The Desert Triumvirate Series - "In The Kingdom of Cottontops" Scaled quail, also known as "blues" or "cottontops," wear a distinct slaty-blue breast, beige belly, and fine black-edged feathers that give them their scaled look. Their range is vast — second only to bobwhites in the U.S. — stretching across New Mexico, West Texas, southeast Arizona, southeastern Colorado, the Oklahoma panhandle, slivers of western Kansas, and into Mexico's deserts. They are creatures of open country: shin-to-knee-high bunchgrasses and forbs stitched with bare ground, dotted by low shrubs like mesquite and creosote with cholla and ocotillo scattered like caltrops. That mosaic matters. Grasses hide them, shrubs shade them, and the patches of open soil are their highways. Scaled quail are runners first, fliers second; they prefer to string a hunter along until the last moment. Read the full story now at the link in our bio. Story by @taylor.lee.257 Illustrations by @katehall_art

Prescribed burns use a controlled application of fire to regenerate and renew the landscape. Clearing invasive plants, dry brush, leaf litter, thatch, and monoculture grasses. They reduce wildfire risk, stimulate new growth, restore biodiversity, and create an inviting environment for wildlife. Planning is the key to a safe and successful prescribed burn. Preparation is time-consuming: pulling permits; contacting the local fire departments and any neighbors who might be affected; making sure that fire breaks are adequate and that the equipment is prepped; and gathering an adequate number of burn crew volunteers to match the requirements of the acreage to be burned. Read "The Gift of Fire" & "Blueprint for a Chapter Burn Program" now at the link in our bio. EDITOR'S NOTE: With ongoing wildfires impacting parts of Nebraska, we're thinking about everyone affected — residents, landowners, firefighters, livestock, and wildlife alike. While wildfire brings real loss, this story explores a different side of fire: how prescribed burns, when used carefully, can restore habitat and even reduce future wildfire risk. Words & Photos by @garykrukar

PHEASANT FACT FRIDAY - Do you have to replant or start an alfalfa field this spring? Consider planting a variety that matures a week or two later than usual. Alfalfa reaches peak nutritional value just prior to most hens hatching their nests. Alfalfa is the first, lush, green growth each spring, and hens will concentrate their nests in the fields. Unfortunately, up to 70 percent of the nests and 50 percent of the hens will be destroyed by the swather. If that alfalfa field matured a week after the peak pheasant hatch, its chick production would triple. Pheasant Fact Friday is presented by @irishsetterboots #pheasantsforever #pheasantfactfriday

Quail Fact Friday - Valley quail, also known as California quail, are the most widespread quail species in the West. Famous for their forward-curving topknot plume, valley quail live in coveys that rely on brushy cover, open feeding areas, and reliable water sources. Their iconic topknot isn't just for looks, it signals dominance and alertness within a covey. When they sense a threat, their plume often stands upright, signaling the rest of the covey to be alert. Quail Fact Friday is presented by @irishsetterboots #quailforever #quailfactfriday

Introducing Habitat University! Habitat University (HU) is a new educational initiative from Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever that features free, self-paced, how-to courses online. The goal of HU is simple: provide practical training that helps develop more and better-equipped habitat managers, putting quality upland habitat on the ground. These courses are designed for anyone looking to implement or improve habitat projects, with a focus on clear, skills-based instruction you can apply right away. Explore Habitat University and see all the available courses at the link in our bio.

Happy Opening Day!⚾️ If your bird dog played baseball, which position would they play and why?

Learn what it really takes to guide upland hunts across the ruffed grouse woods and through the desert quail country. Behind the Instagram photos of bird dogs on point is a far grittier reality. Brian Vander Maazen of @amaazen_outdoors pulls back the curtain on life as a full-time bird hunting guide, from the aspen covers of Wisconsin to the desert edges of scaled quail country. This conversation gets into the daily grind of guiding upland hunters, reading habitat, training gun dogs, and building a lifestyle around wild birds. Listen now at the link in our bio or wherever you get your podcasts. “On the Wing Podcast” is proudly fueled by @proplansportingdogs