 Overview: A drought across large
portions of the southeast United States didn't help quail production
this year. Factor those poor weather conditions with continued
habitat losses and quail populations across the U.S. continue to
loose ground. Consider: From 1980 to 2000, bobwhites declined
range-wide by an average of nearly 70%, and much more in specific
states; Last fall, the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies - whose members manage wildlife in 16 states - suggested
the bird could disappear from some areas of the South by 2010. The
Northern bobwhite quail also topped this year's National Audubon
Society's List of Top 20 Common Birds in Decline. The National
Audubon Society recently announced that the population of the
northern bobwhite quail has declined by a staggering 82 percent
during the past four decades. Quail numbers have fallen from an
estimated 31 million in 1967 to just 5.5 million today. That's a lot
of bad news, but there is hope on the habitat front. In just over
two years of existence, over 90 Quail Forever chapters have formed
in 26 states. They are promoting the Conservation Reserve Program's
CP-33 Practice (Bobwhite Buffers) to provide transitional habitat
along row crops for quail nesting and brood-rearing cover.
Nationwide, over 161,000 CP-33 acres have been enrolled and quail
populations on those acres are already showing signs of improvement.
On a larger scale, QF is engaging policymakers in the needs of quail
during the current 2007 Farm Bill debate. The Farm Bill's
conservation title influences land management decisions on over 50
million acres nationwide. The Farm Bill will be introduced in the
U.S. Senate soon, meaning now is the time to contact your state's
Senators and let them know you want a Farm Bill with a strong
Conservation Title.
Find your state's Senators by
logging onto
www.QuailForever.org/page/LegislativeAction.
Always consult state hunting
regulations for rules and season dates before taking to the field.
Find your state agency by logging onto
www.QuailForever.org/page/StateAgencies
Alabama -- rought conditions from
spring through summer has quail production looking poor in Alabama.
Over the past five years, Alabama hunters have harvested between
200,000 and 300,000 bobwhites per season. But an unknown total of
these are released birds, and the overall harvest remains one-tenth
of what it was during the hey-days of the 1960s and 1970s. The three
F's - fescue, forestation and farming (of the intensified variety) -
are the main culprits vacuuming up quail habitat. However, there are
positive signs, including a significant amount of longleaf pine and
native grass restoration. Season Opener: November 15
Arizona -- A lack of precipitation
this year means hunters will see fewer Gambel's and scaled quail,
and that's down from a mediocre year in 2006. The bright spot in
Arizona will be Mearns quail. Hunters can expect to find birds along
the Arizona/New Mexico border. Season Opener: Multiple
Arkansas -- Early nesting appeared
successful, which should mean a slight increase in the number of
quail greeting Arkansas hunters this year. Fort Chaffee WMA is a
military installation, which means a few more hoops to jump through
to gain access, but it offers the best public quail hunting in the
state. Restoration efforts on the Ouachita National Forest - the
oldest National Forest in the southern United States - are also
creating quail habitat. Season Opener: November 1
California -- Though northern
California received below average rainfall, there are stable to
increasing populations of California quail there. Central and south
coastal areas received approximately one-half of the average annual
rainfall, resulting in poor California quail reproduction and in
some cases, observations where no young were recorded. This was also
the case in eastern Kern County due to inadequate and or
inopportunely timed precipitation. While weather conditions provided
sufficient moisture to maintain fair to good habitat conditions in
most Mountain quail habitat in central and northern California,
below-average rainfall in the western portion of the Mojave Desert
greatly restricted nesting and had deleterious effects on brood
survival. These observations indicated a stable population in the
central Sierra Nevada Mountains. For the second year in a row,
drought conditions in the southern desert of California resulted in
poor Gambel's reproduction. Field observations revealed no
reproduction in the eastern portions of Imperial, Riverside, and San
Bernardino counties. Carryover birds are present in reasonable
abundance, but widely distributed. Better reproduction and huntable
populations can also be found in riparian areas along the Colorado
River. Season Opener: Multiple
Colorado -- In northeast Colorado,
bobwhites were affected last winter by over 70 days of snow cover,
but good spring production may have made up for the losses. Bobs can
still be found in the South Platte River corridor. In the southeast,
over 2' of snow really hurt the quail population, and according to
state biologist Ed Gorman, it could take a few years for populations
to recover there. Last year, Colorado hunters bagged 7,000 bobs and
10,500 scaled quail. Season Opener: November 10
Florida -- The forecast looks
positive on a number of state game management areas which have been
the recipients of various quail habitat projects in recent years. As
for the remainder of the state, overall populations are stable and
showing signs of very slight increases. Tommy Hines, small game
coordinator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, says there
is more emphasis on quail management in Florida than ever before.
