Filed by btucker in Feature, Local News.
July 25, 2011

Quail numbers continue to decline in Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is planning research to find out why. Upland game bird biologist Doug Schoeling said weather and habitat have always influenced quail.

“Since we can’t really control the weather, the only thing we know we can do is control what habitat is out there,” Schoeling said. “So we try and benefit the habitat by improving the habitat for the quail.”

The numbers have been declining since the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife began surveying in 1990. Schoeling said they are working with Oklahoma State University to study how different management practices affect quail movements and production.

“We’re gonna look at the interaction between fire and grazing and see which of those interactions benefit quail the most by putting radio collars on the quail,” Schoeling said.

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation will use this information to educate private landowners.