Like pheasant, quail populations in the southern two or
three tier counties had been trending higher, but last winter’s
freezing rain and ice may have negatively affected quail
populations.
Kansas – After several years of growth, both pheasant
and quail harvests were down slightly last year. Biologists are
hoping that populations resume their upward trend in 2019.
Kansas continues to invest heavily in private land habitat
improvement initiatives like the Walk-In Hunting Access
(WIHA) program. Look for quail in WIHA areas in the southern
part of the state.
Pheasant hunters should focus on the northwestern and
north central portions of the state.
Michigan – For 2019, Michigan added a new Grouse
Enhancement Management Site (GEMS) in the Upper
Peninsula, bringing the total to 20.
Woodcock continue to thrive in Michigan, and the state
once again expects to lead the nation in woodcock harvest.
Kicking off this year is the Michigan Pheasant Hunting
Initiative (not to be confused with the Michigan Pheasant
Restoration Initiative mentioned in this issue’s “Flushes”). For
the first time since its “Put and Take” program of the 1970s, the
state will conduct weekly releases of roosters into each of 11
state game areas across the pheasant’s range.
Minnesota – Research into the impact of West Nile virus
on ruffed grouse is ongoing, but results of the study won’t be
available until late 2019. This uncertainty makes it difficult to
predict if last year’s drop in grouse harvest
was the start of a trend or an anomaly. The
best grouse hunting continues to be in the
northeastern portion of the state.
Woodcock hunting in areas north of
Brainerd continues to improve.
Missouri – “Worst winter we’ve had
in six years,” is how biologists describe
the winter of 2018-2019. As a result, quail
populations are expected to be down a bit
this fall.
New for 2019 are “Quail Restoration
Landscapes,” a big-picture management
initiative focused on Conservation
Areas enrolled in the Missouri Outdoor
Recreational Access Program. Hunters
can find these areas on the Missouri DNR
website (www.mo.gov/outdoors).
Nebraska – Spring rural mail carrier
surveys showed pheasant populations
were up in five of six management
zones compared to 2018, suggesting that
pheasant populations weathered the rough
winter.
Rural mail carrier surveys in the quail
range showed declines in four of the six
regions surveyed, confirming biologists’ suspicions that severe
winter weather negatively affected quail populations. Quail
hunters should focus their efforts in the south central portion of
the state.
North Dakota – Pheasant are still feeling the negative
effects of the drought conditions of 2016. Compounding matters
is the severe winter 2019 weather in some parts of the state,
especially the southeastern, that may have hurt overwinter
survival. Pheasant hunters should concentrate their efforts in the
southwestern portion of the state.
South Dakota – As South Dakota celebrates its 100th
anniversary of pheasant hunting, it’s hoping to build on last
year’s 47 percent increase in pheasant numbers. Unfortunately,
Mother Nature might have put a crunch on the celebration.
The state experienced its fifth snowiest winter in history, and
these severe winter conditions likely took a toll on hen survival.
Walk-in areas in the James River Valley are good places to
target.
Wisconsin – Despite concerns about the possible impact
of West Nile virus, grouse are approaching the peak in their 10-
year population cycle, so biologists are optimistic that hunters
will see more birds this fall. County forests in the north central
portion of the state continue to be good areas to target.
Wisconsin has always had good woodcock hunting, and
2019 is expected to continue that trend.Northwest and Southwest
Plenty of Moisture,
Mild Winter Bode Well Out West
Dave BooksArizona – “We’re optimistic about Gambel’s quail this
year,” said Johnathan O’Dell, small game biologist for the
Arizona Game and Fish Department.
“Thanks to winter rains across much of
the quail range, our spring call counts
were well above average – roosters were
screaming their heads off. In the Sonoran
desert, winter raindrops are like little quail
hitting the ground. But we’re coming off
record-low Gambel’s numbers due to
long-term drought, so one good winter
won’t dig us out of the hole.”
California – Katherine Miller, upland
game bird biologist with the Department
of Fish and Wildlife, expects a rebound
in upland bird numbers this year. “We
had a dry December but then a lot of
precipitation, both rain and snow, from
January through March. Vigorous plant
growth made for good nesting conditions
and produced the insects needed by young
birds. We’re expecting a good season for
California and mountain quail.”
Colorado – Snowstorms last winter
and early spring greatly improved
moisture conditions across the state,
with only portions of south central and
southwestern Colorado still abnormally
dry. As a result, bobwhite and scaled quail numbers in the
southeast counties should be improved, as should pheasant
hunting in the core northeastern part of the range.
Idaho – “Above average winter and spring precipitationThe Scout
Continued on page 52Dusky grouse in Utah are typically found on
high-elevation ridges forested with pine, fir or
spruce. (Photo/Dave Books)