JL(                              Farmers' Short Course 
Game Management 
U. of Wis., 1934-35          Al 
Specifications for Standard Food Patch 
For Qqail and Pheasant 
Definition. A standard p)atch is one big enourh to winter a covey of quail
or 
10 pheasants, plus the usual wastage from shall birds and rodents. It is

intended to remain dependable through snorfalls i? to 2 feet in depoth, and

during any ordinary combination of rain, wind and ice. 
Size. The standard size is 1/2 acre. The minimum area of cultivated ground

is 1/4 acre. The fence should, if possible, include extra ground over and

above the cultivated area, and this extra ground should preferably lie on
the 
northeast or west end, so that the vegetation on it may act as a windbrea2Z
with- 
out shading the food crop. 
Soil. The soil should be good enough to raise corn. If poorer soils are used,

they should be fertilized to assure a good crop. 
Fence. If in permanent -pasture, the patch should be enclosed by a 3-wire
fence. 
If in fields grazed only after harvest, 2 wires will do. The posts should
be 
not more than 1 rod apart. There should be a wire gate wide enough to allow

entrance for team and harrow (10 feet). If the patch lies in ground never

grazed, no fence is needed. 
Location. The patch should be within 100 yardsof winter cover, rhich usually

means either ungrazed marsh, ungrazed brush, or young conifers. If the adjacent

cover is thinner or farther away than this, there should be special cover

installed in or near the patch. Tis may consist of 3 summer-felled oak tree

tops, or 3 brush piles, or 3 grape tangles, or 6 conifers at least 6 feet
high. 
Brush piles or tree tops may be used while waiting for conifers or grape

tangles to grow up. 
The patch should never be located on a steep north slope. A southeast or

west slope is best.