Season Opener: November 10
Georgia -- Severe drought was quite
detrimental to the early nesting season, but some decent rainfalls
in July increased optimism for late nesting success. Hunters in
Georgia will likely be greeted with spotty success, ranging to good
success in areas with quality habitat. The best opportunities for
quail in Georgia are in the state's Upper Coastal Plain. Reggie
Thackston, coordinator for the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division
Bobwhite Quail Initiative, also reported that controlled management
areas with CP-33 have doubled quail occurrence, giving hope that the
practice may be able to help boost populations statewide. Season
Opener: November 17
Idaho -- Though last year's harvest
of 157,000 California quail was down from the 179,000 in 2005, it
was still the second highest total in the last 10 years. Though
quail production appeared to be down slightly, late summer sighting
reports were creating optimism for another strong season. BLM lands,
particularly those holding water, should contain birds this year.
Season Opener: September 15
Illinois -- Last year, Illinois
hunters harvested 198,207 bobwhites, and they reported harvesting
2.42 quail per trip, an increase of 20% from the previous year.
June's bobwhite call counts indicated a statewide average of 7.7
calls per stop, a decrease of 5% from 2006. Though usually good, the
west-central portion of the state may be down this year. Illinois
currently has the second highest enrollment of CP-33 nationally, and
quail in the state will also benefit from management efforts focused
on renovating old stands of CRP grasses. Season Opener: November 3
Indiana -- Though roadside counts
of whistling bobwhites indicated a decrease of approximately 9%, the
abundance of bobs appears to be similar to 2006, still well below
population numbers observed in past decades. Most of the decline
occurred in the north and central regions, and long-term trend data
continues to show that the northern bobwhite population remains near
historic lows across the state. Though a slight drought has
traditionally correlated with increased bob production in the
Hoosier state, state biologist Steve Backs said that this year the
drought crossed the line. A typical Indiana harvest is 50,000
bobwhites. Season Opener: November 9
Iowa -- Statewide bobwhite quail
numbers increased 9% in 2007, though the increase essentially
indicated some regions were up while others were down. Though this
year's index is 28% above the 10 year average of 0.7 quail per
route, it's still well below the historic figure of 1.5 quail per
route. In Iowa's primary quail range, populations showed increasing
trends in the southeast and south-central regions. The southwest
portion of the state took the brunt of a March blizzard that brought
with it deep drifts and a sheet of ice. It likely killed some quail,
and thus as expected, lower quail counts were found in the region.
Better counts in 2007 came from Mills, Wayne, Davis, Van Buren, and
Wapello counties. Season Opener: October 27
Kansas -- Last year's harvest was
estimated at approximately 500,000 bobs, well below the 2005 harvest
of 1 million birds. Unfortunately, the forecast for 2007 is again
not that rosy. Hunting in the north central and south central
regions should be decent, according to state biologist Randy
Rodgers. But in the Flint Hills in southeast Kansas, too much rain
at the wrong time appears to have put a damper on what is typically
the "Jayhawk State's" quail stronghold. Up to 15" of rain during
peak hatch was devastating, essentially halting production. Season
Opener: November 10
Kentucky -- It's been a weather
roller coaster in Kentucky - a late freeze in early April, followed
by a drought period and then above average rainfall at the end of
the summer - but despite that, quail populations appear to be in
decent shape. That said, the state is still two years removed from
its lowest quail harvest on record and improved habitat holds the
key to its resurgence. The 40,000 acre Peabody WMA and 6,500 West
Kentucky WMA are top quail destinations in the Bluegrass State, but
hunters shouldn't overlook opportunities in the southeast part of
the state on reclaimed strip mine land. Season Opener: Multiple
Louisiana -- Last year, 1,300
hunters harvested 6,200 quail in Louisiana. Spring bobwhite counts
on WMAs were up this year, and the state avoided the severe drought
that plagued much of the southeast. Relatively speaking, it should
be a good year chasing quail in Louisiana. That said, state
biologist Fred Kimmel said Louisiana quail will benefit from
continued habitat efforts, including increased enrollment in CP-33
and other Farm Bill conservation programs. Hunters may want to look
at clear cuts in the Kisatchie National Forest (the state's only
National Forest) and the Jackson Bienville WMA for wing shooting
opportunities. Season Opener: November 17
Maryland -- On average, 1,000
hunters harvest 1,000 wild bobs in the state. Though it's a small
population, every factor appears to be working for Maryland quail
this year. Increased production has led to reports of more and
larger broods, and there are reports of quail where they haven't
been seen in years. State biologist Bob Long reported that CRP
buffers installed in the last decade are really starting to show
results. The highest density of birds is found on Maryland's lower
eastern shore, which includes the Idylwild WMA and its quail
restoration area. Season Opener: November 3
[to top of second column]
 |
Michigan -- Landowners have
reported seeing a few more quail than in recent years in Michigan
-the northern edge of the bobwhite's range - meaning hunters should
meet the typical harvest of 2,000 bobs. Michigan's quail season is
open in 27 designated counties, and Quail Forever, Pheasants Forever
and the NRCS are working to establish and maintain grasslands
beneficial to quail in this area. Season Opener: October 20
Mississippi -- A hot, dry summer
with rainfall about 15 inches below average has hurt quail
reproduction in Mississippi this year, thus hunters can expect to
fall short of the 50,500 quail harvested last year. The best region
of the state continues to be the northern one third, which harbors
better habitat. However, state biologist Dave Godwin reported quail
are responding well to early successional habitat in the state's ag-intense
Delta region, thanks to enrollment in Farm Bill conservation
programs such as CRP. Season Opener: November 22
Missouri -- A long-lasting winter
ice pack hurt foraging efforts, leading to winter mortality. This
year's roadside survey showed a decrease of 15% and the brood survey
a decrease of 31%. That said, it is unlikely Missouri hunters will
equal last year, when over 30,000 hunters bagged 292,000 quail.
