Northern Bobwhite Home Range and Survival in Response to Baiting Multiple Roads in Southern Texas: An Observation of Management Concern

Abstract

An increasingly common practice in southern Texas is baiting roads with grain to facilitate northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) harvest.  Unfortunately, such a practice has the potential to negatively affect bobwhite survival and covey home range size, especially during relatively dry periods.  However, the pattern of baiting (i.e., single road vs. multiple road baiting) could influence how baiting of roads affects bobwhites.  The  objective of the project was to document the effects of multiple-road baiting on bobwhite survival and movements in contrast to baiting only a single road.  The project involved two study sites in Jim Hogg County, Texas (one area with a single baited road and one area with multiple baited roads) which were monitored over 3 periods, pre-baiting (Sep – Oct), baiting (Nov – Dec), and post-baiting (Jan – Feb). Bobwhite survival, home range size, and predator abundance was assessed for each area.  Bobwhite survival and home range size and predator abundance did not differ between the two baiting patterns.  However, during dry conditions, baiting multiple roads in a pasture may be less detrimental to the survival of bobwhite populations than just baiting one road in a pasture.