CRC
Old Mossy Horns
Frank Barick, former head of the NCWRC big game department
http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/outdoors/article160151294.html
http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/outdoors/article160151294.html
wonder if he is right on the cause of the quail's demise?
never heard that theory before except locals who killed every hawk they could justifying by their appetite for quail.
Quit with the facts, your killing me.I've heard of turkeys deprecating quail but never deer,,,,,interesting point of view
Ft Bragg has 100k ish acres that they burn religiously,,,,,food plots and native fallow areas galore,,,,and deer aren't near as numerous as they were in the 80s,,,
So where's the quail?
I think Mr Barick had a valid point of view
The Ft. Bragg and CURE projects can only do so much. They can't replace the millions of acres of habitat that have been lost. The predator question has actually been tested by r searchers. Every time it offers a slight improvement in numbers and survival, but nothing compared to habitat improvement.
Leg holds on poles, high brass #6s. Rabbit in distress calls.I'll have to look at them,,,,,I've heard it many times (first official time was down at Avon Park from their folks) but always wondered how they controlled the hawks on a large enough area for a real study as they are federally protected
Leg holds on poles, high brass #6s. Rabbit in distress calls.
I have hunted on a few quail plantations (remaining) in the deep south. They supplemental feed and a squirrel and coon isn't a wanted guest for the birds.I didn't say how "I'd do it"!!!
called in a grey owl up in Harnett county one time,,,,dang came in silent and landed 8 ft from me,,,,looking for that rabbit,,,,,,,,,they have very intense eyes,,,,,,,,
The Ft. Bragg and CURE projects can only do so much. They can't replace the millions of acres of habitat that have been lost. The predator question has actually been tested by r searchers. Every time it offers a slight improvement in numbers and survival, but nothing compared to habitat improvement.
I don't think there has ever been a predator study that attempted to remove avian predators from a research site. Only terrestrial predators...raccoons, opossums, feral cats, foxes, snakes. But even with the removal of all these predators the increase of quail numbers was insignificant and the trapping costs were very high. Long term the only option is habitat management on a grand scale. We're talking hundreds to thousands of acres. Quail management is expensive. Very expensive. It's best to just go to a shooting gallery with your buddies, buy a few dozen birds, shoot them, and then have a few cold beers afterwards. That's how modern quail hunting is done. It has replaced the old fashioned Saturday afternoon bowling alley get together.
That's what I keep thinking...
When people say, "well the habitat is the same," I tend to wonder if they haven't noticed that the trees are a lot taller (and therefore way less undergrowth) and the fields a lot cleaner. Also, they aren't going and cutting down 12 trees at the edge of the field to make a fence anymore.
The other thing I keep thinking, is that there isn't the same continuity. Where it used to be in a dry year they could move lower, and in a wet year they could move higher, or something, now their habitat is more cut off. That former low spot that was a refuge in dry years is a pond or has been drained. The weed covered field was taken over by the old farmer's son, who runs a clean farm maximizing his yields.
Quail do seem to be bouncing back in areas that are a little more open...Kansas, OK, Iowa, NE, etc...all seem to be doing better with quail. I was talking to a guy that found some in South Dakota, not typically thought of as quail country when he was hunting for either sharpies or huns or pheasant. What does open country mean? Fewer perches for hawks.
Just my thoughts.