Dr. Dale on Quail Dr. Dale Rollins
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- Society & Culture
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The Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation (RPQRF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focusing on one thing: understanding and managing bobwhite and scaled quail in West Texas. Everything we do centers around quail and quail hunting, as reflected by our mission:
“To preserve Texas’ heritage of wild quail hunting for this, and future, generations.”
The Foundation and its Research Ranch were established to provide a living laboratory to devise land management strategies for the benefit of quail and also as an exemplar property to demonstrate the best methodologies and techniques to other “students of quail.”
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Episode 61: Quail Recovery Following Large-Scale Wildfires
Join Dr. Dale this month and three special guests as they discuss how quail habitat (and abundance) are impacted by wildfires like those that raged in the Panhandle in late-February. His special guests include Becky Ruzicka (formerly with RPQRF), Chip Ruthven (TPW Project Leader for several WMAs in the Panhandle), and Jeff Bonner (retired TPW biologist stationed in Pampa). They discuss historical contexts and relevant management practices for lessening the impacts of wildfires. Join us on May 20 for this episode.
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Episode 60: Quail Management in the “Oil Patch”
We often speak of “Leopold’s toolbox” and speak often of “axe, plow, cow, and fire,” and how these tools are the basis of our attempts at habitat management. But we should be reminded that these tools are not “one size fits all” and as managers we seek to use them as adjustable (ala “Crescent” wrenches) given various environmental constraints (e.g., rainfall). Join Dr. Dale and his guest Jesse Wood as they discuss the management of scaled (“blue”) quail in the Permian Basin region of west Texas and how we adjust Leopold’s tools for a desert habitat. Wood is the Director of Ecology and Sustainable Development for the Permian Basin and works for ConocoPhillips. He’s also a graduate of QuailMasters (class of 2017) and an avid quail hunter.
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Episode 59: Is All Quiet on the Eastern Front?
This month’s guests are brothers Ty and Marc Bartoskewitz. Both are well-grounded in quail management in TX and currently manage ranches in Stephens and Shackelford counties, respectively. Given their interest, acumen, and
budgets, I often refer to them as the “Great (Bob)White Hopes” for the eastern Rolling Plains. Join us on March 20 on how they approach various habitat concerns, and what they see as catalysts for the return of the bobwhite to their former haunts. -
Episode 58: Sustained Yield in Quail Hunting
This month’s guest is Dr. Abe Woodard with the East Foundation. Our topic is a “Quail 303” discussion of “sustained yield” of bobwhites in South Texas. We’ll discuss topics along the “hunter X covey interface” including hunting efficiency and crippling loss. Join us on February 20.
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Episode 57: Death from Above
This month’s guest is Tyler Sladen of Albuquerque, NM. Tyler is a serious falconer who specializes in hunting quail with his Tiercel goshawk “Jimmy Dean.” Tag along with Tyler and Dr. Dale as they discuss the sport of falconry, and specifically hunting the quails of North America with raptors and bird dogs. Sladen, Jimmy Dean, and his corps of Setters have combined to take over 100 quail across nine states in 2023. As a Student of Quail, you can learn a lot from seeing how quail react when pursued by a hawk, and what kind of “storm shelters” serve to foil a hawk’s attempts. Join us on January 20; you’re going to enjoy this one.
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Episode 56: Ranchers with Bird Dogs
One of the patterns I’ve noticed over the years is that ranchers with bird dogs are more often astute quail managers. No secret really, they ascribe to what I call “vocation and avocation.” Join us this month as I talk “cows and quail” with Charley Christensen of San Angelo. With bona fides in quail, cattle, and range management Christensen is well qualified to discuss trade-offs between cows and quail, and “where’s the beef?”
Customer Reviews
Enjoyable and educational!
I happened onto this podcast searching for some about bobwhites. It’s been a real pleasure to listen to. Although we ranch in Missouri, we are no less fans of our beloved quail and other wildlife. Keep up the good work Dr. Dale!
The Quail Doctor!
These relatively short podcasts are always interesting and informative. Dr. Dale sounds like an incredibly interesting man. I love listening to his homespun vernacular. I highly recommend this podcast!
Quail podcast
The best podcast on quail. Dr. Dale is very knowledgeable and so easy to listen to!