MIDLAND – When teenagers attend the Bobwhite Brigade youth camp, they're asked to do more than just learn the habits and biology of an iconic game bird. Brigade cadets are challenged to leave the leadership camp and do whatever they can to make a difference for wildlife and wildlife habitat.

Many cadets ignore the challenge. Others pursue it with passion. David Harrison was the first cadet to organize a chapter of Quail Forever. The Midland Lee senior this year became not only the young- est organizer of a QF chapter, he's also the youngest chapter president. The West Texas Chapter has members from five counties.

What possessed the polite and articulate 18-year-old to devote his time to conservation when many of his buddies are living the good life as high school seniors?

"I grew up hunting quail by walking them up without a dog," he said. "Living in Texas, there were birds to be found. I know that's not the case across the country, and there's no guarantee that'll be the case in Texas if we don't do something to protect the quail habitat."

Dale Rollins could not have said it better himself, and Rollins has a way with words. The Texas A&M Extension Service biologist founded the Bobwhite Brigade.

He's seen a lot of outstanding cadets, perhaps none more outstanding than Harrison, who still volunteers his services to the Rolling Plains Battalion each summer.

"David is a trophy – a poster child for the Bobwhite Brigade," Rollins said. "He first attended when he was 13, and it's been a pleasure to watch him grow."

Harrison is genetically predisposed toward quail and quail dogs, though his father, Roy Harrison, a state parole officer, never owned bird dogs. When David was 12, somebody gave him a Brittany pup. David didn't know anything about training a dog, so he volunteered to help veteran dog trainers in the Midland area and received training advice in exchange.

Now you can add pro bird dog trainer to his résumé. Harrison-trained dogs have won four open titles and 11 amateur championships. Three of the dogs sleep with him every night, which is a little unusual for a bird dog trainer.

"David got me involved in bird dogs," Roy Harrison said. "We used to hunt quail for meat. Now, I'd just as soon watch the dogs work as shoot the birds."

David Harrison is training dogs for hunting outfitter Roy Wilson, who hosts the Rolling Plains Bobwhite Brigade each summer at his Krooked River Lodge near Stamford.

Harrison is also guiding quail hunters, though he can hunt only on weekends and school holidays.

"David is the guy who told me about the great blue quail hunting around Midland," Wilson said. "The quail hunting is exceptional, but not nearly as exceptional as the kid. He's one of a kind."

Harrison is doing OK in school, as well. He's in the top 10 percent of his class, and he said that he's trying to decide between a career as a veterinarian or a hunting guide.

E-mail rsasser@dallasnews.com