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DNR News** Archived Article - please check for current information. **

January 13, 201628th Annual Wild Quail Management Seminar scheduled for March 2-3, 2016

Bobwhite quail populations in South Carolina and the Southeast have been declining steadily over the past 60 years due to major land use change and reduction in suitable habitat. The 28th Annual Wild Quail Management Seminar, sponsored by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is designed to instruct landowners and land managers in the proper techniques of creating habitat that will support native populations of bobwhite quail.

This year there will be only one expanded seminar which can accommodate 30 participants on March 2-3, 2016 (Wednesday-Thursday) at the Webb Wildlife Center (1282 Webb Avenue, Garnett) in Hampton County. The registration fee is $85 per person which includes meals, overnight accommodations and seminar materials. The deadline to register is Friday, February 19, 2016. For more information call the DNR Small Game Project in Columbia at (803) 734-3609, or e-mail castinep@dnr.sc.gov. Find the Registration Form at the DNR website.

"Properties that consistently carry medium-to high-density wild quail populations are actively managed to provide quail with all the habitat components necessary throughout the year," said Michael Hook, DNR Small Game Project Supervisor. "These seminars are designed to improve quail habitat management skills and the information is presented so that anyone with an interest can implement these practices on their property regardless of size."

Field demonstrations and classroom instruction will focus on habitat practices including firebreak establishment, prescribed burning, forest management, brush control, discing for natural foods and supplemental food patch plantings. Presentations will be given on wild quail natural history, biology, diseases and parasites, predation and other factors that may be contributing to the population decline. An update on current research will also be presented. Speakers will include wildlife and forestry professionals from state and federal agencies.

Over 1,350 people have attended the seminar since its inception in 1987. These sportsmen and sportswomen have positively affected thousands of acres across South Carolina by applying basic techniques to improve habitat on their lands.


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