Blazing Trails for Quail Across the Great Plains - BGWT 107

In this fiery new episode of Blazin' Grazin' and Other Wild Things, we bring the heat with special guests from Quail Forever—Tanner Swank and Adam Ray. 
They join host John Weir and Dr. Mark Turner to discuss how fire, community collaboration, and science-based management are revitalizing Oklahoma's native grasslands and Cross Timbers. 
Learn how Quail Forever's landscape-level work benefits not only game species like bobwhite and pheasant, but also pollinators, deer, and the entire ecosystem.

From confronting cedar invasion to empowering landowners through prescribed burn associations, this episode dives deep into practical strategies and inspiring partnerships. 
Whether you’re a land manager, Extension professional, or outdoorsperson, you’ll leave with a renewed appreciation for the power of fire and the people who wield it wisely.
 

10 Takeaways

• Fire is essential to maintaining grassland and oak woodland ecosystems.
• Quail Forever uses birds as indicator species to assess ecosystem health.
• Eastern redcedar encroachment threatens both forest and grassland systems.
• Prescribed burn associations are the backbone of landowner-led conservation.
• Fire helps restore balance in plant communities and increases biodiversity.
• Landowners benefit from collaborative burning to manage larger tracts effectively.
• Cross Timbers forests are under-managed and underutilized.
• Private lands are critical to restoring native habitats across the Great Plains.
• Native shrubs are necessary for quail habitat—but trees like cedar are not.
• The “Torch Bunnies” highlight the social and cultural side of prescribed fire.

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome and guest introductions
01:00 – What is Quail Forever and its mission in Oklahoma
04:00 – Tanner and Adam’s background and love for fire ecology
06:00 – Managing the Cross Timbers and upland oak forests
13:00 – Common management prescriptions for landowners
18:00 – Wildlife benefits from habitat restoration
19:00 – Great Plains Grassland Initiative and fire strategy
22:30 – Prairie chickens, woody encroachment, and indicator species
25:00 – Shrub vs. tree encroachment: what quail really need
29:00 – Why private landowners are key to large-scale restoration
31:00 – Building large-scale burn units with neighboring landowners
35:00 – Partnerships and prescribed burn associations
38:00 – Resources and how to get involved
39:30 – Secret society of the "Torch Bunnies"
40:57 – Closing remarks

Find all resources at BlazinGrazinWildThings.com