Managing for quail?

[Quillback]

Yeah, you are just feeding the local wildlife if you turn loose farm raised birds.  Best thing to do with those planted birds is get your dog and go shoot them all, because if you don't the local critters will get them.  You've gotta have good habitat, lots of info out there on what makes for good quail habitat.

My grandpas farm in SE MO had quail on it back in the day.  Back then they had brushy fence rows bordering their fields.  No tall trees for hawks and such to hang out in.

If you haven't been out to central KS where the bobwhite populations are still strong, might be worth a trip out there to see what the habitat that they live in looks like.  

Locally, the Pea Ridge battlefield is being managed to a certain degree for quail, another spot worth taking a look at.  

[Terrierman]

23 hours ago, Kayser said:

Looking for suggestions from any quail fanatics on how to improve what I would call "nearly depleted hay ground" to hold a few coveys of quail.

We're looking to improve some mixed hay pasture/timber land in the Union Breaks geographical region. There's a few quail running around the area in the spring, but we've only seen 1 on the property itself. We mostly hunt deer there right now, but we'd love to see more quail and rabbits on the place. Photos below are the 100+/- acre parcel map outlined in red, and a photo of the north pasture. Pastures get mowed/hayed once a year, typically June.

Creek runs east-west through the center, hills sloping up to north and southwest. We have a couple thicker brush patches in the north pasture, and are looking at which trees to drop to feather the edges. Pastures are mostly little bluestem, maybe a bit of clover, and god only know what else (photo below). The SW pasture is patchy/barren on a hillside. SE pastures are kinda flat, mixed material. Minimal fescue.

Questions:

1. What seed could we overseed/broadcast spread in February during a freeze/thaw cycle that would germinate and improve the habitat? Can't be a problem for hay production.

    1.a Grass, legume, forbs/wildflowers/other broadleafs? Hoping for something native.

2. What food plots could we plant that would benefit both deer & quail?

3. Any suggestions for planting strips broomcorn/sorghum (visual cover + food)? Want to break up the visibility of the place from the road, provide some visual cover for walking to deer stands, and add a bit of winter food for wildlife.

4. Suggestions for a biologist or other pro that might have some better suggestions? MDC, Quail Unlimited, etc?

 

 

 

How do you feel about 12 feet wide multiflora fence rows?

[BilletHead]

39 minutes ago, Terrierman said:

How do you feel about 12 feet wide multiflora fence rows?

            Good/not so good. Can we find something less invasive like strips of native prairie? 

[Dutch]

I have been trying to get rid of multifloral rose for 20 years.  It apparently is spread by birds.

[tjm]

I found it easier to get rid of multifloral rose than to eradicate fescue.

[BilletHead]

2 hours ago, tjm said:

I found it easier to get rid of multifloral rose than to eradicate fescue.

And they both are worthless. Fescue is cheap and tough for the cattleman, so I'd say we're stuck with it.

 

[oneshot 1]

Plant Wheat or Rye for Deer and Quail.

I would Trap anything including Skunks.

oneshot 

[Johnsfolly]

13 hours ago, BilletHead said:

And they both are worthless. Fescue is cheap and tough for the cattleman, so I'd say we're stuck with it.

 

Add autumn olive to that list.

[BilletHead]

1 hour ago, Johnsfolly said:

Add autumn olive to that list.

            Yes!

[Ketchup]

Johnson grass, thistle, knapweed, bluestem, etc. all play heck on areas where quail numbers thrived. With the over abundance of predators and invasion weeds, it’s almost impossible to get ahead of the curve. If i had another large farm “over 200 acres” i would start with fence row protection, 12’ wide native cover grasses between fence rows and trees, supply strips between ag areas “if ag is planted”, and do lots and LOTS of predator control.