Western Maryland RC&D Wildlife Biologist, Daniel Lawson, works with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) out of Easton, Maryland and is responsible for bobwhite quail restoration on the eastern shore of Maryland. In this capacity,
Daniel is working with landowners to promote, plan, and implement practices which benefit bobwhite. To achieve these practices, he is partnering with Washington College and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to plan landowner outreach and habitat planning where extant populations occur. During this project period, he has worked with and provided information to several Eastern Shore landowners interested in NRCS and FSA programs benefiting bobwhite, including the Conservation Reserve Program, and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
Since the mid-1940s, the number of quail has significantly declined across most of their range mainly due to habitat loss. Various types of habitat are required to support quail. They need nesting and brood-rearing cover, escape cover, winter cover, and food sources. If you are a landowner or a land manager and would like to increase quail habitat on your property, then check out the Upland Game Habitat Recommendations page as well as the Mowing and Upland Wildlife page. In addition, the University of Maryland Extension Service has a great Quail Management Guide.
Assistance is available to help landowners restore habitat for this declining species. For more information contact Bob Long, Upland Game Bird Project Manager (bob.long@maryland.gov, 410-221-8838, ext. 106).
Northern bobwhite quail are managed as small game in Maryland. To learn more about small game management as well as seasons and bag limits, then visit the Small Game page in the Maryland Hunting and Trapping Guide.