Don't miss the Statewide Quail Symposium Aug. 16-18 in Abilene
Registration is now open for the Statewide Quail Symposium, set for Aug. 16-18 in Abilene. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service symposium will be held at the MCM Elegante Hotel, 4250 Ridgemont Drive.
“This major event gathers experts in quail management, research and conservation together to address topical questions being asked by quail enthusiasts on all levels,” said Dr. Dale Rollins, a symposium planner and AgriLife Extension’s statewide coordinator for the Reversing the Quail Decline Initiative. He’s also director of the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch at Roby.
Speakers will include Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute Associate Director Dr. Jim Cathey and many other AgriLife Extension experts.
The event will open at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 16 with a field tour of the Hailey Ranch, he said. Participants will view quail management strategies in action and learn how to evaluate quail habitat. Directions and GPS coordinates to the Hailey Ranch – Pavilion Gate Entrance Hailey Ranch – Pavilion Gate entrance are as follows: 13542 County Road 301, Abilene, Texas 79601.
“Mr. Hailey, a landowner and dedicated quail enthusiast, will be leading us on a personal tour and describing his management strategies,” Rollins said. “We’ll also be demonstrating habitat evaluation tools and plant identification techniques.”
The Aug. 17 program is slated from 8:45 a.m.-5:45 p.m. and the Aug. 18 program is from 8 a.m. until adjournment at noon. Rollins said both days will be devoted to seminars led by a host of specialists ranging from expert field biologists to land managers and Texas Quail Index census volunteers.
“We’ll tackle some controversial issues in point/counterpoint sessions to encourage debate,” Rollins said. “Topics will include the self-regulating nature of quail hunting, invasive plants and quail, and translocation as a method for restoring wild populations. We’ll also hear the latest from quail researchers and meet the graduating class of QuailMasters 2017.
Early individual registration by Aug. 7 is $50 and $20 for students. Registration at the door will be $75 and $50 for students.
For more information and to register, go to statewidequailsymposium.com.
Read the full news release at AgriLife Today.