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deer limits in the 80's and 90's
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<blockquote data-quote="TheLBLman" data-source="post: 5821812" data-attributes="member: 1409"><p>Similar to my experience growing up in West TN.</p><p></p><p>I personally do not believe coyotes, armadillos and fire ants have had much to do with the near extinction of quail in West TN. For starters, the decline was already severe before we had armadillos & fire ants.</p><p></p><p>I believe the #1 reason was a loss of the adapted habitat and free range of contiguous adapted habitat for which quail had adapted over hundreds of years. This loss of that ideal habitat may have been most significantly the wholesale replacement of native grasses with fescue hay grass. Fescue created a food shortage for quail, as well as made it easier for quail to be caught by foxes and house cats.</p><p></p><p>Next, "clean" farming techniques eliminated a lot of nesting cover, and killed (or caused decline of) many the insects baby quail need to survive their first few weeks. Less cover, less to eat, made quail, especially young ones, much easier to see and catch by all predators.</p><p></p><p>Lastly, and perhaps the most overlooked or least discussed:</p><p>The Cooper's Hawk (as well as other raptors & owls) have had population explosions.</p><p>The Cooper's Hawk mainly eats birds, and may have mainly fed on quail when they existed.</p><p></p><p>Yes, many factors, but I believe habitat changes (not just losses) coupled with increased raptor predation may have been highest on the list.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="TheLBLman, post: 5821812, member: 1409"] Similar to my experience growing up in West TN. I personally do not believe coyotes, armadillos and fire ants have had much to do with the near extinction of quail in West TN. For starters, the decline was already severe before we had armadillos & fire ants. I believe the #1 reason was a loss of the adapted habitat and free range of contiguous adapted habitat for which quail had adapted over hundreds of years. This loss of that ideal habitat may have been most significantly the wholesale replacement of native grasses with fescue hay grass. Fescue created a food shortage for quail, as well as made it easier for quail to be caught by foxes and house cats. Next, "clean" farming techniques eliminated a lot of nesting cover, and killed (or caused decline of) many the insects baby quail need to survive their first few weeks. Less cover, less to eat, made quail, especially young ones, much easier to see and catch by all predators. Lastly, and perhaps the most overlooked or least discussed: The Cooper's Hawk (as well as other raptors & owls) have had population explosions. The Cooper's Hawk mainly eats birds, and may have mainly fed on quail when they existed. Yes, many factors, but I believe habitat changes (not just losses) coupled with increased raptor predation may have been highest on the list. [/QUOTE]
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deer limits in the 80's and 90's
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