Dilemma

[Turkish]

One thing you can do to really help quail is to plant an improved and aggressive variety of partridge pea like they sell at Roundstone. It keeps finding a way to come back year after year - even when perennials start to take over the ground. It can also be easily brought back by light disking if it ever needs it.

I think most biologist who have experience with it would tell you that it is almost the perfect plant for quail because of:

1. Abundant tiny seed which quail relish as food.
2. Good cover - 5 or 6 feet tall for the improved varieties.
3. Excellent survivability for an annual plant.
4. A forb that doesn't get choked out in NWSGs as easily as some.

The quail biologists in the South recommend strongly against the Lark cultivar of partridge pea due to its aggressiveness. Not sure if that’s the variety you’re talking about.

 

[Native Hunter]

The quail biologists in the South recommend strongly against the Lark cultivar of partridge pea due to its aggressiveness. Not sure if that’s the variety you’re talking about.

I only know that I absolutely love what I have, and I absolutely love it because it is aggressive. It doesn't make sense to me to buy seed for a prairie plant that will disappear in a year or two. That's a waste of money in my opinion.

PS - My seed came from the place recommended by my biologist who happens to be very experienced in prairie restoration in my area.

 

[Turkish]

I only know that I absolutely love what I have, and I absolutely love it because it is aggressive. It doesn't make sense to me to buy seed for a prairie plant that will disappear in a year or two. That's a waste of money in my opinion.

PS - My seed came from the place recommended by my biologist who happens to be very experienced in prairie restoration in my area.

For sure. The concern they raised was not related to its reseeding vigor but its ability to quickly become a monoculture, too tall and thick to benefit quail, and inability to be set back with fire.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Took like 25 acres out of crop last night after talking with my farmer. So I’m going to scrap the dove field idea where I was thinking. I may plant one on 3-4 acres I took out instead

 

[Native Hunter]

For sure. The concern they raised was not related to its reseeding vigor but its ability to quickly become a monoculture, too tall and thick to benefit quail, and inability to be set back with fire.

Tall, thick and nasty are my top goals for my place. I built my place strictly for deer. The fact that i now also have 4 coveys of quail makes a nice conversation subject, but it’s of much less importance.

If my PP ever starts choking out native grass with roots that go 14 feet deep, I will be the first to warn everyone on the forum.

 

[Turkish]

Tall, thick and nasty are my top goals for my place. I built my place strictly for deer. The fact that i now also have 4 coveys of quail makes a nice conversation subject, but it’s of much less importance.

If my PP ever starts choking out native grass with roots that go 14 feet deep, I will be the first to warn everyone on the forum.

Just passing along some quail knowledge on the quail board pertaining to quail!

Keep rocking your deer paradise!

 

[Native Hunter]

Just passing along some quail knowledge on the quail board pertaining to quail!

Keep rocking your deer paradise!

Yes, that’s what I was doing too - just passing on some quail knowledge that has worked in real life for me. Best wishes.

 

[jsasker007]

Checked on some partridge pea seed. They certainly aren't giving that stuff away. GEEZ. Bought 5 lbs to try in a edge of woods scenario that gets afternoon sun. Hope it works.

 

[omicron1792]

I think idea PP could somehow outcompete and choke out NWSG pretty crazy. Doubt those biologists have any real world experience with that.

NWSG choking out the PP….absolutely.