I'd like to hear from the "lurking government agents " on this site about what the TWRA has done for quail in TN in the last 25 years. I know the TN ag ext will help with planting native grasses, blah , blah, but that's nothing compared to the money they've spent on other species. Especially ducks. It's sad that it's all about what $ comes in, instead of their mission statement. Maybe I've missed something somewhere. If so please enlighten me.
If the quail birds don’t need help, then nothing does
- Thread starter Monk74
- Start date
Quail unlike other animals can't be raised and released and survive, a lot of effort has been put into that, habitat is key and a lot of that has been lost. Twra has spent $ on land and improvements but it's a slow rebuild if at all possible and is more than likely a try to stop the decline , trying to debate lurking twra employee's here is a lost cause, contact 1 of the board members after you have done your home work on what has been done, the twra web site has a lot of stuff to read if you start digging into it and may answer some of your questions and may raise some new 1's.
https://www.tn.gov/twra/search-results.html?q=quail start here for a little lite reading
Personally I feel that it's up to land owners to create and retain habitat in sufficient amounts. Government can encourage and educate for that behavior but that's about it.
The best I can do from a blind today. The first picture is a hard edge, larger trees, foreste ground with minimal cover. Crops planted to the woods. This is a lack of cover, a lack of habitat and is not good for any game.
The next picture is a soft edge where there is a buffer of shrubs, bushes, weeds and grasses between the field edge and the forested ground. This is habitat. This is good for all game. The third and 4th pictures are better yet. This is why this farm has quail and neighbors do not.
The world will send the quail the way of the dodo. Spending state money on them in Tennessee borders on wasteful. The very specific conditions that they need to able to thrive in are going away. Note that I didn't say "live" in. I said thrive. They can still live in patches. I love quail hunting but I am resigned to the fact that I will have to travel to be able to do it properly.
7mm08
Well-Known Member
Doesn't the government pay for CRP lands or is that just in pheasant country?
Habitat is the main part but the predators are next. I think its up to the landowner to do what they can for habitat. I don't believe some of the restrictions on predators is helping the situation. That could be corrected but it isn't.
That's really my big complaint. There's just so many predators its just hard for any of the ground nesting birds to thrive even if you have done all you can for the habitat. I have to stop trapping on Feb 28 and i can't shoot hawks or hunt coyotes at night when they come out with everything else that eats them.
Im still doing all i can but a little more help is needed and would be appreciated.
That's really my big complaint. There's just so many predators its just hard for any of the ground nesting birds to thrive even if you have done all you can for the habitat. I have to stop trapping on Feb 28 and i can't shoot hawks or hunt coyotes at night when they come out with everything else that eats them.
Im still doing all i can but a little more help is needed and would be appreciated.
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
I went fishing on a lake on the middle.of a well (and agressively) managed WMA in south MS this past Sat. While I only caught 3 small bass and 1 crappie, I heard 3 different bobwhites calling around the lake. I'm not sure we will ever have a huntable population again, but you can have a few birds which are self sustaining if you put in a TON of work habitat wise.
My local deer lease in south MS also has 3 different males I've heard this spring. But again, very aggressive habitat mamagement..
I've got 1 small covey on the new farm I bought in TN... but I'm spending a few thousand dollars annually on that 79 acres improving habitat.
I do miss the days as a kid (10yo) walking the hedgerows without a dog and kicking up 4 or 5 covers with my .410... I'd shoot 7 or 8 times, usually get 1 or 2 quail every hunt. Such good memories!
My local deer lease in south MS also has 3 different males I've heard this spring. But again, very aggressive habitat mamagement..
I've got 1 small covey on the new farm I bought in TN... but I'm spending a few thousand dollars annually on that 79 acres improving habitat.
I do miss the days as a kid (10yo) walking the hedgerows without a dog and kicking up 4 or 5 covers with my .410... I'd shoot 7 or 8 times, usually get 1 or 2 quail every hunt. Such good memories!
You've been on CRP land in sevierville.
Mattt
Well-Known Member
Actually all you have to do is nothing. Don't plant, don't mow, don't weed eat. Don't put fire out.
There nothing you can do about farmers taking out fence rows. The natural habitat is gone. Everything eats quail or their nests including turkeys so with the death of the fur market the furred animal numbers keep going up. They traded turkey for quail.
DoubleRidge
Well-Known Member
Agree that changes in habitat and less people hunting/trapping nest raiders has had a negative effect on quail.....and I've heard the theory that turkey's eat or destroy quail nest....but I've never found a documented study saying this is a common issue or concern? I'm sure it's happened before but of all the challenges the quail faces...I wouldn't think the wild turkey would be anywhere near the top of the list.
RoyalPrudent
Well-Known Member
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Turkeys would sure enough eat chicks if they came across em.
DoubleRidge
Well-Known Member
I'm sure it's happened before.....but of all the challenges the quail faces...I wouldn't think the wild turkey would be anywhere near the top of the list of threats......I've heard people suggest (not you) that "turkeys are killing all the quail chicks"....or....."turkeys are destroying all the quail nest".....and "that's why we don't have quail today".....I don't believe this to be so and I have never read one reputable publication that supports the theory...is it possible that it's happened before?....sure....I just believe quail have bigger challenges to overcome than the wild turkey.
7mm08
Well-Known Member
And some darn fine CRP but you are not the common farmer I might add.You've been on CRP land in sevierville.
kind of funny i just now seen this. Just last thursday morning i heard two quail, one to the south and one to the east of my house as i was leaving for work have not heard any around here for at least 10 years. Maybe the cat relocation project is working. sss
