I’m into the middle of my annual season to raise bobwhite quail for quail hunting. I’m actively running surrogator batches, improving the habitat and experimenting with wild quail feeders. It’s a marvelous adventure that allows me to spend time with my dog and my kids – how could things get any better?
Full Stock Tank for Water Conservation |
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Texas has been in a long term drouth for several years and we’re having a wet Summer. It’s also cooler this year due to the frequent rainfall. Water conservation is a big aspect of quail habitat management and something we watch and manage carefully. Bobwhite quail get their water from metabolism, dew and then surface water – primarily in that order. The collection and storage of rainfall in stock tanks is very valuable but the challenge in our arid country is finding ground suitable to collect and hold the rainfall. But, when you do, it is wonderful – to overflowing! |
Cutting Trees to Build Improve Quail Habitat |
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We also actively manage the invasive plant species to improve the quail habitat. This will also provide easy walking when quail hunting. Western Cedar or Juniper Ashe trees are highly invasive and will take over cleared pastures within 10-15 years if left untreated. Juniper trees aren’t actually as thirsty as most people think but they do have a big impact on water conservation. Here’s why. The leaf needles of the trees hold up to 1/3 if the rainfall. The dead leaves underneath the trees hold another 1/3 of the rainfall. Thus, only 1/3 of the active rainfall actually makes it into the ground – the rest is evaporated. Clearing large trees is a challenge but I have a tractor with hydraulic shears on the front that will make short work of trees up to 14 inches in diameter. And, I have to say, it’s a blast chopping those suckers down! |
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Small Water Holding Ponds |
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Clearing cedar and other invasive species can have a big impact on getting ground water spring to percolate and flow again. These small creeks and springs provide an excellent place for quail to brood protected from hawks and other raptors. Getting your springs flowing again is a great indicator of good quail habitat management. |
Fence Brush Management for Bobwhite Quail |
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Another aspect of quail habitat management is preserving their favorite locations. If you remember when you were a kid and there WERE quail, you found them on fence rows near a dirt road with grain fields on the side. Keeping the fences cleared is a normal part of any ranch management but spraying the trees growing on fence lines instead of chopping them down preserves the bobwhite quail habitat and lessens the work without having an impact on the fence itself. It’s not practical everywhere but where you can take this approach, it will benefit the bobwhite quail. |
Steady to Flush! |
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My poor dog – she get’s this “steady to flush” training three times every summer when I release my surrogated birds for quail hunting. I’m not actively hunting and harvesting them yet but we do hunt them and then I use a starter pistol instead of a real shotgun. Yes, it’s a bit disappointing for the dog but leaves more to breed and hunt in the future. |
Training Feeder |
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I’ve had some success with wild quail feeders. Most of the success has been supplementing the quail just after release from the surrogator. To increase my success, I start training the quail by using a smaller quail feeder inside the surrogator during the first 5 weeks so they are familiar with the sight and use of the quail feeder. I’m not sure it is a huge benefit but I’ve sen more quail at the quail feeders since I started doing it and it is such a simple thing to do. I’m learning that it is seldom one thing but a combination of several things that leads to success raising wild quail successfully. |
Sharing a Bobwhite Quail Feeder |
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My post release quail feeder attracts a lot of attention and for the most part, I’m happy to share until you become a pest. The deer like to snoop around and feed on the tailings and the bobwhite don’t mind them either. |
Feeder Raiders! |
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Coons, on the other hand, have become my quail feeder nemesis – especially when it becomes a “family affair”. These little critters not only feed, they raid and empty the feeder by shaking out too much feed. I’ve tried numerous approaches to keeping them away – none successful yet. But, I keep experimenting and will find the solution. |
Electrified Feeder |
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My highly electrified long term quail feeder was somewhat successful. It did attract wild quail and they did feed but it had some problems with leakage and moisture. I’m taking a different approach now as I found that while this quail feeder was effective, it wasn’t efficient to manage and use over the long term. That said, this has proven to be a good location to start quail hunting due to the prevalence of food. |
Summary of Bobwhite Quail Habitat and Feeders |
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| Management of quail habitat for bobwhite quail is tough work and requires sustained efforts. Quail surrogators work well to produce six week old bobwhite quail but they will only stay, survive and thrive if the quail habitat is sufficient and better than that available nearby. Quail feeders work but need to be designed and implemented with a specific purpose. Additionally, other wildlife will visit quail feeders and need to be managed appropriately | |
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