Roger Wells, Quail Unlimited National Habitat Director, has compiled a report on 2008 fall quail hunting. I have included his write up on South Carolina and Georgia, however you can find the entire article at http://www.qu.org/content/news/press_room/article.cfm?id=704.

The Southeast U.S. is still recovering from the hot dry summer of 2007. The impact of hot and dry weather conditions had a devastating effect on southern quail populations. Hot, dry conditions adversely impact quail production along with food and cover for bobwhites.

The drought continued into 2008, with June one of the driest Junes on record. However, rainfall increased in July. If the rainfall continues, it may be enough to boost quail production and result in an increase in quail populations over last year.

In areas where habitat improvement was implemented, quail, songbirds and rabbit populations have increased. A number of agencies and organizations are actively engaged in habitat improvement and landowner assistance programs, including Quail Unlimited chapters and state and federal land management agencies. Numerous programs are now in place to assist landowners, including Farm Bill Conservation Programs and state agency programs. The result of these programs is a substantial increase in quail populations.

Right now if you happen to be fortunate enough to live somewhere that has native, wild bobwhite quail, the males are seeking out mates. And if you hear one that is even remotely close to you, and you imitate the call of the female, (one long whistle along with a few others put together) any cock without a mate will immediately come flying or running in looking for a partner.

Yesterday my friend James, who is doing some work on our house, was messing with some of the birds that we could hear calling all around us. Well, after just a few minutes of his calling, this beautiful male came flying over from the pasture across the street and landed on a nearby log to look for his prospective mate. However before I could get the camera on him, he was down and running across the yard. He really wanted to find that hen. I was able to get a couple of shots before the dogs scared him up in to a tree. But even then, he just sat up there for the entire afternoon calling over and over, desperate to find the love of his life.

James worked for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources for 45 years, helping to run the Webb Wildlife Center here in Garnett. And during those years, he had to assist in the population count of the quail, so he perfected his quail calling to assist in that task. He also competed in several quail calling contests over the years as well.

James can tell you almost anything about everything that lives in our lowcountry woods, and his experience proves that there is no replacement for time spent in the outdoors when learning about wildlife. He would also be the first to tell you that you can only learn so much from a book!

It was just a shame that the bird he called in for us had a white head and weighed 12 ounces instead of having a red head and tipping the scales at 21 pounds! But isn’t that life…

Jeff

Pine Acres is owned by the Copeland family (that is Brady Copeland with his dog in the Mule), and they also provide hunts for the Buckmasters American Deer Foundation that I talked about in my last post.

And don’t forget, QDMA’s Quality Whitetial TV will be airing an episode tomorrow night showcasing the 2007 National youth hunt. It will be on the Outdoor Channel at 8:30pm – You don’t want to miss it!

I am still working on the pictures from Sunday’s quail hunt, so I thought everyone would enjoy seeing more of the beautiful dogs working our great lowcountry habitat.