Search this site:

Table 2--Prescribed burning regimes to improve wildlife habitat

Species to benefit	Time of burn	Size of burn	Type of fire	Frequency	Remarks
Deer	Winter preferred	Small or leave unburned areas	Backing fire or point-source fires	2 to 4 years	Want to promote sprouting and keep browse within reach. Repeat summer fires may kill some rootstocks.
Turkey	Winter preferred; summer burns in July-August	Small or leave unburned areas	Backing fire or point-source fires	2-4 years	Avoid April through June nesting season.
Quail	Late winter	25 or more acres	Not critical. Do not ring fire.	1 to 2 years	Avoid April through June nesting season. Leave unburned patches and thickets.
Dove	Winter	Not critical	Not critical. Do not ring fire.	Not critical	Leave unburned patches and thickets.
Waterfowl	Late fall or winter	Not critical	Heading fire	2 or more years	Marshland only. Do not burn in hardwood swamps.

Source: from Table, p.46 in Wade and Lunsford 1989

Return to first reference in text