What to plant?

[Calif. Hunter]

My club has land near Maricopa/New Cuyama/Ventucopa in southern/central California.  Dry land, non-irrigated.  Is there anything we can plant in the winter that will benefit the local Valley Quail population?  We had planted a mixture of grain a couple years ago, but I don't know how much it really benefitted the quail or dove.   So mainly looking for a dry land seed mix that might help.   We have some field-like areas surrounded by scrub brush hills, and several guzzlers.  We have a fair population of quail but want to maximize them if possible.

Also - do pen-raised valley quail adapt well to be ing released to augment the naitve population?  Not looking to plant the birds and shoot them immediately.

[Calif. Hunter]

Well, 16 views an dno replies, so I guess a lot of other people have the same questions....   

[bird288]

You might try planting some milo ,Don't know if it will work are not
  It can take the heat and dry spell pretty good
   You might try and do research ,
      Hope that will help you out
  ,,,,,Jay

[Calif. Hunter]

I've tried Quail Unlimited and various internet searches.  Unfortunately, there is very little out there about CA Vor Valley Quail.   Right now, it looks like we will try a 3-grain mixture (barley, oats and milo?) that is recommended by one of the local ranchers.  We used a mixture that is used for pasture (oats, wheat, milo and I am not sure what else a few years ago and were not happy with it.

I thought when I found this site that there might be someone with some experience that could save us some trouble - I found this website via trying to do research via the internet.

[Reeves]

It may take more than two days for people to see your topic.

It will also depend on if anyone here knows the laws about your State.
Which may have a factor in your wish to release, and plant what may be a non native species of plant.

Give it time.....

[bugflipper]

Buckwheat does very well in dry climates. Also you may want to look into a sorghum or brown top millet type of plant with a deep tap root. Crown vetch is one of the best you will find for quail habitat and it is drought tolerant. One more is chicory. It has a massive tap root. It is not so much what you are looking for as it is not a huge seed producer. But a wonderful bug plant with a descent fall seed quantity once established.