The last 5 years as I remember. Keep in mind I don't hunt quail but the incidental quail numbers the last two years have gone to crap. Big strings of dogs, dog trailers, week at a time. From November until the end of the season.Not enough ground for that kind of pressure.
Which is exactly why I said the decline in quail numbers has more to do with habitat versus hunting pressure. You must have missed that. Since you mentioned Pittsburg, there are hardly any quail in Crawford County these days. They all but disappeared in the early 90's. It was not uncommon to find 15 coveys a day in the 80's in Crawford and Cherokee counties. We also used to have a good flight of prairie chickens. There were so many we just patterned and hunted them like ducks. I have not seen a prairie chicken in those counties for nearly 30 years. Non resident hunting has put a squeeze on residents. Heavy advertising from the KDWPT and the obsession with deer hunting has forced the residents to take up new hobbies. That is the single biggest cause that has led to more non resident hunters than residents. Not blaming non residents, just stating the facts. The blame goes to the KDWPT. The decline in upland hunters started shortly after non resident deer hunting was opened up in 1995. Combine that with declining quail numbers and leased up land, you end up with hunting being turned into a competition of who can throw down the most money. I consider myself lucky that I got to bowhunt deer and hunt quail and chickens when the hunting was unbelievable. We will never see hunting here again like it was in the 70's and 80's. It was spectacular. Big deer, lots of birds, and you could hunt anywhere you wanted to. Just glad I have those memories that most on here will not get to experience.
