incredible donors and chapters for allowing us to acquire our new equipment trailer and work truck. Having the ability to transport heavy equipment directly to our state project sites is a massive step forward for our Texas conservation efforts.
Of course, as our habitat restoration projects increase, so do our fuel and maintenance costs.
Please consider making a contribution to help us keep these wheels turning. Your support ensures that our newly acquired truck and trailer stay out on the road, delivering vital habitat improvements straight to the fields and eco regions that need them most.
Polaris Ranger XD 1500 Premium
Purpose:
This UTV helps our team access habitat projects, transport gear, move seed and tools, and navigate properties that trucks can’t reach. It is a critical asset for on-site conservation work.
Key Specs Needed:
Crew cab configuration (Seats 6)
Windshield (Preferred)
Winch (Preferred)
How You Can Help: Members and partners can assist through direct gifts, sponsorships, or by connecting us with dealership or industry partnerships.
Reach out if you want to help fulfill a Wish List item!
klusson@quailforever.org
512-289-5921
Or make a gift today through our secure donation page