To successfully manage quail, it must be understood that they cannot be stockpiled from year to year like some game animals can. Habitat Needs Quality habitat is key to good quail populations. A density of one bird per acre can be achieved with intensive habitat management. Native bunch grasses such as broomsedge, little bluestem and indiangrass are favored cover. Summer brood-rearing habitat.
Quail chicks require weedy areas that are open underneath with plenty of bare ground.
The area should have new growth that will attract insects. Areas disturbed with disking or fire within the last year will provide this. Hunters often supplement winter food by planting sorghum, corn or some other grain. Sufficient food is usually produced by simply managing enough nesting cover and brood-rearing habitat with some type of disturbance. Ragweed, partridge pea and many other native food plants appear after disking or burning, for example.