Bobwhite Quail: The Quail Question - Texas Parks and Wildlife [Official] Video Lecture | Hunter Education: Becoming an Expert Hunter - Hobbies

>> IT'S A WONDERFUL BIRD.
GENTLEMAN BOB.
>> IT'S ONE OF THE MORE
IMPORTANT GAME SPECIES
DOWN HERE.
IT'S BIG BUSINESS.
>> TEXAS IS A LEADER IN
BOBWHITE QUAIL, BUT UH,
ACROSS THE SOUTH,
BOBWHITE POPULATIONS HAVE BEEN
DECLINING FOR SEVERAL DECADES.
>> MANY STATES THROUGHOUT
THE SOUTHEAST HAVE LOST 90%
OF THEIR QUAIL POPULATIONS
OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS,
WHICH IS A VERY SERIOUS
SITUATION.
(bobwhite call)
>> QUAIL ARE IN TROUBLE.
THE LONG-TERM HEALTH OF
THE NORTHERN BOBWHITE QUAIL AND
OTHER GRASSLAND BIRD SPECIES,
EVEN IN STRONGHOLD STATES
LIKE TEXAS, IS IN QUESTION.
>> RESTORING BOBWHITES IS
PROBABLY THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE
THE WILDLIFE PROFESSION AND
WILDLIFE CONSERVATIONISTS
HAVE EVER TRIED TO TACKLE.
>> SO IF QUAIL SURVIVAL
IS IN QUESTION,
WHAT IS THE ANSWER?
>> THE PROBLEM WITH BOBWHITES
IS A HABITAT PROBLEM
AT A MASSIVE LANDSCAPE SCALE.
LET'S GO UP HERE AND
WE'LL WALK DOWN THIS STRIP.
>> HUNTERS UNDERSTAND THAT
THE UNDERLYING THREAT TO
THESE BIRDS IS HABITAT LOSS,
AND THAT HUNTING,
IN FACT, MAY HOLD THE KEY
TO THEIR SURVIVAL.
>> THE FACT IS THAT, UH,
QUAIL HUNTERS ARE WILLING
TO PAY GOOD PRICES OFTEN TO
COME OUT AND HUNT WILD QUAIL.
(whistle blows)
>> COME HERE BLONDIE.
>> THIS GIVES FARMERS,
RANCHERS, AND RURAL LANDOWNERS
A STRONG ECONOMIC INCENTIVE TO
MAINTAIN HEALTHY QUAIL HABITAT.
>> WE'LL SHRED IT TO KEEP IT
UNDER CONTROL.
>> TOM KRANER ALSO UNDERSTANDS
THE VALUE OF QUAIL
TO RURAL ECONOMIES.
>> MOST OF THE
QUAIL HUNTING BUDDIES,
THEY ALL STAY AT THE MOTEL
AND EAT AT THE CAFÉ,
SHOP AT THE GROCERY STORES,
AND IT'S UH,
ECONOMICALLY A GREAT THING
FOR SOUTH TEXAS.
>> RECOGNIZING WHAT QUAIL
HAVE DONE FOR HIM
AND HIS LOCAL COMMUNITY,
TOM HAS DECIDED TO MANAGE HIS
RANCH TO BENEFIT THE BOBWHITE.
>> YOU JUST CAN'T TAKE
ALL THE TIME,
YOU GOTTA GIVE BACK.
>> WE TRY TO DO EVERYTHING
FOR THE QUAIL.
AND WE INCORPORATE THAT WITH OUR
DEER OPERATION DOWN HERE ALSO,
WHICH, DEER AND QUAIL CO-MINGLE,
AND NEED SIMILAR COVER,
SO WE TRY TO MAKE IT WORK
FOR EVERYBODY.
(cow moos)
>> MANAGING THESE 900 ACRES
FOR DEER AND QUAIL ALSO WORKS
WELL WITH THE EXISTING
CATTLE OPERATION.
