Grazing Management Impacts on Quail During Drought in the Northern Rio Grande Plain, Texas

Abstract

Relationships between the abundance of 2 quail species and range site and grazing management during drought were evaluated in the northern Rio Grande Plain of Texas. Clay loam range sites provided better nesting cover and greater abundance of forbs for quail than sandy loam and shallow ridge range sites. Foliar cover and aboveground standing crop of grass were greater on the 3 range sites within the short duration and deferred rotation systems as compared with the yearlong system. During drought, grazing systems provided better nesting and protective cover for quail than yearlong grazing.