Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What quail are native to North Carolina? A: The northern bobwhite is the only quail native to NC. There are many people that believe that distinct populations exist with differing characteristics. "Mountain Quail" are thought to be bigger in size in order to survive the colder weather.Q: I'm not a hunter, why should I support Quail Unlimited? A: Though many of our members are sportsmen, almost all are conservationists first. Northern bobwhite can be thought of as an indicator species. Habitat that is necessary for prosperous coveys of quail is also vital to many other species, especially upland songbirds. When numbers of quail decline, there is almost always dimished numbers witnessed for these other species as well.Q: I used to see three or four coveys of quail on my property, but I don't see many anymore, where did they go and what changed? A: This is a complicated question without a short answer. When habitat conditions change, the species that use specific habitats will change. Old farming practices (such as leaving fields fallow, burning, and rotational grazing) used to provide much valuable habitat for upland species as an afterthought. With the increased land values, farmers are much less willing to leave space "untended". Double-cropping is common nowadays and new harvesting technology does not leave very much food for wildlife. Due to perceived risk and public perception, controlled burning is not employed to clear fields or maintain grasslands to the extent necessary for maintaining good brood-rearing habitat. The biggest change to habitat in the SE came with the introduction of tall FESCUE, an exotic cool-season grass planted for forage and landscaping. It has no food value and provides marginal cover at best, in addition to invading natural areas and displacing valuable native plants.Q: I have been planting food plots for some time now, why don't I see an increase in my quail numbers? A: All wildlife require three things to survive: food, water, and cover. In the east, water is not usually a limiting factor. Food is important, but without cover, all the food in the world will not sustain healthy quail populations. For bobwhite quail, we further break down cover into three main types: nesting cover, brood-rearing cover, and wintering (loafing) cover. Any of these can sometimes be considered as escape cover. In the piedmont of NC, the most limiting factor for quail is brood-rearing cover, which is utilized after the chicks leave the nest but are not yet able to fly. Lastly, concerning food plots, most managers place too much emphasis on "warm-season" food plots. These include milo, millet, corn, and sunflowers. A good management approach includes plantings of partridge pea, lespedeza, ragweed, wildflowers, and vetch. The seeds from these plants are generally available for longer periods of time than traditional plantings.Q: Can I restock quail on my property? A: Though "pen-raised" quail can be successful (rare), if wild quail are already present, it is best to help those populations through habitat manipulation. Pen-raised birds that are released as adults do not usually possess the instincts to survive for long periods. Research on a method called "surrogation" indicates that this method will result in huntable populations over time.Q: What other questions do you have? A: If you are reading this and still have more questions, we would love to hear from you! If you are unable to attend a chapter meeting, please email questions to: bobwhite@carolinaquail.org