>> CATTLE ARE BENEFICIAL TO
QUAIL,
SO LONG AS WE DON'T OVERDO IT.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF ROTATING
THOSE ANIMALS IN AND OUT.
WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE
A SITUATION WHERE THERE ARE
MORE NATIVE GRASSES
AND LESS OF YOUR INTRODUCED,
COASTAL TYPE GRASSES.
THERE'S NO BENEFIT IN
COASTAL FIELDS FOR QUAIL,
THERE'S JUST UH,
I MEAN THE DEER STARVE
IN A COASTAL FIELD,
IT'S ONLY GOOD FOR CATTLE.
AND THE FENCE ROWS
ARE ALL CLEARED,
AND THERE'S NO PLACE TO HIDE,
NO PLACE TO NEST,
THERE'S NO PLACE TO EAT.
IT'S A TOUGH SITUATION.
>> WHETHER FROM CATTLE GRAZING,
CROP CULTIVATION,
OR URBANIZATION,
MORE INTENSIVE LAND USE
HAS DAMAGED QUAIL HABITAT.
BUT WHAT CAN REPAIR IT?
>> IT NEEDS TO HAVE SOME TYPE
OF DIVERSITY TO IT.
QUAIL NEED TO HAVE A PLACE
WHERE THEY CAN ROOST,
THEY NEED A PLACE TO NEST,
THEY NEED A PLACE FOR COVER,
FROM HAWKS OR ANY OTHER TYPE
OF PREDATOR.
>> IT'S LOOKING REALLY GOOD,
LOOKING REAL CLUMPY.
I BET Y'ALL HAVE BEEN SEEING
SOME QUAIL IN HERE HAVEN'T YOU?
>> WITH SUGGESTIONS FROM
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE
BIOLOGIST ROBERT PEREZ...
>> THIS IS EXCELLENT NESTING
COVER.
>> ...SOME OLD METHODS ARE
BRINGING A NEW VARIETY OF LIFE
TO THIS GRASSLAND HABITAT.
>> YOU START BURNING AND
MANIPULATING,
AND IT JUST SCULPTS IT INTO
SOMETHING THEY CAN REALLY USE.
(fire crackling)
>> WE'LL BURN SOME PART
OF THE PROPERTY EVERY YEAR.
ANYTHING THAT LIVES OUT HERE
BENEFITS FROM SOME TYPE OF A
CONTROLLED BURN.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO CLEAR THOSE
AREAS IN SOME OF THIS THICK
BRUSH AND THICK GRASSES FOR
THESE NEW PLANTS AND
SEEDS AND FORBS TO COME UP,
AND IF YOU DON'T DO THAT,
A LOT OF THESE DON'T COME UP,
AND THOSE ARE GENERALLY HIGH
IN PROTEIN,
HIGH IN NUTRITIONAL VALUE.
A BABY QUAIL IS APPROXIMATELY
3 INCHES TALL?
IT CLEARS THESE LOW AREAS
FOR THESE QUAIL TO GET
AROUND WHERE THEY HAVE,
WITH THE WEEDS, THE FORBS,
THE NEW CLUMP GRASSES THAT
COME UP,
THEY HAVE THE TOP COVER AS
FAR AS PROTECTION FROM ABOVE,
BUT THEY HAVE THE OPEN AREAS
DOWN BELOW.
>> EVEN THE BEST MANAGEMENT
PRACTICES CAN'T HELP QUAIL
POPULATIONS WITHOUT A LITTLE
HELP FROM MOTHER NATURE,
BUT IT WAS A WET YEAR ACROSS
SOUTH TEXAS.
ON A WEEKEND IN LATE OCTOBER,
FAMILIES GATHERED AT CHAPARRAL
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
TO GET AN EARLY START AT SOME
OF THE BEST QUAIL HUNTING IN
YEARS ON SOME OF THE FINEST
QUAIL HABITAT IN THE STATE.
