Annual Georgia Quail Hunt puts southwest Georgia in the spotlight

ALBANY – For the last 37 years, the Georgia Quail Hunt has brought business leaders from across the country and around the world to southwest Georgia, the event credited with bringing in billions of dollars in economic investment over the years.

One of two premiere state showcases of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the other being the Red Carpet Tour held during the Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, the Georgia Quail Hunt gives attendees the opportunity to enjoy some Southern hospitality. 

The hunt brings together state officials, development officials and potential industrial prospects. It is described as a “soft sell” to highlight the area, with the goal of forging relationships over time.

“Taurus (USA) came to the quail hunt for 10 years before we located them in Bainbridge,” Georgia Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Chris Clark said of the firearms manufacturer.

Clark, along with Gov. Brian Kemp, are among the state leaders who made the trip to Albany for this year’s hunt.

While the event is a statewide effort, it does put the spotlight on the Albany area.

“It’s really the only effort in the state that showcases specifically southwest Georgia,” Clark said. “There’s almost a 40-year history of us being able to bring prospects to Georgia. We’re into the tens of thousands of jobs created from this event.”

Over the nearly four decades, the Quail Hunt has led to companies locating or expanding in the region, Albany Area Chamber of Commerce interim President and CEO Matt Reed said.

“It’s just a great event to put Albany and southwest Georgia on the map for a lot of people,” he said. “We do bring prospects who are looking at Albany. It has been a useful tool for us for sure. It’s a great way to market Albany.”

More than 50 volunteers, some of whom have been involved for 20 years or more, are part of the local effort, Reed said. 

“Hosting this event allows us to bring all of these state partners to southwest Georgia,” he said. “It’s just a great event. It’s a big community effort. We’re just blessed to host this every year and bring all these people to Albany.”