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36 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2016 36 36 36 36 36 NE NE NE NE N BR BR BR BR BR BR B AS AS AS AS AS ASKA KA KA KA KAla la la land nd nd nd nd n • NO NO NO NOVE VE VE VEMB MB MB MB MBER ER ER ER E 201 01 01 01 01 016 and Wildlife Research Unit recently developed a pheasant habitat suitability model that shows areas of the state where you can expect greater pheasant responses to habitat establishment or management actions. The model also allows biologists to simulate changes in landcover, such as adding or removing CRP, and predicts the associated bird response. These support tools have helped us determine where we will have the greatest return on investment and prioritize areas based on their resilience to future land use changes. In general, pheasants and bobwhite quail share many of the same basic habitat needs. But there are some differences between the two species that land managers should consider when managing specifically for quail. For example, bobwhite home ranges are typically much smaller than that of pheasants, and quail also don't fly as far when they are flushed. Thus, for quail, all of the essential habitat elements must be present in very close proximity to one another. This is also true for pheasants but at a much larger scale. So what this means is that you don't have to own a quarter or half-section to effectively manage for bobwhites. Another difference I see with quail lies in their preference of "early-successional" habitat. This habitat type is stimulated by disturbance and consists of bare ground intermixed with annual grasses and broadleaf plants. Both species use early-successional habitat during brood-rearing, but bobwhites seem to be closely tied to it throughout much of the year. Unlike pheasants, quail tend to avoid grasslands dominated by thick stands of grass. This is why bobwhites are typically found on the edge of CRP fields rather than in the middle of a field. Grasslands that receive some form of periodic disturbance, such as prescribed fire, disking or grazing, are much more functional to bobwhites. So for bobwhites, a greater proportion of the overall area should consist of early-successional habitat, and management activities should be implemented periodically to create f th Q: Would a person manage their land different for quail than pheasants? Above: Northern bobwhite quail are a great option for upland bird hunters this year, as numbers continue to increase. Right: Chris Vrtiska's dog, Yasha (left), a Saint Usage Spaniel, and Mark Vrtiska's dog, a Vizsla named Tessie, pose after a private land hunt in Platte County.