>> WHAT WE'RE HAVING
HERE THIS WEEKEND
IS A YOUTH/ADULT
DOVE AND QUAIL HUNT.
EVERYBODY GETS A CHANCE
TO START QUAIL HUNTING
ONE WEEK EARLY.
THAT WAY WE KNOW
THE KIDS ARE GOING TO GET
THE BEST POSSIBLE SHOT AT
THE QUAIL WE'VE GOT OUT HERE.
AND EVERYBODY
SHOULD HAVE A GOOD TIME.
>> IT'S A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE
AND TO HAVE THE ABILITY
TO BRING YOUR FAMILY
IS JUST ICING ON THE CAKE.
>> THAT'S ONE OF THE BEST PARTS.
SPENDING TIME WITH
MY DAD IS REALLY FUN.
>> REMEMBER LAST YEAR HOW
HARD IT WAS TO START THE FIRE,
AND THIS YEAR WE STARTED IT
THE FIRST TIME.
>> THIS IS A NICE LITTLE CHANGE.
IT'S NICE AND PEACEFUL.
IT'S QUIET OUT HERE.
THERE'S NO TV, NO RADIO,
SO IT'S NICE TO GET
AWAY EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE.
YOU GET TO WALK AROUND A LOT.
YOU GET TO SEE A LOT OF
WILDLIFE INSTEAD OF JUST
SITTING IN A DEER BLIND.
>> QUAIL HUNTING,
YOU'RE WALKING THOUSANDS
OF ACRES AND THE BIRDS GO OFF
AND WHEN IT'S GOOD THEY JUST
GET YOUR ADRENALINE GOING,
AND YOU'RE CHASING THOSE BIRDS
AND IT'S FAST AND FURIOUS.
IT'S UH,
IT'S VERY CHALLENGING.
(shots firing)
>> GOT HIM!
>> THERE'S DAVY, FIRST BIRD.
WHERE DID YOU SIGHT HIM?
>> RIGHT HERE...
THERE'S A FEATHER...
WHERE'S THE BIRD COCOA?
THERE HE IS.
>> OH THEY'RE HERE.
>> QUAIL WILL TOTALLY TAKE
YOU OUT OF YOUR BOOTS.
>> IT'S A MARVELOUS SPORT.
THEY HAVE A REAL GOOD CHANCE
OF GETTING AWAY EVERY TIME,
AND THEY, SOMETIMES YOU WON'T
EVEN GET A SHOT OFF WHEN YOU'RE,
WHEN YOU FIRST WALK OUT
INTO A FIELD BECAUSE THEY'LL
STUN YOU WITH THEIR FLIGHT.
I LOVE IT.
IT'S VERY SPORTING AND I'LL
ALWAYS WANT TO QUAIL HUNT.
>> WHAT A BEAUTIFUL BIRD.
THANK YOU COCOA.
>> IT'S VERY AFFORDABLE.
ONLY BECAUSE OF WHAT
THE STATE IS OFFERING US
THAT I CAN DO THIS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY
THE BIG DOLLARS TO HUNT.
>> NOT ONLY IS HUNTING AT
A WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
INEXPENSIVE,
IT ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO
THE SCIENCE OF WILDLIFE
MANAGEMENT.
HUNTERS BRING THEIR HARVESTED
BIRDS TO A CHECK STATION.
>> WE TRY NOT TO WASTE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN SOMETHING.
WE'VE GOT SOME FOLKS DOWN
FROM TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY
WHO ARE GOING TO BE REMOVING
THE QUAIL CROPS FROM THESE
BIRDS AND LOOKING AT THE
SEEDS IN THERE AND TRYING TO
DETERMINE IF THE BIRDS ARE
EXHIBITING A PREFERENCE FOR
CERTAIN PLANTS OVER OTHERS.
>> MALE JUVENILE.
