Missouri Quail Numbers Down Statewide, Up in Managed Areas
October 28, 2008
Quail numbers are rebounding where sportsmen, citizen conservationists and conservation agencies are building suitable habitat.
JEFFERSON CITY–2008 will not go down in history as a banner year for Missouri quail hunters, but bobwhites are making a comeback in places where sporting groups and conservation agencies have given the doughty little birds a fighting chance.
Quail are more at the mercy of the elements than deer and turkey, whose larger bodies enable them to survive extended periods of extreme cold and find food beneath ice and snow. Devastating ice storms in January and December 2007 hit quail hard, and biologists found quail frozen to death following a snow storm in northwestern Missouri. February and March were colder than normal, and another ice storm hit southwest Missouri and the Ozarks in February.
Torrential rains began in the spring. Quail can make second and even third nesting attempts if their initial efforts are drowned out, but flooding continued intermittently throughout the summer. The record-breaking rains took a terrible toll on bobwhite nests and on their bumble bee-sized hatchlings, which cannot survive prolonged wetting until their fuzzy plumage is replaced by more weather-proof feathers several weeks after hatching.
“Quail numbers were low going into the 2008 nesting season,” said Resource Scientist Beth Cole, who is the Missouri Department of Conservation’s top quail manager. “They had poor success rearing chicks this year, so we are going into fall with fewer quail than we have seen in quite some time.”
Surveys showed this year’s quail numbers down 12 percent from 2007 and 25 percent from the last 10 years’ average. The number of chicks counted was down 45 percent from last year. Total quail counts were highest in north-central and northeastern Missouri (up 51.8 percent from 2007) and lowest in the northern and eastern Ozark border regions and southeastern Missouri. Quail numbers were up 8.6 percent compared to last year in the Ozarks, but down in other parts of the state.
Even when the deck is stacked against it, however, the plucky little bobwhite perseveres, surviving in reduced numbers until more favorable conditions return. Where active quail management is underway, quail numbers actually are increasing.
“We are getting a ton of good reports on October quail counts from landowners and conservation areas that have been doing edge feathering, CP33 and other quail-friendly practices,” said Private Land Programs Supervisor Bill White. “Everyone I am hearing from reports increases in the number of quail compared to 2007.”
The lesson in these reports, said White, is that quail can thrive, even under less-than-ideal conditions, if they have quality habitat. He said some very important quail management work in Missouri is being done by citizen conservation groups like Quail Unlimited and Quail Forever that work with landowners to increase and improve quail habitat. Individual landowners who take advantage of state and federal incentives also are seeing gains in bobwhite numbers. The Northern Bobwhite Conservation Initiative is providing leadership at a national level.
White said managing for quail habitat on conservation areas is important. However, all the land the agency manages is less than 2 percent of Missouri’s total area, and much of what the Conservation Department manages is not suitable for quail.
“If we bring back the bobwhite quail in Missouri, it will happen on private land,” said White. “The best thing quail hunters can do to ensure the future of their sport is to work on habitat themselves and join one of these groups that are working with landowners to create and enhance quail habitat.”
Management practices that help quail also benefit other wildlife. Among the most notable beneficiaries of quail management are grassland birds that migrate between North America and South and Central America. Quail and songbird enthusiasts have combined efforts because of the common habitat deficiencies faced by multiple bird species.
Before European settlement, Missouri’s landscape was dominated by open lands, ranging from unbroken tall-grass prairie in the northwest to savannas extending deep into the Ozarks. A host of wildlife, including prairie chickens, thrived in these open lands. Many of these species also are struggling for survival today.
For a video summary of this year’s quail hunting outlook, visit youtube.com/watch?v=2Koue51ScDw. To learn more about quail management opportunities and efforts to maintain open-land habitat in Missouri go to mdc.mo.gov/n2115.
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New Signs Help Platte River Rafters
September 22, 2008
LARAMIE– Boaters on the North Platte River in the Laramie region should find it easier to navigate the waters, thanks to new signs recently installed by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and members of the Platte Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
New red and blue signs designating private and public land were installed late July on the North Platte River from the Bennett Peak BLM access put-in downstream to Treasure Island. The signs alert floaters to land status: red markers designate private land, blue markers indicate public and private land open for access downstream from the side of the river the sign is posted on.
“Anyone floating the North Platte River needs to understand Wyoming laws pertaining to floating through private lands before pushing off from shore,” says project coordinator Steve Gale, Laramie region fisheries biologist for the Game and Fish. “We want to maintain good working relationships with all landowners and following floating rules will help in that effort.”
Water is the property of the state, and anyone can enjoy it and any bordering public lands. If you float through private lands, however, you must stay in your boat at all times, unless advance permission has been obtained from the landowner. Wading or anchoring on private land is also prohibited. State law only allows you to leave your craft briefly to navigate around obstacles.
