The bird also survives well in cultivated communities and prefers mesquite lined river valleys and drainages near these lands. Desert mountain foothills, mesquite springs, plains with diverse vegetation and any area of the desert receiving slightly more rainfall than surrounding parts, are all home to good populations of Gambel's quail. The quail is non-migratory and annual movements of the covey are less than 2 kilometers. Gambel's quails prefer to roost in dense shrubs or trees at night. Shade from various types of desert vegetation is also very helpful for the quail.
Dense cover provides shelter from predators.
Conservation Currently, there is no significant conservation effort to aide the Gamble's quail, but the bird is doing very well. Habitat degradation from urbanization and cattle grazing are possible threats to the bird. The Gambel's quail is an extremely popular game bird and there are few hunting restrictions. The season is long and the daily bag limit is fifteen birds. Hunters harvested an estimated 1,200,000 quail in 1994 and 1995.