Support Wildlife License Plate

The Bobwhite Quail Initiative (BQI) is funded through the sale of the “Support Wildlife” automobile license plate.  The tag design, which was chosen through public opinion surveys, includes a large white-tailed (Odocoileus virginianus) buck and a covey of bobwhites.  

During the period 2002 – 2008, 417,545 BQI tags were sold, which generated $7,584,453 net revenue. Tag revenue peaked in 2004 and numerous other specialty tags were developed and made available to the public.  By 2008 annual BQI tag funding had declined by 77%.  

Plans for the coming year are to market a new design, which will hopefully increase sales and funding in the future.  The BQI has also been used as match to secure over $400,000 in outside funding for habitat restoration by working with conservation partners like Quail Unlimited, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

In summary, BQI has shown that when bobwhite habitat is created in sufficient quantity across appropriate landscapes bobwhite populations will increase and can be sustained on private farms and forest lands. The key is having technical staff for program delivery and financial incentives for habitat practices.