ksgobbler
5 year old buck +
I’ve had some discussions on other threads so thought we could get one going. I know most on here manage for deer. I am a bit of a rebel on this site as my primary management objective is quail. Kansas is also trying to reduce a declining trend in quail in the eastern half of the state so they are lending expertise.
I’ve had 3 different quail biologists out here with similar ideas. One of them is a high school classmate. When I bought the property it had numerous issues due to neglect. My primary 10 acre field was 50/50 native grass and cool season grasses with sericea and woody encroachment. The roads were lined with overgrown thick stands of cedar. The south field had been plowed but nothing else so it was rough, had numerous cedars, honey locust, elm, and Osage orange. I also have a ditch with large locust and elm trees that run 1/4 mile. I do have a good 5 acre patch of native grasses. I also have lots of plum and dogwood thickets.
When the first gentleman visited he gave me 3 areas to focus on. Tree removal, sericea control, and native grass restoration. Mind you the first year we owned the property I never saw a covey of quail.
The first thing I did was restore fire to the prairie. The tall grass prairie evolved with fire and the previous owner took it out removed it for 25 years. Fire torched out the scattered cedars and made fire control along the road difficult. I am a former wildland firefighter and worked on a prescribed fire crew. Putting fire in at the right time damages woody plants, encourages forbs, and sets back cool season grasses. Quail are known as the bird of fire.
I’ve also ran the heck out of a saw removing trees. I think I can safely say 1000s. An aerial photo from 1981 shows 2 trees along the creek. I’ve got more firewood than I can burn. I’ve created numerous brushpiles which the quail and rabbits seem to love. I burn a few every year but I am constantly making more. I currently have a contract to remove 75 yards of trees including some pecans. Raptors take a huge toll on quail so I want as few perches as possible.
I’ve had 3 different quail biologists out here with similar ideas. One of them is a high school classmate. When I bought the property it had numerous issues due to neglect. My primary 10 acre field was 50/50 native grass and cool season grasses with sericea and woody encroachment. The roads were lined with overgrown thick stands of cedar. The south field had been plowed but nothing else so it was rough, had numerous cedars, honey locust, elm, and Osage orange. I also have a ditch with large locust and elm trees that run 1/4 mile. I do have a good 5 acre patch of native grasses. I also have lots of plum and dogwood thickets.
When the first gentleman visited he gave me 3 areas to focus on. Tree removal, sericea control, and native grass restoration. Mind you the first year we owned the property I never saw a covey of quail.
The first thing I did was restore fire to the prairie. The tall grass prairie evolved with fire and the previous owner took it out removed it for 25 years. Fire torched out the scattered cedars and made fire control along the road difficult. I am a former wildland firefighter and worked on a prescribed fire crew. Putting fire in at the right time damages woody plants, encourages forbs, and sets back cool season grasses. Quail are known as the bird of fire.
I’ve also ran the heck out of a saw removing trees. I think I can safely say 1000s. An aerial photo from 1981 shows 2 trees along the creek. I’ve got more firewood than I can burn. I’ve created numerous brushpiles which the quail and rabbits seem to love. I burn a few every year but I am constantly making more. I currently have a contract to remove 75 yards of trees including some pecans. Raptors take a huge toll on quail so I want as few perches as possible.