More quail feedback
Oklahoma's quail season runs through Feb. 15.
More readers responded Monday to my Sunday stories about the poor quail hunting season in Oklahoma.
“Although I believe the numbers are down from last year it is not as bad as everyone is making out to be. We have killed a three-person limit three times, a two-person limit four times and I have limited out two times while hunting by myself.
“I think the fewest I have killed on any hunt this year is six. However, I do believe it is down some from last year and I don’t believe it will ever be as good as it used to be.
“I figure it will remain steady, with a huntable population like the last two years but will probably never rebound to the great years.” – John George, owner of the rockinGkennel in Newalla, breeder of black and white German shorthairs.“
The Wildlife Department’s claims that habitat is what has changed in Oklahoma to diminish the quail population is hogwash. What have the changes been to western Oklahoma’s habitat over the last 25 years? I don’t observe any and the western Oklahoma quail are almost gone just like the rest of the state.” – David Wood of Oklahoma City.
“We have had a pretty good quail season here at the Selman Ranch Lodge. Best year in over four years with an average of five to eight coveys per day. Not a banner year but I have stayed busy. I still hold with the weather and habitat theory.” – Sue Selman, owner of the Selman Ranch near Buffalo.
“I saw quail before the season and have seen one bird since. I drive back roads every day. We have plenty of turkeys and wild hogs are on the increase but no quail.” – Tommy Pitts of Fairview.
“Wanted to let you know, I went pheasant hunting near Blackwell on Saturday, and to my surprise, we jumped at least one or more coveys of quail at each place. All with 15 birds or more in the group.
“Hunted the same places last year, and only remember jumping one covey. We shot at the covey on the rise, but then let them go after that. Managed to get four quail and four pheasant. Lots of pheasant around! So at least some areas still have some birds around. – Daryl Osmus, Edmond
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Comments
I have hunted quail all my life in NW Oklahoma and strongly agree with Sue Selman, growing up on a ranch with plentiful quail, I definitely have noticed a decline over the years. Some of the theories for the reason of the decline people have came up with are simply ludicrous. The turkey theory will definitely not hold any water with me because some of the best quail hunts I have ever had were on prime turkey hunting land. I believe the real problem is the way land is managed now , if you look at the way a crop field was farmed 25 years ago and the way the are now , there is a huge difference. We are more concerned with farming every centimeter than the bobwhite quail. We as landowners and hunters need to wake up to the fact that we cannot take and take without giving a little something back!!! Check out this link and watch what the state of South Carolina is doing to restore their quail population. http://www.pursuitchannel.com/ShowDetail.asp?ShowID=28
Found a good number of coveys (app. 18 in 2 days) on public land in NW OK opening weekend. Went back 2 or 3 weeks later to the same spots to find maybe 4 coveys that were much smaller and flushed single birds in a couple areas. Went on several other private and public trips since then that have all been pathetic. Yes western OK is hit or miss. Yes the birds get more wild and harder to find. But I’m thinking hunters didn’t do that much damage to the population. The conditions were better opening weekend as well but i still don’t see conditions creating that big of a difference. I think something is killing the birds and the suspect is unknown. Anther strange observance.. I was finding very young birds deep into Dec this season. Seems like the majority of the birds I’ve bagged have been either really young or malnourished. What’s keeping these birds from growing up?
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