“Knowing which land is public and which land is private can be difficult,” Gale says. “The marker system should help boaters know of what’s on both sides of the bank.”
The original red/blue signs on the North Platte River were installed in the early 1990s, but many had become unreadable or were missing entirely. Laramie region Game and Fish employees spent the last two summers surveying the river to determine what signs needed to be replaced. Game and Fish provided the new signs, and volunteers from Platte Valley Trout Unlimited helped install them. The river is now correctly signed from the USFS boundary downstream to Saratoga.
Gale says additional replacement signs are planned. “Next summer, we’ll focus on updating signs from Saratoga downstream to Interstate 80. We want to keep all the red/blue signs current and help boaters enjoy their float while following the rules and respecting land ownership.”
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Hunters Vital in Tracking Sage Grouse Data in South Dakota
September 22, 2008
RAPID CITY, S.D.—South Dakota’s short sage grouse hunting season is accompanied by a vigorous effort to collect data about the birds. That collection effort relies largely on the willingness of hunters to have their birds checked by Game, Fish and Parks.
“Hunters play a key role in helping us collect information about the state’s sage grouse population,” said John Kanta, regional wildlife manager. “The age, gender and harvest location information all go toward helping make the management decisions that will ensure future hunts.”
South Dakota’s limited sage grouse hunting season is open on Sept. 24 and 25. The areas open to hunting include public land in Butte County west of U.S. Highway 85 and on all public lands in Harding County. Private lands, except those leased for public hunting, are not open during this season. Public lands include those managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, state School and Public Lands and private land leased for public hunting as GFP Walk-In Areas. Shooting hours are sunrise to sunset with a season limit of one sage grouse.
Successful hunters are asked to bring their birds the same day they are taken to one of three check stations located at:
- GFP Regional Office, 3305 W. South St., Rapid City, SD, (605) 394-2391
- Camp Crook General Store and Repair, 102 E. Highway 20, Camp Crook, SD
- Bureau of Land Management, 310 Roundup St., Belle Fourche, SD, (605) 892-7000
“Hunters can also call State Radio and we’ll make arrangements to have the bird checked,” Kanta said. The telephone number of State Radio is (605) 394-8121.
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Upland Bird Hunting Clinic in Lamar, Colorado
September 12, 2008
The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) will host an Upland Bird Hunting Clinic at the DOW Office in Lamar on Saturday, Sept. 27 from 1 - 4 p.m.
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DOW staff will present information about hunting upland game birds in Colorado. Topics will range from the basics for beginners, to tips and techniques for the seasoned hunter, and information about the DOW’s Walk-In Access Programs that opens up private lands to public hunters. Â
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Upland game birds include quail, pheasant, grouse, chukar, dove, and other non-waterfowl birds with the exception of turkey. While the wild turkey is an upland bird, the tactics and equipment used for hunting turkey are very different than upland bird hunting which is sometimes referred to as wing-shooting.
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The half-day clinic will focus on pheasant and quail hunting. Subject matter will include bird identification and biology, how to find a good place to hunt by locating preferred habitat, movement patterns, why weather is important; and tips on shot selection, range estimation, hunting ethics, and more.Â
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The program will be geared toward adults. There is no cost to attend, but participants must register.Â
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The DOW office in Lamar is located at 2500 S. Main, two hours east of Pueblo on Hwy 50. For more information, or to register, call Linda Groat (719) 336-6608.
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WMU’s 2E and 4B in Pennsylvania Sell Out of Antlerless Deer Licenses
August 26, 2008
HARRISBURG - Wildlife Management Units (WMU) 2E and 4B have exhausted their entire antlerless deer license allocations, announced Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe. As previously announced, antlerless deer license allocations for WMUs 1B, 2F and 2G have been exhausted.
WMU 2E covers portions of Cambria, Clearfield, Indiana and Jefferson counties. WMU 4B includes all of Perry County and portions of Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin and Snyder counties.
Roe noted that this does not mean that hunters, both residents and nonresidents, are out of options when looking to hunt for antlerless deer thanks to Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) coupons that remain available.
“While DMAP permits may be used only on the specific property for which they are issued, they do offer hunters additional antlerless deer hunting opportunities on public and private lands in these WMUs,” Roe said. “DMAP was developed to provide a way for hunters to help landowners achieve the type of deer harvest they require to better manage their lands. We encourage hunters to contact these landowners and take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity.”
Landowners can’t charge or accept any contribution from a hunter for a DMAP coupon. While hunters may obtain up to two DMAP permits per property, DMAP permits do not impact a hunter’s eligibility to apply for and receive antlerless deer licenses issued for WMUs.
DMAP permit allotments are not part of the annual general antlerless deer license allocations for WMUs.
