Thirty-five loblolly pine plantations in the Georgia Piedmont, ages one to seven years since site preparation, were sampled by line transects for bobwhite quail food plants, and plantations four years old and under were systematically hunted to obtain data on relative abundance of quail, distribution of coveys, and food habits. Plantations in the second and third growing seasons after site preparation and planting produced the most total quail food plants. Annual quail food plants were most prevalent on plantations aged three years or less. They were at their maximum on two-year-old plantations, and declined drastically after the third year. Perennials reached their greatest line occupancy in the third season and declined gradually thereafter. Census data indicated that quail populations were highest two seasons after site preparation. Plantations over three years of age were generally too densely vegetated and supported too few quail for good hunting.
