Palmetto Chapter Quail Unlimited and Dove Sportsman Society

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Quail Unlimited was founded in 1981 to battle the problem of dwindling quail populations and declining wildlife habitat and is the oldest national, nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to the wise management of America's wild quail. Known as "America's Leader In Quail Conservation our overall vision is to restore America's quail populations for future generations.

QUAIL HABITAT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS

National Seed Program
The National Seed Program is the single largest activity performed by QU chapters. Each year, several national seed companies donate surplus seed to Quail Unlimited. The seed, consisting primarily of grains used to develop winter feeding and cover sites, is then distributed to chapters for use in their food and cover planting projects.

Other Seed Purchases
In order to provide a greater diversity of planting materials for sportsmen and landowners, many chapters acquired additional types of seed. These seeds are used to develop quail nesting, feeding, brood-rearing and loafing sites. Examples: native grass, Korean lespedeza, bi-color lespedeza, partridge pea, Egyptian wheat, native legumes, timothy or clover.

Standing Crop Purchases
Some chapters encourage farmers to leave grain staning in strips at the edge of the field as winter wildlife food by remibursing the landowner for the crop.

Chapter Planting Activities
Chapter projects involve members in on-the-ground field work on either public or private lands.

Tree and Shrub Purchases
Deciduous trees and shrubs are used to develop winter cover, loafing sites, travel lanes and predator protection for quail through shelterbelt plainting.

Controlled Burning
Fire is one of the most important tools employed by the quail manager. QU chapters offer assistance and funding in performing many controller burns each year as part of their habitat improvement projects.

Water Site Development
Throughout the western quail range, providing water sites in the arid and semi-arid habitats is the single most important activity performed by Quail Unlimited chapters. Many biologists and chapter members have found that if a dependalbe water source is provided, the quail will thrive in an area where they formerly could only exist marginally.
    Much of the water site work is performed by the US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands under the challenge cost-share agreements.

Equipment Purchase, Rental and Maintenance
Providing equipment for conservation plantings and habitat management have proven to be a major QU activity. Burning equipment, including sprayers, mist and air blowers, drip torches and fire flappers, is the most common type of item followed by various types of grain and native grasses drills.

Root plows are commonly purchased by QU chapters, as they have been for many years. This tool is used to cut tree roots and sap soil moisture from adjoining field crops. The use of the tools helps farmers product better crops next to tree rows and thereby reduce the incentive some farmers might have to remove existing tree rows and shelterbelts. Other equipment includes such items as discs, rotovators, water pumps, water site equipment, fabric mulch laying machines, cement mixers and all-terrain vehicles.

Landowner Contacts
Direct Contacts are made between landowners/farmers at events such as landowner appreciation nights and attendance at farm equipment shows. These contacts are used to inform landowners of wildlife conservation assistance available to them through their local QU chapter or state and federal agency programs.
    QU chapters also put on conservation field days to demonstrate conservation practices and conservation workshops during which participants are introduced to game bird management relevant to their area.
    Most chapters perform a variety of other information and education activities to spread the conservation message. These include setting up booths at fairs, outdoor shows and gun and knife shows; publishing chapter newsletters; news releases and newpaper articles about chapter activities and projects; acquiring and showing conservation videos; and providing a variety of publication on game bird management and conservation.

Other Conservation Activities
A wide variety of other conservation activities are funded by QU chapters, the largest of which is providing contract labor to perform various habitat plantings and field work. Included in this group are such things as tractor fuel, fertilizer, quail whistle and brood counts, demonstration projects and let us not forget all those endless volunteered man-hours