Conservation Operations Team

Our Texas Story

Pheasants Forever was founded in 1982 with a simple mission: restore upland habitat and protect the wildlife that depends on it. Texas joined that mission in 1996 with the chartering of the first Pheasants Forever chapter in Houston. As quail populations continued to decline across the bobwhite range, Quail Forever was established in 2005, bringing a focused, grassroots approach to quail conservation. Texas launched its first Quail Forever chapter in 2013, and the movement has grown ever since.

Today, Texas is home to 12 Quail Forever chapters and 2 Pheasants Forever chapters, uniting more than 3,277 members who are committed to habitat conservation, education, and advocacy. Through the Farm Bill Biologist Program, introduced in Texas in 2013, our team works directly with landowners and partners to plan, implement, and expand habitat restoration efforts across the state. These efforts have resulted in 7,003 landowner contacts, 678,517 acres impacted, and 373 workshops reaching 10,101 participants.

Quail Forever’s mission is to conserve quail, pheasants, and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public access, education, and conservation advocacy. Our vision is a future where generations of Texans can continue to experience thriving upland landscapes and abundant wildlife. Together, with volunteers, partners, and communities across the state, we’re building a legacy of conservation that will last for years to come.

  • A man smiling outdoors, wearing a black cowboy hat and camouflage jacket with a mountain and lake in the background.

    Thomas Janke

    State Coordinator - Texas

    tjanke@quailforever.org

  • A woman riding a light tan horse with a blonde mane in an open outdoor area on a cloudy day

    Breana Humphrey

    Habitat Partnership Specialist - Texas

    bhumphrey@pheasantsforever.org

  • A man kneeling outdoors with two dogs, one yellow lab and one pointer, in a dry, hilly landscape with sparse bushes.

    Kyle Lusson

    Development Officer - Texas

    klusson@quailforever.org

  • A man smiling and holding two young doves outdoors during sunset, with another man in the background.

    Colton Lusson

    Regional Representative - Texas

    clusson@quailforever.org

  • A man wearing a cowboy hat, sunglasses, a yellow jacket, and khaki pants standing outdoors in a natural landscape with hills and trees.

    William Burkhead

    Rx Fire Coordinator - Texas

    wburkhead@quailforever.org

  • A man holding a freshly caught rainbow trout fish while standing near a river with leafless trees in the background.

    Taylor Daily

    Coordinating Wildlife Biologist - Henrietta, TX

    tdaily@quailforever.org

  • A man with a beard and a smile, wearing a red cap, patterned shirt, and beige pants, kneeling in a field holding the antlers of a pronghorn antelope.

    Nolan Talkington

    Coordinating Wildlife Biologist - Amarillo, TX

    ntalkington@quailforever.org

  • A man in camouflage clothing kneeling in a forested area, holding a rifle and posing next to a large deer he has hunted, with binoculars around his neck and smiling at the camera.

    Joshua Michna

    Precision Agriculture and Conservation Specialist - Lubbock, TX

    jmichna@quailforever.org

  • Close-up of a smiling young woman with red hair, glasses, and freckles standing outdoors in front of a brick and stucco building.

    Jordan Davis

    Coordinating Wildlife Biologist - Paducah, TX

    jdavis@quailforever.org

  • A man wearing camouflage clothes and a headlamp, sitting outdoors at night, holding a large deer with big antlers. The scene appears to be a successful night hunting trip.

    Jacob Nelson

    Coordinating Wildlife Biologist - Uvalde, TX

    jnelson@quailforever.org

  • A man in a brown jacket and orange cap holding a small bird, standing outdoors with a dog sitting on a cage behind him.

    Andres Rosales

    Coordinating Wildlife Biologist - Benavides, TX

    arosales@quailforever.org

  • Jocelyn Hernandez

    Jocelyn Hernandez

    Coordinating Wildlife Biologist - Edna, TX

    jhernandez@quailforever.org

  • A young woman with glasses and long, wavy brown hair standing outdoors on a dirt road with a mountainous landscape in the background.

    Sarah Smith

    Coordinating Wildlife Biologist - Clarendon, TX

    ssmith@quailforever.org

  • Bradley Pruitt

    Bradley Pruitt

    Coordinating Wildlife Biologist - Gonzales, TX

    bpruitt@quailforever.org

Field Offices for Texas Biologists

Map of Texas with major cities marked by stars, including Amarillo, Claredon, Paducah, Lubbock, Snyder, Uvalde, Benavides, McAllen, Houston, Edna, Gonzales, Granbury, and Dallas, with some cities labeled in bold.

Partner Recognition

We are able to continue our mission delivery because of these supporters

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service badge with a flying duck and a jumping fish against a mountain and sun background.
Brand logo with a cotton plant illustration and the word 'cotton' beneath it.