This Old Gun // "A Tale of Two Shotguns" When I was 13, my mother remarried. Not long after, we moved from a small town to outside an even smaller one in rural Oklahoma. To say my world changed is an understatement. I was turned loose in the outdoors and ultimately adopted by the man she had married. My new father introduced me to quail, the land, and how to see the world with a hunter's eye — and perhaps nothing holds those memories more vividly than two of his old shotguns. Click the link to read more about these old guns and how they shaped a young mans life and career. https://bit.ly/4nbtgl8 Photos and story by Tell Judkins This story originally appeared in the Fall 2025 issue of Quail Forever Journal #quailforever #thehabitatorganization

Quail Fact Friday Did you know that scaled quail, also known as the “blue quail” or “cottontops,” are one of the six quail species native to the United States? Thriving in the arid grasslands of the Southwest and into Central Mexico, scaled quail are built for tough country. Females typically lay 9–16 eggs per clutch (most often 12–14), and their eggs incubate for 21–23 days. Scaled quail also commonly double-brood (producing two nests in a single season). When it comes to food, scaled quail are opportunists. They eat seeds year-round, favoring mesquite, snakeweed, ragweed, sunflower, plus leaves, fruits, and insects. In summer, their diet shifts to green vegetation and bugs, both of which also provide crucial moisture in dry landscapes. Quail Fact Friday is presented by Irish Setter Boots #quailforever #quailfactfriday #thehabitatorganization

Happy National Forest Products Week! 🌲🪵📃📦 Why on Earth would we celebrate this occasion? It is well known that quail in savannah ecosystems rely on quality forest management. Thinning, prescribed fire, and ground disturbance through tree harvest are critical to keep quail on the ground in forested systems. Commercially thinned forests can promote healthy habitat by allowing sunlight to reach the ground which creates a healthy herbaceous understory community. The timber market in the Southeast contributes to frequent habitat maintenance for quail. When one stand becomes unsuitable habitat (tree canopy closes in as trees grow), another nearby area may become suitable habitat through commercial thinning or clearcutting. If a private landowner wants to grow a quail population, their main obstacle is usually habitat. Active forest management ensures the birds who are already there or nearby persist on the landscape. While this industry creates benefits for quail, it also sustains millions of jobs, builds communities, provides essential materials and reduces wildfire risks. Quail Forever team members are committed to ensuring forest management continues to benefit our favorite birds and rural communities who depend on this crucial industry. #quailforever #thehabitatorganization

The countdown ends now! It’s opening weekend for quail and pheasants in Nebraska and Iowa! Forecasts are calling for sunny skies and mild temps to kick off pheasant and quail seasons. Whether you’re chasing roosters in CRP or coveys along a hedgerow, conditions are looking good for getting in the field. Tag us in your opening weekend photos – we can’t wait to see those first birds of the year! #quailforever #thehabitatorganization

In this short and sweet episode of On the Wing podcast, host Bob St. Pierre sits down with PF & QF’s Hunting Heritage Program Manager Ashley Chance to explore how target shooting creates the next generation of hunters and conservationists. Through six fast facts, they unpack why a few broken clays can lead to deeper engagement in the outdoors—from building shooting confidence to supporting wildlife habitat funding through the Pittman-Robertson Act. Listen now at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts. https://bit.ly/42PP7Hw “On the Wing Podcast” is proudly fueled by Pro Plan Sporting Dogs #pheasantsforever #quailforever #thehabitatorganization

Building Better Soil with Producer Ray McCormick In Knox County, Indiana, Ray McCormick is using his decades of experience alongside the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service(NRCS) and other partners to lead the way for soil health, wildlife-friendly practices, and his farm’s bottom line. This work is central to NRCS’ Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) initiative, which provides financial and technical assistance to private landowners to implement fundamental conservation practices on working lands. Visit the link to read more: https://bit.ly/49dTOyu #quailforever #thehabitatorganization

So close now you can feel it. Give those dogs a pat on the head and let them know it's almost time to cut it loose. 📸 : Ryan Sparks & Aaron Black-Schmidt #quailforever #thehabitatorganization

Join us for our annual Virtual Career & College Fair on December 4th! This one-day event provides a gateway to explore current and potential career opportunities with resource professionals from organizations and agencies from across the country. Registration is FREE and open now! Students interested in seeking a degree in conservation, natural resources, biology, ecology or related fields can ask important questions to university representatives to get them started on the path of finding a career in conservation space. Regardless of your position in the journey, the Virtual Career & College Fair provides connections that will be vital to achieving your goals. To learn more and register for this event, please visit the link: https://bit.ly/471IFOF #pheasantsforever #quailforever #thehabitatorganization