However, Missouri ranks in the top three in CP-33 enrollment, and 17
Quail Forever chapters have formed in the state to lead quail
habitat restoration efforts. And to provide more opportunities for
hunters ages 6 through 15, the Conservation Commission has
established youth-only quail and pheasant seasons. Both seasons take
place Oct. 27-28. There seems to be no shortage of passion for
turning the quail slide around in the "Show Me State." Season
Opener: November 1
Nebraska -- Summer bobwhite surveys
- the July Roadside Mail Carrier Survey and whistle counts - showed
mixed results, meaning it's difficult to make predictions on hunting
conditions this fall. Overall, the RMCS was down 8% from last year
and the whistle counts down 23%. The east-central and southeast
regions of the state still contain the highest densities. Although
populations are still below the long-term averages, the July RMCS
showed increases over 2006 in several regions, most notably in the
Republican and East-central regions. Whistle counts failed to
confirm those gains, however. Densities in the West Platte region
declined sharply compared to 2006, with the southeast showing more
modest losses. Despite the inconsistent counts, the east-central and
southeast remained the regions with the highest densities. Season
Opener: October 27
Nevada -- Last year, Nevada quail
hunters harvested nearly 21,000 California quail, nearly 18,000
Gambel's quail and nearly 1,200 mountain quail. The state suffered a
dry spell which hampered reproduction this year. State biologist
Shawn Espinosa said California and mountain species fared well, but
Gambel's populations will be poor, particularly in the southern part
of the state. Lincoln, Clark and Nye Counties will still offer
Gambel's opportunities. Scope out the Humboldt and Walker river
bottoms for California quail, and the outer Carson City/Reno areas
for isolated pockets of mountain quail. Season Opener: October 13
New Jersey -- Bobs once populated
every county in New Jersey, but urban sprawl and the subsequent loss
of suitable quail habitat has whittled down the quail population.
The only wild populations now are found south of Route 33. New
Jersey bobs suffer from a lack of habitat in terms of both quality
and quantity, and it is unknown exactly how many wild bobwhites
still remain in the state. One note of interest, the New Jersey
Division of Fish and Wildlife is working on a cooperative study with
the University of Delaware to learn more about New Jersey quail.
Season Opener: November 10
New Mexico -- Quail hunting success
in New Mexico should be up a bit this year, as production success
was better for all four species that call the state home - scaled,
Gambel's, Mearns, and particularly for bobwhites. Hunters in search
of scaled quail will want to concentrate near Lordsburg in the
southwest and Carlsbad in the southeast. For Gambel's, the Rio
Grande River Valley is a good start. In search of bobs, head near
Roswell. And for Mearns, check out the foothills of the San Mateo
Mountains west of Socorro, which contain plenty of public land.
Season Opener: November 15
North Carolina -- Although quail
populations statewide are still low, quail intensive management on
both state ground and private land has increased quail populations
to huntable levels that will provide some good hunting
opportunities. David Sawyer, upland game biologist for North
Carolina Wildlife Resources, expects a harvest similar to the
2005-2006 season, when just over 228,000 birds were harvested.