Resident hunters must mail DMAP coupons in a regular envelope, along with a check for $10 made payable to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, to the address listed on the coupon to receive their DMAP antlerless deer permit. Nonresidents must include a check for $35. The permit can be used to harvest one antlerless deer on the specific DMAP property. Maps for the properties are to be provided to hunters by the landowners.
Hunters may not use DMAP permits to harvest an antlered deer. However, hunters may use DMAP antlerless deer permits anytime antlerless deer hunting is open, including the entire two-week firearms deer season (Dec. 1-13), even in WMUs 2D, 2G, 3C and 4B. The two-week firearms deer season in WMUs 2D, 2G, 3C and 4B is restricted to antlered deer for the first five days (Dec. 1-5) and then concurrent for antlered or antlerless deer for the remaining seven days (Dec. 6-13).
For more information on DMAP, visit the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us
) and click on “DMAP” in the “Quick Clicks” box in the right-hand column of the homepage, then choose “Qualified landowners participating in DMAP” and click on the county of interest.
Of the 849,000 antlerless licenses originally allocated, agency employees have distributed to county treasurers 509,659 applications. Following is a listing of the remaining Wildlife Management Units antlerless deer licenses as of today (along with the initial allocation for each WMU): WMU 1A, 17,134 (42,000); WMU 2A, 37,333 (55,000); WMU 2B, 63,980 (68,000); WMU 2C, 11,151 (49,000); WMU 2D, 14,397 (56,000); WMU 3A, 5,326 (26,000); WMU 3B, 18,478 (43,000); WMU 3C, 1,905 (27,000); WMU 3D, 14,069 (37,000); WMU 4A, 3,845 (29,000); WMU 4C, 4,939 (35,000); WMU 4D, 3,300 (40,000); WMU 4E, 13,234 (30,000); WMU 5A, 8,709 (19,000); WMU 5B, 29,177 (51,000); WMU 5C, 73,453 (92,000); and WMU 5D, 18,911 (22,000).
For more updates on the availability of antlerless deer licenses by WMU, visit the Game Commission’s “Doe License Update” in the center of the agency’s homepage (www.pgc.state.pa.us).
The timetable for applying for remaining antlerless deer licenses is:
Beginning Monday, Sept. 8, the Game Commission will accept, only through first-class mail, applications for the second round of unsold antlerless licenses. Hunters who applied for an unsold antlerless license during the first round may apply for and receive only one antlerless deer license during the second round. Those hunters who did not apply for an unsold license during the first round may make separate applications for and receive up to two unsold antlerless licenses during the second round. The separate applications may be submitted to one or two WMUs.
Regular antlerless deer licenses and first-round unsold licenses will be mailed by county treasurers to successful applicants no later than Monday, Sept. 15. Second-round unsold licenses will be mailed no later than Oct. 1.
Also, beginning Monday, Sept. 8, applicants may apply over-the-counter at county treasurers’ offices in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D. Beginning Monday, Nov. 3, hunters may apply over-the-counter for unsold antlerless licenses in all other WMUs.
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Are Off-Highway Vehicles And Hunting Compatible?
August 20, 2008
The Montana Hunter Behavior Advisory Council reported ten years ago that motor vehicle use during hunting, including off-highway vehicles, is creating serious problems. Today the situation is magnified, as growing numbers of hunters use OHVs.
“An estimated 30,000 hunters used OHVs during Montana’s 2007 hunting season,” said Ray Paige, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks motorized trails specialist. “OHV registrations in Montana climbed from about 23,000 in 2003 to about 54,000 today.”
Paige said that hunters who obey the laws and regulations guiding the use of OHVs during the hunt are in the majority. However, only a few motorized vehicles can do real harm to wildlife, wildlife habitats and the hunting experiences of others when hunters don’t know the law or choose to ignore it.
According to a 2007 Montana Wildlife Federation survey of private landowners, ATV use and abuse is cited as one of the top ten reasons a landowner would not allow the public to hunt on their lands.
“OHV issues occur on public and private land, but this survey makes it clear OHV abuses hurt all hunters’ chances for hunting access to private lands,” Paige said.  “If the trend continues, the FWP Commission has said hunters may see new restrictions on OHV use.”
FWP stepped up education on proper OHV use during the 2006 and 2007 hunting seasons, in a cooperative effort involving FWP, the Montana Trail Vehicle Riders Association, US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. One outcome, a brochure just for hunters titled Hunting and ATVs, is available at FWP regional offices and at many license providers.
MTVRA, with a Montana Trails Grant, administered by FWP, has also produced educational brochures, a youth education program in the schools and aired a television PSA promoting ethical use of OHVs.
 Paige said it is a tough task to change the behavior of riders who knowingly violate the law. Enforcement is one answer, but enforcement budgets, such as FWPs, are limited to user fees from OHV registrations.