>> THIS KIND OF RESEARCH COULD
LEAD TO NEW MANAGEMENT
PRACTICES TO ENHANCE QUAIL
HABITAT AND HUNTING
IN THE FUTURE.
IN THE MEANTIME A STATEWIDE
RECOVERY PLAN
HAS BEEN LAUNCHED.
STATE LAW NOW REQUIRES THAT
TEXAS QUAIL HUNTERS PURCHASE
AN UPLAND GAME BIRD STAMP
FOR THEIR HUNTING LICENSES.
RESULTING REVENUE WILL HELP
FUND QUAIL CONSERVATION WORK.
>> ONE OF THE BARGAINING POINTS
THAT WE USED TO FINALLY GET
THAT FIELD BORDERS PRACTICE
WAS THAT WE WOULD MONITOR
THE BIRD RESPONSE.
FEET NEED TO START HITTING
THE GROUND WITH BINOCULARS,
COUNTING STUFF.
>> AND BOBWHITE QUAIL RECENTLY
GAINED SOME NEW ALLIES
AT A CONFERENCE OF BIRDERS
IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.
>> THE BREEDING SEASON
COUNTS WOULD INCLUDE SONGBIRDS.
>> QUAIL FOLKS AND SONGBIRD
FOLKS ARE NOW PURSUING SOME
JOINT HABITAT RESTORATION
INITIATIVES.
AND THE SOUTHEASTERN QUAIL
STUDY GROUP,
THAT DEVELOPED THE NORTHERN
BOBWHITE CONSERVATION
INITIATIVE,
HOLDS ITS MEETING IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THIS SONGBIRD
CONFERENCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
AND ALLIANCES BETWEEN
QUAIL CONSERVATIONISTS
AND SONGBIRD CONSERVATIONISTS.
>> IT'S A WIN-WIN SITUATION
WHEN WE GO OUT AND MANAGE
FOR BOBWHITE QUAIL,
WE'RE GOING TO HELP A LOT OF
OTHER WILDLIFE SPECIES AND HELP
IMPROVE THE OVERALL ENVIRONMENT.
IF WE ALL JUST WORK TOGETHER
AND PULL TOGETHER ON IT,
WE CAN WE CAN HELP BOBWHITES,
HELP SONGBIRDS AND HELP
OURSELVES ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
>> AND THAT IMPORTANT WORK
OF RESTORING QUAIL HABITAT
FROM GEORGIA TO TEXAS IS
BEGINNING TO HAPPEN ON
FAMILY FARMS AND RANCHES
LIKE THE KRANERS'.
>> IT'S FUN TO SEE WHAT YOU
CAN DO TO YOUR PROPERTY TO
MOLD IT AND SEE HOW THE
QUAIL REACT TO IT.
>> FOR FOLKS LIKE TOM,
WHO HUNTED QUAIL HERE WITH
HIS FATHER,
KEEPING QUAIL ON THE LAND
FOR HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS
TO ENJOY IS A QUESTION
OF TRADITION.
>> THERE THEY GO!
>> GOOD SHOT, LINDA!
>> I WAS PRETTY MUCH RAISED ON
QUAIL SHOOTING IN SOUTH TEXAS.
WE REALLY ENJOY IT.
IT'S A GREAT PLACE AND
IT'S BEEN GREAT FOR OUR FAMILY
AND IT'S UH,
MY DAUGHTER LOVES IT AND
SHE'S JUST TURNED THREE AND
SHE JUST LOVES TO COME DOWN
AND RIDE IN THE SCOUT AND
WATCH THE DOGS AND LOOK AT
THE DEER AND THE CATTLE.
SOME PEOPLE GO TO THE PARK,
SOME PEOPLE GO TO RIDE
THEIR BIKES.
WE COME DOWN HERE TO FISH
AND TO RUN BIRD DOGS
AND TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS,
AND ENJOY EVERYTHING
THAT IT BRINGS US.
(quail call)