Season Opener: November 17
Ohio -- There was a severe cold
snap in February this year that could have stressed local
populations, fortunately it did not last long very long. As a
result, quail hunters should expect a season similar to last year
with localized areas of stabilized populations. The Scioto River
CREP is providing excellent new habitat for bobs, as is the state's
CP33 Quail field border acres. There are 12,900 CP33 acres currently
enrolled of the state's 20,000 acre allotment. In fact, second year
CP33 monitoring results are showing quail responses to buffers
enrolled in the last 2 years. The state's top quail counties are
Warren, Brown, and Highland. Ohio hunters traditionally harvest
around 40,000 bobwhites annually. Season Opener: November 2
Oklahoma -- By most accounts, last
year was a terrible quail season in Oklahoma, with a harvest of
579,000 birds. Though this year won't be a bumper crop, signs are
pointing to a better year than last. Flooding in the central part of
the state may have affected nesting, but for the most part
production appeared decent. Though found statewide, the western
portion of the state is stronger than the east. Oklahoma has a Quail
Habitat Restoration Initiative, and $4 million over the next five
years will be pumped into six focal areas of the state as part of
that initiative. Season Opener: November 10
Oregon -- Driving route surveys
indicated a 20% increase in mountain quail, primarily found in
southwest Oregon. California quail will likely be down a bit from
last year, but BLM lands in the southeast part of the state will
hold birds. Last year, Oregonians harvested 27,000 Mountain quail
and 117,000 California quail. Season Opener: Multiple
South Carolina -- A mixed bag of
weather led to a good early hatch and a questionable late hatch.
Hunters in South Carolina should be at or slightly below the recent
average of 100,000 quail. While overall habitat conditions in the
state are poor, state biologist Billy Dukes reports that 6,400 CP-33
acres - most in their second growing season - are developing into
quality quail habitat. The state's 7-county Upper Coastal Plain
provides the best quail habitat in South Carolina. Season Opener:
November 19
Tennessee -- As if deteriorating
habitat conditions in the state weren't enough, Tennessee quail were
hit hard by drought immediately after chick hatch. By historical
standards, this year's quail harvest will again be extremely low.
Urban sprawl is eating up habitat in eastern Tennessee, while
intensive farming practices in the western region are doing the
same. Habitat hope lies with the CP-33 and riparian buffer Farm Bill
programs. Season Opener: November 10
Texas -- Texas still has an
appreciable quail population, producing more birds - even in a down
year - than any other state. Last year was a down year, as Texas had
one of its worst quail seasons in two decades last, but above
average rainfall, especially in the west portion of the state, is
providing optimism that this will be a big bounce back year. Even
so, experts say populations have dropped almost 5 percent annually
since 1981, so addressing key habitat issues will go a long way to
curbing that trend. Season Opener: October 27
Utah -- California quail
populations are in good shape in the northeastern region due to
brushy areas associated with local agricultural lands. Stable
populations of California quail also exist in central Utah along the
Wasatch front. Because the birds are more associated with urban
areas, hunters need to research city boundary limits to avoid being
in violation. A dry spring and hot, dry summer has significantly
reduced Gambel's quail populations in southern Utah. Birds can still
be found on WMAs in Sevier County, as well as along riparian areas
in Emery and Carbon counties. Last year, hunters harvested nearly
19,000 quail in Utah. Season Opener: Multiple
Virginia -- Regionally, the June
call count indicated the average number of individual quail heard
increased or remained stable in most areas of the state. Though the
state is in a bit of a drought, state biologist Pat Cook said it
doesn't appear to have substantially hindered reproduction in the
eastern part of the state - the primary quail range. According the
state's most recent data, nearly 10,000 hunters harvested over
66,000 quail in 05-06, and hunters can expect similar numbers again
this year. On the habitat front, the Virginia Department of Game and
Inland Fisheries is encouraging the use of native warm season
grasses in livestock operations in an effort to curb the
wildlife-choking fescue problem, and Virginia's first Quail Forever
chapter formed in Franklin County earlier this year. Season Opener:
November 10
Washington -- There appears to be
nothing keeping Washington quail hunters from enjoying another fine
season. According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife,
reports on quail brood size was good, which should keep this year's
quail harvest in line with last season's total of 147,000 (majority
California valley quail, but some mountain Quail). Washington quail
hunters have harvested an average of 165,000 quail per year over the
past four seasons, the highest numbers seen there in two decades.
Yakima, Grant, Chelan and Okanogan Counties offer the best
opportunities. Hunters should note that mountain Quail season is
closed in eastern Washington. Season Opener: Multiple
West Virginia -- Marginal habitat
conditions lead to a marginal average harvest of under 1,000 bobs a
year in West Virginia and that should again be the case this year.
The best quail habitat lies in the Greenbrier River Valley and the
eastern panhandle. There are also isolated pockets holding birds
along the Ohio River Valley. Season Opener: November 3
Wisconsin -- While quail have been
on the decline in the state, upland wildlife ecologist Sharon Fandel
reported that there is a small increase in bob numbers this year. In
fact, good to excellent localized opportunities should exist in
Green, Iowa, Lafayette and Rock counties in the southernmost part of
the state. Season Opener: October 20
[Copied from
Quail
Forever; text file received from Anthony Hauck, Quail Forever
public relations]
|
