An August burn will prepare fescue for fall herbicide application when converting to wildlife-friendly mixes. The Conservation Department and the Natural Resources Conservation Service can help you plan your prescribed burns. Workshops and training manuals are available to provide information on weather, equipment, firebreak construction and burning techniques. Many county soil and water conservation districts loan equipment helpful in prescribed burns, such as torches, backpack blowers, rakes and sprayers. Abundant cover is an important component of quail habitat.
Legumes are necessary to provide brood-rearing habitat for quail, as well as forage for rabbits.
Recommended legumes include annual lespedeza, alfalfa, clovers and native legumes, such as partridge pea. You can drill legume seeds into an existing stand of grass without tilling, but don't broadcast unless you've removed the surface layer of dead grass by discing or burning. To keep grass from crowding out your legumes, you'll need to treat affected areas with prescribed burning or discing. If your CRP seeding originally contained a legume, you can use burning and discing to promote germination of dormant legume seeds. Shrub cover is essential for attracting quail to your land.