February 4, 2012

Traveling Wingshooter Online
2010

ccording to the Kansas 2010 Bobwhite Whistle Count Performance Report, whistle counts were approximately the same as last year. The Flint Hills, south-central, and southeast regions had reports of slightly higher whistle counts compared to 2009. Last year saw in increase in both the number of birds harvested (485,000 up from 410,000 in 2008) and the number of hunters (72,900 up from 69,800, which includes 20,000 non-resident hunters). The regions with the highest harvests were south-central, north-central, as well as the whole western portion of the state. A more thorough 2010 report will be available on the KDWP website sometime in September.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission 2010 forecast indicates that severe winter and spring weather probably had a negative impact on bobwhite populations. Whistle counts were down – the exception being the West Platte– and only small coveys were spotted. However, the southeast counties of Jefferson, Richardson, Nemaha, and Johnson show a lot of promise. (For PDJ subscribers, there will be a full article on Nebraska quail in the November/December issue. For RJ subscribers, that article will be in the December/January issue.)

Oklahoma reported that the 2009 season was slightly less successful than the year before. Though the surveys for this year are not yet completed, Doug Schoeling of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation says that the reports coming in offer a polarized outlook for this season, because some people are seeing more quail than last year while others are not. As is the case every year, the weather has an impact on gamebird populations, however, until the surveys are finished it's anyone's guess. “There were a few hail storms this year that could have hurt the population, but they were isolated areas,” says Schoeling. “We have some areas that have received good amounts of rainfall and other areas that were not so lucky. So there is going to be some areas that have better quail numbers than others.” When in doubt, he recommends heading to the western part of the state, which usually has the best bobwhite population.

Despite a colder than average winter, springtime in Illinois and Indiana was drier and milder than the past two years, which is helpful for gamebird production. “Some of the first bobwhite brood sightings seem to indicate a decent hatch occurred in early June, but not enough quail broods have been reported to determine how successful the overall hatch has been,” says Dave Howell, Midwest Regional Director of Quail Unlimited. Consistent higher summer temperatures have ensured more than enough insects, but heavy storms that swept through the region periodically gave way to flooding, which could have been detrimental to broods.  

In Kentucky, John Zimmer helped lead the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife in their survey for bobwhite quail whistles. “This past June and July did not show the steady increase of quail like in years past,” reports Zimmer. “I would have to say that our quail whistle numbers are down from last year.” High humidity and high temps this summer could have kept the quail quiet, so the survey may have been compromised. “I have seen many pairs of quail and even some early flying broods. The first brood I witnessed was June 21, which shows a successful first hatch,” says Zimmer. He predicts 2010 numbers to be similar to 2009.

Plantations in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and South Carolina are shielded from losing habitat, unlike many other areas in the Southeast, which is good news for quail numbers. “The situation looks pretty good,” reports D. Clay Sisson, Director of the Albany Quail Project. “We are coming off a good year last year and had good carryover due to a conservative harvest and supplemental feeding. Populations have generally been on the rebound, and production (based on radio-tagged birds) has been pretty good.”

In Texas, Professor Dale Rollins, Extension Wildlife Specialist for the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, grades regions as though they are term papers. South Texas received the top mark of “A” while North Texas carries an average rank of B-/C. Of course, some spots will be better than others.

New Mexico’s bobwhite harvest in 2009 is as good or better than the state’s Mearn’s quail harvest. As for this year, “Summer moisture conditions along the east side of the state should result in good bobwhite production,” says Game Bird Programs Manager Tim Mitchusson. “Bobwhites will be found east of the Pecos River to the Texas line, where they are found in the shinnery oak and tall bluestem grass stands.”

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