Probably ilia most disappoint ed hunter m the slate during the past yruson was the quail hunter." declare 1 T. Quinn, executive di rector of the Virginia Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries. Sui". eys made by Commission i staff members during the summer and fall of l!‘.r>2 indicated a larger crop of quail than in previous years. However, it is believed, said Quinn, ihai the lot g drought last sunime greatly reduced toe po tential quail peculation. Quinn pointed out that the quail hunter today faces a problem non-existent 10 or lf> years ago. Then the hunter f >und the bob white quail in the fields and open t farmland. Today, the quail has a tendency to seek foou and shelter | in the woodland. This.new tendency of the bob 1 white quail is attributed to the unprecedented demand for timber and other forest products, lesult ine in the cutting of many trees throughout th<* quail belt. The clearing of timber has permitted sunshine to reach ih'1 forest floor and stimulate the growth of game foods. Quail have abandoned the open fields and are seeking shel ter m the safety of the forests Plantings Neeessarv Quinn indicated that the food supply has proved adequate in the w.-oded areas for quail, and rela tively few find it necessray to ven I lure into the open to feed. In the hope of panally solving the hunting problem, as well as improving wildlife conditions, the Game Commission has instituted a Farm Game Program, which in cludes the planting of food bord ers and hedgerows to draw the birds out of the woods. Now is the time for farmers, in dividual hunt'i s and sportsmen's organizations t > mail their plant ing programs for the coming Spring, and place then requests for materials which will be need j vd. Effort is made to get all in I all requisitions beton February 15 Technicians of the Soil Conser vation Districts or ganv wardens may be contacted or requisitions may come directly to the offices • . of the Commission in Richmond V Basic ob.ieciives in all plantings | is to provide available food to c ir ry aitne through the critical months of later Winter and early Spring, when mortality is a’ its height btcati e of undu nourish-i

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