Quail Hunting central Ar

[bird dog]

I have not seen any Quail hunting stories on this site yet but would like to hear some, or hear about Quail sitings around Yell or Perry counties.Also what kind of bird dogs are preferred out there? I used to be a Pointer(English) man but have switched to GSP's, but I also admire English setters and Britts. Does anyone out there raise Quail or Piegon?

[bird dog]

OK it looks like I will be talking to myself so there wont me to talk about. I walked 3 miles with my 2 German Shorthair Pointers Saturday and did not see any Quail. The temp was about 70 so the dogs did alot of heavy panting and not that much sniffing. I just dont understand why there are not many quail to be found.The clearcut (as most of them are) had grass and weeds 3-5 feet tall and plenty of seeds for food with lots of heavy and thin cover. My opinion is that we have too many coyotes these days stalking the clearcuts and forest at night.

[Mr. Chitlin]

Originally posted by dro man:
My opinion is that we have too many coyotes these days stalking the clearcuts and forest at night. I feel the same way you do about the coyotes. I hunt in Sharp County, and don't even remember when I last saw a quail. It has to have been 5 years ago or so. With the fur market at a standstill due to the fur protesters, the predator and furbearer population is exploding. The ground nesting birds are just about being driven to extinction.

Just my $.02 worth.

[BnTMan]

Well, I don't live in the counties you mentioned, nor do I Quail hunt. I can say, however, that the last couple years, we've been overrun (relatively speaking) by Quail. We've had two nests IN OUR YARD, and two complete LARGE litters raised. Not as many this year, but last year was big. When they bushhog the field across the road, all you can hear is "bobwhite". I found several very young litters running around the house last year, and jump LARGE coveys around here all the time. I can't remember the last time I saw a covey with 20 birds until year before last...

[bird dog]

Well, I don't live in the counties you mentioned, nor do I Quail hunt Well I am glad to hear your good report reguardless of where you live. I think you brought up an interesting point about the "bush hog", except it dont seem to have a negative effect in your area. Just wandering, do you have many neighbors,cats,snakes or free roaming dogs in your area? Are you in or near river bottoms? Must be good Quail habitat in your area or do you live next to a Quail farmer?

[Chuck from arkansaw]

Another factor in quail scarcity is the recent armadillo invasion. I watched some video of a dillo running a hen quail off the nest and eating the eggs. That along with the high numbers of coons, fox, coyotes, possoms, etc. I immagine quail, turkeys and other ground nesting birds have a hard time.

[BTC]

Although I have personally flushed only 4-5 coveys of quail in the past ten years the AGFC still has a quail season a far as I know. I used to think the scarcity of quail was only in my area but apparently it's statewide yet the season still remains....or at least I guess there's still a season. I havent shot a quail in probably 15 years. I guess if the situation remains the way it is I'll never shoot another one. As a youngster It was often that a covey flushed as I rabbit hunted. Now when it happens I'm so shocked I just watch them glide away in awe. :eek: :eek:

[Bodcau boy]

I know there are many reasons for the demise of quail in Arkansas. I would say some of the most serious problems are habitat destruction, use of chemicals in forestry and agriculture, and fire ants. Where there is a huntable bird population there should be a season for hunting. The mortality rate of quail is so high that hunting has little or no effect on their perpetuation as a species. Though it looks bad for the future of quail, there is hope. I have found they thrive on my small acerage where I control burn regularly and provide nesting cover. It would also help if the AG&FC spent a little more time and money on quail and a lot less on elk and gators.

[Powerquack2K]

yea lots of time and money on elk, gators, nature centers, 4x4's with new winches, elk, trout, beavers (very sucessful program.....you should have seen our pond levee after it broke from the beaver runs, and a little more on elk. Anyway my point is a tradition of hunting a native game species has all but disapeared without any reaction from our state game agency while they spend our tax and license monies on projects that sometimes border on the ecentric..............

[madduckdog]

I am a Arkansas quail hunter and duck hunter I use the same ugly dog on bof.

most folks round here run a brit or setter.

quail is for sure thin in the state.

I hunt around West Memphis. I hunt the same few covies every year. I just don't shoot them down to much.

unlike duck hunting if you can find the owner of the land they usualy let you hunt.

I have hope that quail will shine again.