quail

Steve in VA · Dec 6, 2015

I'm interested to hear from any of you with experience in improving quail habitat. I have some acreage that is marginal and for which I have been in conversation in turning over to quail by tailoring it to their needs. There were quail about as recently as 5 years ago. The state dept of ag has some good information and I've met with reps to walk the site.
Thanks if Advance

Jim in Ma. · Dec 6, 2015

They like dense under growth for cover and buckwheat seems to make them happy.

Dick2 · Dec 6, 2015

They need water. I used to watch them come in 2-3 times a day and drink cool water out of the condensation drain. Those little rascals can drink a lot of water. The males get first drink though; they will chase the females away if they come too close when they are drinking.

FLOLDFORD · Dec 6, 2015

I wish you luck. The only way we will ever improve the quail habitat here in Florida is bulldoze all the houses that have been built on it. That and get rid of the fire ants. I grew up hunting wild quail with my father but I doubt I'll ever get to do it again in this part of the country

Bonnan · Dec 6, 2015

Good luck and I praise your interest. Outside side of good feed and cover the major problem now are predators. I've all but given up my dream for quail here in Pa.

rhtx55 · Dec 6, 2015

Predators are your worst enemy. 1 coyote can wipe out a covey in a few days.

fixerupper · Dec 6, 2015

From what I understand Quail like dense tall undergrowth where pheasants like lower looser undergrowth. I was reading something about that in an article concerning what to plant on CRP acres. You should be able to find good information on the net. I have a hunch they are a little more coyote proof if they can hide in the right kind of cover.

Greg1959 · Dec 6, 2015

This spring, I plowed up 5 big food plots intending to plant for quail. I saw/heard a few here over the years. I mostly planned to plant milo. Milo provides good cover on the stems/leaves break over. Plus. the seed pod for food.

Anyway, I got side-tracked and did not go beyond plowing. The plots filled with local native weeds.

I was driving my tractor by one food plot the other day and saw some quail running through the thicket for cover.

BTW, Feral cats are the hardest thing on quail.

Briar Hill Brittanys · Dec 6, 2015

Here's a link to the Missouri Department of Conservation website with some good info. http://mdc.mo.gov/your-property/wildlife-your-property/game-birds-your-property/quail-management/rich-farms-lots-quail . HTH Mark

Bob Harvey · Dec 6, 2015

Ahhh, after reading all, I realized you folks were talking about the 'Bird' kind ! ;^)

CKain(MI) · Dec 6, 2015

I would think Fox & Coyote are hard on the little birds...
I have raised and released Quail, several times. That doesn't
last long. I don't think 'raised' birds know how to hide or feed themselves.
I miss their call !

Greg1959 · Dec 6, 2015

Briar Hill Brittanys- We raised Britts in the '70's and '80's. They were great for our terrain.
They tended to hunt close (hills and thick brush). We used them with GSP for hunting further out.

Great combination.

ed will · Dec 6, 2015

Hi, I have lots of quail here. They like the spruce trees with low spreading branches. They roost up about halfway. The branches are very dense. I feed them cracked wheat when its snowing also alfalfa. The Wild cottontails like it too. If you have stuff like a rotary brush cutter laying abandoned, they will nest under it. Good luck. Ed will oliver bc

gab · Dec 7, 2015

Want a stress test on your heart, walk in to a covey of quail at night while coon hunting.

Dick2 · Dec 7, 2015

I think hawks are their worst enemy. If you watch them closely when they are out in the open, they always have their eyes on the sky. I've seen hawks pick them right out of the air if one flew out in the open, so they try to get under cover fast.

sms · Dec 7, 2015

Or cut across a pasture at night and not knowing what kind of cattle are running over to check you out.

Married2Allis · Dec 7, 2015

Possum, skunks, and coons like quail eggs. This is a factor also. Controlling foxes and bobcat numbers will help too. Is your property heavily wooded? Quail live on the edges so you can clear cut some parts to make even more cover for them.

Steamboat · Dec 7, 2015

Steve,
I don't know which County you are from. I live in Mecklenburg County. I am retired as the Project Wildlife Biologist at John H. Kerr Reservoir. I spent an inordinate amount of my 22 years there restoring Quail habitat on the 50,000 acres around the lake. My suggestion for you is to first google the "Virginia Bobwhite Quail Management Plan." This will give you some basic facts on quail habitat and population dynamics. There is a prompt there to get in touch with your local VDGIF "Private Lands Biologist." This is the game department contact that can meet with you and tailor make a plan to suit your needs and expectations. He can also guide you towards obtaining cost share from NRCS, FSA, Quail Unlimited and VDGIF. The man in charge of the Virginia Quail Plan is Mark Puckett, Farmville 434 392-3942.

Steamboat · Dec 7, 2015

OOps... Mark Puckett's phone no. is 434 392-9645

John Athey · Dec 9, 2015

Steve - what is your email address? I will forward you the info I received from the State of Virginia.

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