Bring Back the Quail Call
Remember waking up to the Bobwhite Quail call on your farm? Bring it back with the right mix of native species and several well-established quail covey headquarters. These are woody "shrub islands" that quail can use as loafing and safe areas. Follow your planting with a quail-friendly management regime to guarantee good hunting habitat on your farm.
Throughout their lives, quail need a variety of cover and forage.
- Diverse native grass stands provide roosting cover.
- Native forbs and legumes provide brood rearing cover and food.
- Native shrub islands serve as escape cover and covey headquarters.
Without all these components, quail have a hard time surviving and reproducing. How you design your quail covey headquarters is not as important as including all the required cover types listed above.
Get incentives for restoring quail habitat!
Quail Unlimited (in Missouri) has a Quail Habitat Initiative(QHI) that, in counties where chapters participate, provides funds to do quail habitat restoration. Contact your Private Land Conservationist for more information.
Technical help for establishing successful quail habitat abounds.
Consult your MDC PLC, your FSA agent or Quail Unlimited representative for detailed information about burning, disking and mowing to maintain excellent quail habitat on your farm.On the Edge shows you how to manage your land for Bobwhite Quail. Full of photos, illustrations and detailed instructions, this booklet is FREE from MDC.
