Rod Green, MDC O&E Division (11/17/03)

BOBWHITE FLUSH HEARD AGAIN

Some sounds, once heard, are never forgotten.  The buzzing of a rattlesnake, once encountered, sticks indelibly in the memory!  So, too, does the roaring flush of a bobwhite quail covey.  A rattle or flush may lapse many years.  When either is again heard, the adrenalin immediately flows . . . in often similar directions.

The greatest thrill in bobwhite quail hunting may well be the covey flush.  The sudden explosion of a covey of a couple-dozen or so wings – whirring to break the sound barrier as the birds reach for the safety of the sky – is the stimulus that exhilarates the senses.  It is in large part just what quail hunting is all about.

The covey flush as hunters walk by pointing dogs, fully knowing what to expect, can rattle the most disciplined gunner.  Even a single bird erupting from cover at the hunter’s feet can cause the steadiest to reach for the tranquilizer bottle.  Some experienced bobwhite hunters never totally master the temporary panic produced by the sound and sight of a covey flush. 

The whirring confusion of the shattering burst of a bevy of small, eight-ounce, brown bodies rocketing into space must be part of a bobwhite’s natural defense . . . all set up over time to confuse its predators.  In November and December each year, human hunters assume a primary predatory role.  The covey flush has caused many experienced wingshooters to punch empty shot-string holes in the bird hunting skies and allowed the winged prey to escape to fly yet another day.

When there are few of the small partridges to flush from local coverts, the upland hunting life is a little less worth living.  Missouri hunters have responded with that philosophy, in kind, to the record low levels of bobwhite quail the past few years.  Many have failed to replace their pointing dogs and sold their kennels. A post-season mail survey of a random sample of Missouri small game permit holders is most revealing.  The data indicated the number of hunters that hunted quail during the 2002-2003 seasons was the lowest since 1967, the year the survey was initiated.  A dismal quail hunter total of 39,636 during the season fell a dramatic 65 percent below the long-term average of 114,026 that was tallied from 1967 through 2001 reports.  As might be expected, the harvest also dropped to 374,497 birds last season, some 80 percent below the long-term 1967-2001 average of 1,858,621.

Number crunchers remind us that statistics can be misleading.  To that end, there can be no argument that there has been a large recent decline in quail hunting in the Show-Me State.  Even though much reduced, the sport continues to be a major recreational activity with an estimated 255,269 days spent in the field last season.

Moreover, the surveys also indicate that hunting success for last year’s individual bobwhite hunter is not as poor as the total harvest would at first indicate.  With an overall reduction in hunters, the average number of quail bagged per day of hunting has not declined as dramatically as the total harvest.  In fact, hunting success as expressed as the daily bag is down only, but importantly, 38 percent as compared to the total harvest reduction of 80 percent for the 1967-2001 average.  The daily bag was 2.9 for the 10 “best” years of the 35-year quail hunting survey period, 1.9 for the “worst” 10 years, and 1.5 for the 2002-2003 season.

Early reports since the Nov. 1 quail hunting opening are encouraging.  Falling in line with pre-season predictions, bobwhites appear to have rebounded nicely in some areas of the state.  August quail roadside surveys – an index of abundance annually conducted by conservation agents in 109 of the state’s 114 counties – and censusing of population perceptions from 99 of the agents predicted prospects for the 2003 season to be good, with abundance being highest across north Missouri.
Bobwhite populations continue to be below average, but local hunters – enjoying low hunting pressure – appear to be finding more birds than in recent years. 

Preseason survey reports from Resource Scientist Tom Dailey appear to be coming true:  “The northwest part of the state is noteworthy, showing a marked increase in quail abundance over the past 5 years.  Likely contributing factors are mild weather and habitat management.”

In a note of optimism, Daily added, “Although it might be a coincidence, the [Conservation Department’s] northwest staff’s intensive work with the USDA, land owners and quail hunters (http://www.coveyheadquarters.com/) could be part of the reason for improved quail populations.”  Whatever the reason and however slight the rebound, the increase in bobwhite quail is more than welcome, statewide, and . . . Outdoors in Northwest Missouri.