Proponents of feeding hope to accomplish one or more of the following:

• Improve quail survival
• Increase body condition of quail
• Improve reproduction
• Attract quail to specific areas for ease of hunting

Whereas opponents argue that feeding quail is undesirable because:

• It is costly
• Nontarget animals eat most of the feed
• There in no treatment response
• feeders attract predators which may actually reduce quail numbers
• Feeders concentrate quail and facilitate diseaseand parasite transmission

What does the research say?
Supplemental feeding with milo increased overwinter survival of bobwhites during times of severe winter stress in western Oklahoma, but covey size and quail density the following fall was similar between a fed and a non-fed area. Researchers at TAMU-Kingsville reported lower survival of bobwhites where roads were baited with milo during a dry year, but no effect on survival during a wetter year. Survival data from several studies and found that average winter survival on control areas (0.30) was similar to that on fed areas (0.39). Supplemental winter feeding of milo increased bobwhite body fat in south Texas but the increased body fat did not result in increased bobwhite densities the following fall.

Preliminary results of research in northern Florida indicate that year-round supplementation with milo, in addition to providing a formulated egg-laying ration, significantly improved survival and reproduction of bobwhites on fed sites in northern Florida. On average, nest incubation began 1 month earlier and overall nest productivity was 3 times greater on fed sites. Oklahoma State’s Fred Guthery assessed data on fall densities from 8 studies of supplemental feeding. He found that mean autumn density on control areas was 0.47 quail/acre versus 0.51 quail/acre on fed areas. These means imply that there were no effect of feeding on winter survival and therefore on autumn bird density.

Milo is the most commonly used energy supplement. A diet composed entirely of milo does not meet minimum protein or phosphorous requirements of bobwhite during the breeding season. Protein has been suggested as an important supplemental nutrient for improving bobwhite productivity but south Texas bobwhites were able to meet minimum reproductive protein requirements, but not minimum phosphorus requirements, by using native foods. If the objective of a feeding program is to improve reproductive success, then a total ration supplied through the breeding and brooding seasons (March–May) may be more appropriate

There is no argument that feeding (baiting) attracts quail and makes them more accessible for hunting. Home ranges of bobwhites in Roberts County, Texas were 34– 63% smaller on fed sites relative to unfed sites. Home ranges of areas with baited roads were smaller (81%) than those without baited roads in a south Texas study during a dry year; quail were also located twice as close to roads as the unbaited site.

Some management concerns regarding supplemental feeding for quail include direct, e.g., potential exposure to aflatoxins and attraction of nest-depredating mesomammals [e.g., raccoons] to feeders.

In search of the better mousetrap
A variety of feeding systems have been tried. Most employ some type of fixed feeder, usually a steel drum with some kind of dispensing mechanism. One design that I recommend is a home-made design I call the Currie Quail Feeder in honor of J. Currie of Garden City. This rugged, inexpensive feeder consists of several holes (9/32 inch for feeding milo or 7/32 inch for feeding wheat) drilled about 1 inch off the bottom of the barrel. The barrel is then placed on a wheel rim for a support, leaving the feeder holes about quail’s eye height. Steel t-posts can be used to secure the feeder in the presence of livestock.

Various cages or shields are sometimes positioned around a feeder to restrict entry/use by non-target species (e.g,. raccoons, wild turkeys). While a lot of commercially-made feeders claim to be “varmint proof”, I’m skeptical, but see for yourself—monitor your feeders periodically with remote cameras.

In summary, if you want to feed, and can afford to feed, then feed. At worst, feeding appears to be a neutral practice. 

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