Oh the irony…

[Micneador]

Several years ago on Hulah, they bulldozed a ton of trees to put fences up on the WMA boundaries. The next couple years there were quail everywhere. I think they really liked having all the brush piles to nest in.

I really try not to be a know it all on this forum, but quail don't nest in brush piles. They require old growth bunch grasses like blue stem (big, little, or yellow) and love grass. Brush piles or areas of woody cover are a absolute must for habitat. Mostly used for predatory escape.

There is a lot of Oklahoma that has become forested that shouldn't be on a native habitat standpoint and as much of a habitat issue (spealing soley on quail) as coastal bermuda. The WMA the OP speaks of is included in that as well historically speaking.


Edit on my end: and I HATE anything cedar that wants to grow in native grass prairies. Kill em all!

 

[BTaylor]

I really try not to be a know it all on this forum, but quail don't nest in brush piles. They require old growth bunch grasses like blue stem (big, little, or yellow) and love grass. Brush piles or areas of woody cover are a absolute must for habitat. Mostly used for predatory escape.

There is a lot of Oklahoma that has become forested that shouldn't be on a native habitat standpoint and as much of a habitat issue (spealing soley on quail) as coastal bermuda. The WMA the OP speaks of is included in that as well historically speaking.


Edit on my end: and I HATE anything cedar that wants to grow in native grass prairies. Kill em all!

Fescue is one of the big problem here for quail and turkey poults.

 

[Micneador]

Fescue is one of the big problem here for quail and turkey poults.

Definitely. It chokes out a lot of broad leaf cool season plants that are a lot better for wildlife.

The amount of clover I've seen (in my parts) this spring is insane, and the grasshoppers to follow are not far behind. If turkeys/quail were able to get a hatch off there is plenty of food for those chicks!