It actually has been solved in the 80's. There are plantations in GA that are carrying as many or more quail than they ever have and without controlling fire ants. There are a few places in Alabama that have good densities as well. Couple birds per acre in GA and FL plantations, a bird per acre in Alabama. They ALL look like this:



1) Optimally managed habitat 2) intensive predator control 3) year round feeding.

This habitat will hold more deer than most other habitat types so they need to keep the deer numbers low - they eat up all the good quail food plants. Great turkey hunting as well.