2023 - Today

Stephens County

‘Can we get our quail back?’: Habitat Restoration at Walker Ranch

In 2023, a landowner in Stephens County reached out to Taylor Daily, a Coordinating Wildlife Biologist with Quail Forever, with a clear question: "Can we get our quail back?" Facing widespread habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation, the ranch embarked on a long-term plan to restore native grassland ecosystems and build a sustainable landscape for native wildlife.

Over a footprint of 1,500 acres, Walker Ranch fully committed to active native grassland management. Key restoration achievements include:

• Brush Management: Removing invasive mesquite trees to restore native grassland structure.

• Native Range Planting: Re-seeding diverse native mixes to restore old cropland into productive habitat.

• Prescribed Fire & Strategic Grazing: Reintroducing prescribed burning at historic return intervals combined with strategic cattle grazing to improve native herbaceous plant communities.

The results have been immediate and tangible. The landowner and ranch manager report seeing and hearing more northern bobwhites and wild turkeys than they have in the history of owning the property. Wildlife species actively using the restored treatment areas include:

• Northern bobwhite

• Wild turkey

• Scissor-tailed flycatcher

• Eastern meadowlark

• Monarch butterfly

• Black-tailed jackrabbit

• White-tailed deer

This ongoing, long-term effort is a collaborative triumph. By continuing invasive species removal, native planting, prescribed burning, and strategic grazing, Walker Ranch is demonstrating how targeted private land stewardship can revitalize native wildlife populations across Texas.