As an Extension Wildlife Specialist, this is one of the most common questions I receive. The answer to this seemingly simple question can actually be quite complicated. It depends in part on what wildlife species you desire and what objectives you have for wildlife and other land uses for your property. There is no one plant that will do it. Food habit studies show that deer, turkey and many other wildlife species can consume hundreds of plant species throughout the year. With that in mind, focusing on one or two \u201cmiracle\u201d plants would not yield great results (also remember that the presence of wildlife on your property depends on the surrounding properties).<\/p>\n
If you have a particular species of wildlife you are interested in, you can compare their habitat ![\"Grass](\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/GrassforWildlife.jpg\")
to what you have available to determine what is missing or limiting. You may also use a more general approach, looking at what major plant types are limiting such as hard mast trees, soft mast trees, shrubs, vines, annual forbs and perennial forbs. You will also want to evaluate water, cavities, downed woody debris or snags.<\/p>\n
For questions about what to plant, it is easier to answer specific situations. Recently, a blog reader wrote that they just dredged their pond and spread it on a large open pasture about 50 yards from the pond. The reader wanted to know what to plant to attract quail and pheasant while also benefiting deer and turkey populations. Being in Monroe County, quail is more likely, so I will focus on that.<\/p>\n
In the fall and winter, quail feed heavily on plant seeds, especially ragweed, pigweed, foxtail and agricultural crop residue. Spring and summer foods include tender green vegetation and soft fruits. Invertebrates are consumed when available and are essential for the development of chicks.<\/p>\n
Cover is equally important in deciding what to plant. A mixture of herbaceous (grass, wildflowers) cover with bare ground interspersed with some woody shrubs or open woodland edges will generally benefit quail. With these in mind and using what the “typical” Indiana landscape looks like, the owner may want to consider the following:<\/p>\n
Native Warm Season Grass mix<\/em> \u2013 This provides quality brood and nesting cover. Rates are listed in pounds (lbs.) PLS (Pure Live Seed) per acre. A typical mix for quail recommended by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service is listed below. The general idea behind this and other mixes for quail is the bunch grass provides overhead cover above and bare ground and space below. This allows free access to seeds on the ground from the wildflowers along with\u00a0invertebrates on the ground and vegetation. Quail are small and can\u2019t scratch their way to seeds like turkey and other larger birds.<\/p>\n