NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/902203
16 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2017 By Jeff Kurrus While pheasants remain the No. 1 priority for many upland hunters every fall, there is a large contingent of hunters realizing they need to take advantage of the state's best bobwhite quail hunting in years. During the 2016-17 hunting season, harvest was nearly 45 percent higher than the 10-year average. And bobwhites have continued to thrive according to recent surveys – population indices from spring whistle counts and the July rural mail carrier surveys were 23 percent and 81 percent above the recent 5-year averages, respectively. Although these surveys don't directly measure production, much of the quail range experienced favorable conditions throughout the summer and into fall. Recent reports from the field have also been very positive. "With harvest nearly in full-swing, farmers are seeing great numbers of bobwhites," said Commission Upland Habitat and Access Program Manager John Laux. "This year, there have been many reports of broods of different sizes (and ages) – many of the younger broods are likely from re-nesting attempts but some females may have produced multiple clutches." Either way, hunters will find some excellent quail numbers in Nebraska again this fall. Where to Hunt The primary quail range includes southeastern Nebraska and west across the southern border with Kansas. That said, bobwhites were harvested in 86 of Nebraska's 93 counties last year – indicating that populations have recently expanded into many areas outside their primary range. While the majority of quail hunting will occur on private lands, ample public hunting opportunities are available on wildlife management areas as well as private lands enrolled in the state's Open Fields and Waters (OFW) Program. Of the 253,000 acres of land enrolled in OFW, 75 percent occurs within the quail range. Type of Habitat Different from ring-necked pheasants, the native bobwhite quail is an edge species and can often be found where two or more habitat types come together. As groups of pheasant hunters comb through large swaths of grass and cropfields, quail hunters target the woody draws and other areas where grasslands converge with other cover types. Bobwhites are commonly found in tree lines, ditches and pockets that feature native shrub thickets including American plum and chokecherry and downed trees that provide ideal loafing and escape cover for bobwhites. Locate these areas adjacent to high-energy food sources, such as corn or milo, and you'll find yourself in ideal locations for bobwhite quail. To research quail habitat, many hunters use the online version of the Public Access Atlas for pre-season scouting. This interactive, GIS-based tool is free and can be very useful in narrowing down where quail habitat occurs on public lands (see graphic above). To view the online version, visit OutdoorNebraska.org/publicaccessatlas and click on "View Interactive Map." How to Hunt Quail hunting is not a game of sunrise chase. When working with a pointing or flushing dog, hunters will often allow quail ample time in the morning to come out of their roost, where they overnight, and move about their habitat spreading scent as they travel. Successful hunters will then allow their dog to work an area with suitable habitat, paying specific attention when their dog begins to get "birdy." Once a dog goes on point – for quail on average will hold, or remain still, considerably longer than pheasants – hunters are safely arranged and either the dog or a hunter is directed into the heavy cover. Then, all heck breaks loose as birds fly in all directions in a blur. Hunters will then send their dogs in the direction of "singles" once again as they watch their canine partners in excitement. For more information on Nebraska's upland bird hunting opportunities, visit OutdoorNebraska.org/upland. ■ Quail Hunt Now The online version of the Public Access Atlas is an invaluable tool used by hunters to locate quail habitat on public lands. By adjusting the layer transparency at the top left, hunters can locate woody cover adjacent to cropland, grasslands and other types of cover – great places to start looking for bobwhites. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org/publicaccessatlas and click on "View Interactive Map." English pointer dog Jake retrieves a bobwhite quail on private land in Cass County near Louisville. PHOTO BY JEFF KURRUS