A Love of the Land

Alicia and Bill James enjoy a course at Gunsite Academy in Prescott, Arizona.

Like many who grew up in the foothills and mountains of Appalachia, Bill and Alicia James developed a love of their natural surroundings early in life. For Bill, there was an ingrained ethic as he worked on the family farm, learned firearms safety and hunting skills from his grandfather and father, and observed their behavior as they respected and improved the land and environment. Bill's father was a minister who viewed his role as a steward of the land and habitat—a perspective and principle that Bill took to heart. Alicia, who grew up in West Virginia enjoying the outdoors, was raised in a family that valued the natural world and planted in her a lifelong passion for Appalachia's indigenous plants and wildlife.

Alicia helps to teach the next generation the art of shooting clays.

As avid upland hunters, Bill and Alicia spend time honing their craft beside their beloved bird dog, Zeus, in the fields of southeastern Ohio and beyond. Not only do they enjoy hunting as a family, but Bill has also introduced his coworkers and clients to the love of the hunt, teaching beginner basics and partnering with more experienced teammates for quality uplands camaraderie.

From this love of nature and passion for wildlife comes a great respect for the conservation and habitat renewal efforts of Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever and Quail Forever. Bill and Alicia advocate for the conservation of our wild spaces by hosting events to promote the importance of Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever and Quail Forever, organizing firearms education courses and continuing to invest their time into ongoing habitat projects to ensure long-term populations of healthy quail and pheasants in their region.

Bill after a day of uplands hunting in southeastern Ohio.

"We've been blessed so much to live in this nation, at this time, with these opportunities. It has permitted us to do so much more than we could have imagined for church and our family's passions. The work of Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever and Quail Forever fits our philosophy in building and protecting a sustainable environment for both today and into the future. We value the efforts of Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever and Quail Forever, and we share a vision for a future filled with upland habitat, which is why we chose to support the Call of the Uplands^® campaign. We know that our support today will make an immediate impact and that the support we are providing as part of our estate plan will create an upland legacy for future generations."
—Bill and Alicia James

Bill and Zeus at home in the wilds of West Virginia.

Like Bill and Alicia, you can pass on a love of the natural world to future generations when you include Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever and Quail Forever in your estate plan. Contact David R. Bue, Chief Development Officer, at (218) 340-5519 or dbue@pheasantsforever.org to learn how to get started.