Supporting Conservation for the Long Haul

Monty Lewis is no stranger to supporting conservation. In fact, he has been providing conservation leadership for many years through his extensive involvement with other wildlife habitat conservation organizations, where he has provided leadership on national boards for the better part of 40 years.

Lewis recently became more involved with Quail Forever after learning about Call of the Uplands and its aggressive vision for the future. Inspired by the campaign’s goals of raising $500 Million to improve 9 million acres of upland habitat, introduce 1.5 million new people to the uplands, and permanently protect 75,000 acres of land, Lewis decided to become a QF Gold Patron member and also make a planned gift to support the organization as part of his estate plan.

“I’m a consumptive user of wildlife, and I feel like it’s important to give back to something that you enjoy,” Lewis believes. “I’ve always figured that conservation is part of the natural balance where the hunter and sportsman take part in sustainable harvest.”

Lewis says his father and both of his grandfathers were hunters and fishermen, and he credits them for teaching him not only to enjoy the harvest, but to be patient and enjoy the entire experience of being outdoors. They also instilled in him a strong conservation ethic.

“I learned about hunting and fishing the old-fashioned way. It was handed down to me along with an appreciation for leaving the land better than you found it,” says Lewis, a native of southern Georgia.

Lewis owns a propane and petroleum company, and he also manages a 1,300-acre farm. “My family has owned this land since the 1860s, and it has a long history of stewardship,” he said. “Today the farm is intensively managed for conservation and for the best use of all species of game.”

Lewis says his conservation efforts have always been intended for the long haul, and the “forever” aspect of Quail Forever’s mission aligns with what he values: that his gift is used for the long-term benefit of the resource rather than for marketing or other fleeting purposes. Along those lines, legacy is something Lewis believes all hunters and sportsmen and sportswomen should consider, especially the more they age.

“As you get older and you’re not always able to shoot that limit or go out in certain types of weather, you can still virtually participate in the hunt by writing a check to help these organizations achieve their goals,” Lewis says. “I also strongly believe everybody would like to leave behind some footprints in the sand. As a sportsman and conservationist, I consider the ultimate way to do that is to make our best conservation organizations a little stronger, either through donations of time or through other resources. That’s why I try to financially support organizations that I’m not able to give my time to, because I feel like there is a financial obligation to give back.”

Through his experience with DU and other conservation organizations, Lewis has learned a thing or two about what motivates people to give. He’s convinced action trumps words, and true conservation leaders walk the walk before asking others to follow them.

“I’ve reached a point now where I would rather participate at a different level at a higher plane, and it seems to me that there are other people out there who think like me,” he explains. “But I believe if you are going to ask someone to give to one of these conservation organizations, you need to have given yourself. So, I always try to be part of something before I ask anyone to do the same.”

In the same vein, he hopes to make others aware of the many benefits planned gifts provide for conservation organizations. As mentioned, Lewis recently included Quail Forever in his estate plan, and he hopes his action inspires others to consider planned giving as yet another way to support conservation.

“If you’re not still going to the banquets, hunts, and other events where the younger people are having a great time, you can do more than your part either by annual giving or by planned giving, which is a great, great asset for organizations to have,” he concludes. “I believe Pheasants Forever has proved its mettle over time, and I believe Quail Forever is doing the same. I am well-satisfied it’s a worthy organization, and I’m happy to be a part of it.”

When we conserve our land for future generations to enjoy, we also preserve the traditions that take place upon it. To join Monty in creating a planned gift for Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever or Quail Forever, contact David R. Bue, Chief Development Officer, at
(218) 340-5519 or dbue@pheasantsforever.org. We would be pleased to help you find the right option for your needs. There is no obligation.