Quail

BPATT11

BPATT11

Member
We had a chance to go hunting quail this weekend. A great thing because it just allows us to get out more after pheasant closes. We followed the game distribution map put out by the state. The ground looked good, however it just didn't produce. Anybody have a lot of success this year on quail?
 
I have seen a few coveys, but I haven't specifically targeted them. The quail I saw this year were all south central, although I heard some while hunting an hour outside Council Bluffs
 
It has been a tough year. The numbers are down so hopefully this next spring is better for nesting but the predator populations are definitely going to continue to be a problem unless fur prices increase. Hawks are everywhere to and I don't think I have ever seen their population as high as they have been the last few years.
 
We hunted private ground in Taylor county a week ago and never saw a single quail. It was prime habitat, but there just weren't any birds. The farmer said he hadn't seen many quail this Fall and he owns/farms over 1000 acres.
We saw plenty of deer, and flushed 2 turkeys.
 
I saw no quail this year. The one place I have seen a covey of quail this decade, I didn't hunt this past season....the landowner hadn't heard them after last winter. We didn't shoot them then, just not enough around to kill the few that might be here locally. Would love to get some coveys started, but I am afraid we are just a bit too far north and most of the habitat we have, just isn't perfect for them. Pheasant and quail have different needs and what we have created is more pheasant friendly .
If I was serious about hunting Iowa quail, I would stay south of I80.
 
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