Sul Ross State University
A Member of the Texas State University System

An Evaluation of Management and Surveying Techniques
for Montezuma Quail in the Davis Mountains of Texas

by M. Shawn Whitley and Louis A. Harveson

Montezuma quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) are the most cryptic quail species in North America. Little information is known on Montezuma quail ecology across their distribution. In Texas, Montezuma quail are listed as a gamebird with no open season.

Our objectives are to: (1) determine population structure and density of Montezuma quail; (2) describe their spatial patterns and habitat use; (3) determine their nesting ecology; (4) estimate survival rates and cause-specific mortality; and (5) establish a population monitoring survey for Montezuma quail in Texas. 

This study will be conducted on private lands in the Davis Mountains, Jeff Davis County, Texas. Sign and sightings of Montezuma quail will be recorded with a GPS and imported into a GIS.

Several techniques will be used to capture Montezuma quail including standard funnel traps, drift fences and trained dogs with hand nets. Call back tapes will also be used to determine the presence and relative abundance of Montezuma quail.

Captured birds will be banded, radioed, measured and released. To increase sample size, we will use night-netting by tracking radioed birds at night and capturing covey-mates using a large hoopnet. Radioed birds will be tracked  one to seven times/week.

Home ranges, movements, and habitat analysis will be conducted in a GIS. Annual survival rates and densities will be estimated using the Kaplan-Meier and mark-resight techniques, respectively.

Cooperative funding for this project was provided by the Coypu Foundation, West Texas Chapter of Safari Club International and Sul Ross State University.