Dr. Dale on Quail

Quail Research Update from Oklahoma State University

Dr. Rollins' guest this month is his colleague Dr. Dwayne Elmore from Oklahoma State University. Join them as they discuss quail happenings north of the Red River. Dr. Elmore is a Professor, Wildlife Extension Specialist, and Bollenbach Chair in Wildlife Biology in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management at Oklahoma State University. He earned degrees in wildlife biology from the University of Tennessee-Martin, Mississippi State University, and Utah State University. Dwayne works with various stakeholders including private landowners, state and federal agencies, and private conservation organizations to assist them with wildlife habitat management. His research is primarily focused on upland game birds, and he has worked with 10 different species including northern bobwhite. Dwayne is passionate about all things quail including hunting, bird dogs, research, and land management. He and his wife help manage family property in southern Georgia for bobwhite and gopher tortoises, and he is especially interested in helping other landowners achieve their wildlife management objectives.

“If I have seen further than others it is because I was standing on the shoulders of giants.” - Sir Isaac Newton

Some giants are metaphorical while others fit the physical expectations. A rare few fulfill both dimensions. Ricky Linex is the latter, a giant in every sense of the word, but a “gentle giant” in every situation. I’ve known Ricky since 1982 when we were classmates at Texas Tech. Over that span of years, I have worked with him on numerous tours, workshops, QuailMasters classes, and Bobwhite Brigades. His passion, patience, and knowledge of plant identification have opened the eyes of so many. And his magnum opus (Rangeland Plants of North-Central Texas) serves as the go-to field guide for plants in the northwestern half of Texas. Thanks, Ricky, for traveling across the state (and beyond!) with the QuailMasters classes; I don’t think you’ll ever speak to a group of students who appreciated your message any more than they did.

This month’s guest is Mr. Pen DeVries, a native of Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia). DeVries spent his formative years on a 30,000-acre game reserve in Rhodesia but recently moved to southwestern Oklahoma where he’s managing a ranch for bobwhites. Dr. Rollins met up with him during a private consulting venture and was impressed with his commitment towards our beloved bobwhite. DeVries has adapted to his new environment and shares some tips that will benefit any Student of Quail.

In the court of popular opinion red imported fire ants (RIFA) are a major player in the decline of quail across the southeastern half of Texas. But the scientific community typically hasn’t endorsed the thought. This month’s guest is Dr. Brad Dabbert from Texas Tech University. Dabbert has been involved with much of the RIFA X Bobwhite research over the past 20 years in Texas. He will share his expertise and research findings to help the rest of us sort the wheat from the chaff on this controversial critter.

My guest this month is John McLaughlin, TPWD’s Quail Program coordinator for west Texas. Join us as we discuss TPWD’s role and philosophy on quail management and hunting regulations. We’ll also discuss supplemental feeding—a topic that McLaughlin studied for his Master’s degree at Texas Tech University.

My guest this month is Darcy Turner of Turner Seed Co. in Breckenridge. Darcy holds a B.S. in Agronomy from Texas A&M University. He subsequently returned to the family-owned business in 1982. While Turner Seed markets a variety of seeds for different needs, I suspect they sell more wildlife-targeted species and blends than anyone else. Darcy is my “go to” man when I have a question about food plots for quail. Join us as we discuss Food Plots 101.

My guest this month is Brian Treadwell with Conservation Fire Team of Christoval. Brian is a 5th generation Menard Co Rancher and has won TPWD’s Statewide Lone Star Land Steward award and TSCRA’s Environmental Stewardship award where the Treadwells’ repeat use of prescribed fire was a key factor in being recognized. Brian is a licensed and insured Commercial Burn Manager who has operated Conservation Fire Team since 2006, providing a commercial prescribed fire service to every ecoregion, statewide. CFT burns 30,000-50,000 acres annually. Conservation Fire Team can be found on Facebook, www.huntrto.com, 800-203-2950.

My guest this month is Paul Melton, a rancher from Roby. I’ve known Paul since 1995 and have come to regard him as the smartest person I know. You name the subject and he can address it adroitly. He’s also the finest wingshooter with whom I’ve ever hunted. He was instrumental in finding/securing the RPQRR back in 2006 and chairs the ranch’s Advisory Committee. You'll enjoy his philosophies as they relate to quail hunting and habitat management.

Consult your crystal ball as we delve into some new directions in quail research. Join Dr. Dale as he interviews one of his former graduate students on "what's new on the research front?" Brad Kubecka is now completing his Ph.D. at the University of Georgia where he has used "barcoding" (a type of DNA fingerprinting) to analyze the diets of bobwhite chicks. Bradi s no stranger to RPQRR; he worked here as a student intern and then went onto conduct his Ms research at RPQRR. He is one of the "young guns" in quail research. We hope to see him back in Texas soon where he will head up a new East Texas Quail Restoration Initiative. Also of interest Brad studied the diets of wild turkeys in the Texas panhandle to address a perennial argument: are wild turkeys major predators on bobwhite nests and chicks? The results may surprise you.

Follow this with the standard copy on sponsorship, etc.

Sending 2 pics; use the one of Brad and his 2 dogs IF it's good enough resolution-wise. Fearing it may not be, I'm attaching another of Brad, me and Tracer.

As I understand the process, this goes first to Jonathan, then on to Jeffrey. Just so ik now the baton is passed on in good fashion; plz acknowledge that you receive it accordingly.

What kind of value do you place on your trips afield with good friends and good dogs? Ever wondered how much you spend in pursuit of your passion? In this month's podcast, Dr. Dale visits with his colleague, Dr. Jason Johns, Extension economist for Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service. The good doctors discuss research they did several years ago to compute costs and returns from quail hunting in Texas. (You may not want your spouse to listen to this one!). Dr. Johnson also discusses economics of cattle grazing on Texas rangelands, ammunition you might find useful as you negotiate your next hunting lease.