We determined fall and winter food habits of hunter harvested Northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) (n = 267) in restored pine-bluestem (Pinus-Andropogon-Schizachyrium) stands on the Ouachita National Forest, Arkansas, from Dec 1998 to Feb 2006. Restoration treatments on the study area involved thinning of midstory hardwoods and midstory and co-dominant shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata), a process called wildlife stand improvement (WSI), followed by February or March (late dormant season) prescribed burns at 3-year intervals. Application of WSI and fire resulted in an open midstory with an understory dominated by a mosaic of woody sprouts, forbs, and grasses of varying heights depending on time since the last burn. Shortleaf pine seed, post oak (Quercus stellata) acorns and various legume seed (Lespedeza spp, Desmodium spp.) occurred most often of 81 items and were highest in importance. Green vegetation was prevalent in crops and invertebrates also were important parts of fall and winter diets, particularly Orthopterians. Species richness of individual crops varied from 0 to 16. Based on crop contents and movement data from (Walsh 2004) upland drainages dominated by oaks (Quercus spp.) are an important constituent of bobwhite habitat in this restored pine-bluestem landscape. Shortleaf pine and post oak mast production appeared to be somewhat compensatory as both were rarely abundant in the same year. Our results provide additional evidence that suggests the usable space hypothesis and habitat quality hypothesis are confounded. Creation of usable space through WSI and use of prescribed fire dramatically increases bobwhite food availability. Our results provide additional evidence that thinning and frequent burning are appropriate management strategies for reversing downward trends of bobwhite populations throughout its range in forested habitats.