“The USFS and BLM participate in FWP’s TIP-MONT program and receive information directly from callers reporting OHV and other violations,” Paige said. “FWP game wardens work on the ground with USFS and BLM rangers to respond to these reports.
FWP encourages hunters and others who observe hunting violations involving OHVs to report them to 1-800-TIP-MONT, that is 1-800-847-6668, and to gather appropriate evidence when it is safe to do so, including license and registration numbers, photos of the OHVs with the license plate in the image, and photos of tracks and other evidence of damage. Callers may remain anonymous and could receive an award for information that leads to a conviction.
Here are some tips for hunters to help reduce the impact of OHVs during hunting season.
- Know the vehicle use regulations for the area you are in.
- Stay on designated public roads or trails. It is the law.
- Access your hunting area before shooting hours and then hunt on foot.
- Retrieve harvested big game from the nearest designated road or trail.
- Respect other hunters and recreationists by slowing down or stopping as you approach them on the trail.
- Avoid wet areas.
- Reduce emissions and sound.
- Pass in a safe and courteous manner when overtaking others.
- Limit OHV use in and near campgrounds.
- Report violations to TIP-MONT at 1-800-847-6668.
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Montana FWP Block Management Region Contacts
August 20, 2008
Hunters interested in obtaining access to more than eight million acres of private lands enrolled in FWP’s Block Management Program may contact the regional FWP office in the area where they plan to hunt, or check the “Hunting” pages on the FWP web site at fwp.mt.gov .
Gaining access to hunt on a Block Management Area is easy. Just follow these steps:
contact the FWP regional office where you plan to hunt
use the current year’s regional list of BMA cooperators to select an area where you’d like to hunt and choose the name or number of a BMA in that area
make arrangements to hunt by following the instructions provided by FWP regional staff or in the regional BMA tabloid or map.
Please keep in mind that landowners voluntarily enroll in the Block Management Program and they retain the right to deny access to their lands for cause. With the extreme weather Montana has been experiencing, it is possible that some BMAs will temporarily or partially closed due to severe drought and fire danger. Hunters can confirm the availability of BMA lands through the FWP regional office in the area where the BMA is located.
It is also the hunter’s responsibility to know the ranch rules and to be aware of fire danger and take appropriate safety measures. Hunters should also be prepared to, depending on the BMA, make advance reservations and obtain permission, sign permission slips only for actual hunting days, cancel reservations if unable to hunt on a day reserved, take measures to help prevent the spread of noxious weeds, and demonstrate courteous, legal and ethical hunting behavior.
To contact FWP regional offices for more information on regional hunting opportunities on BMAs call:Â Â
Northwest— FWP Region 1 in Kalispell: 406-752-5501
West-central—FWP Region 2 in Missoula: 406-542-5530
South-central—FWP Region 3 in Bozeman: 406-994-3288
Central—FWP Region 4 in Great Falls: 406-454-5862
East-central—FWP Region 5 in Billings: 406-247-2974
Northeast—FWP Region 6 in Glasgow: 406-228-3700
Southeast—FWP Region 7 in Miles City: 406-234-0930
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RI DEM Announces 2008-2009 Hunting Regulations
August 18, 2008
PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management announces the hunting regulations for the 2008-2009 seasons. There are several changes this year, primarily regarding deer hunting. The DEM remains committed to managing the growing deer population by focusing on the harvest of female deer. Most of the other changes are strictly date changes reflecting the calendar shift.
The Department is encouraging more private landowners to allow hunters to hunt on their property during deer-hunting seasons. As a reminder to deer hunters, annual written permission is required for all deer hunting on private lands. DEM has developed a courtesy card, available on the DEM website, for hunters and landowners to sign, which gives the dates for permissions and contains A Hunter’s Pledge regarding principles of conduct.
This year the Department has modified the “All Outdoors” permit package. The package, which must be purchased from DEM’s Division of Licensing, entitles hunters to buy all nine mainland deer permits at one time for $112.50, and receive two additional mainland permits free of charge. The two permits are valid for either sex or antlerless deer during their respective seasons. New this season, hunters may utilize the six antlerless permits in any combination during their respective deer seasons with the appropriate archery or firearm equipment. Hunters that wish to purchase the “All Outdoors” package must show previous Rhode Island firearm and archery permits or proof of both hunter and archery safety course cards. A limit of 250 “All Outdoors” permit packages will be printed this year, with availability on a first-come, first-serve basis. Order forms will be available on the DEM website, www.dem.ri.gov, by mid-August. Permits are not yet available.
Regarding deer hunting seasons and bag limits:
- Muzzleloader hunters can purchase one mainland either-sex deer permit and two antlerless permits. The season for either-sex and antlerless permits is November 8 - November 30 on both state and private land. The antlerless deer permit is also valid on private land December 22 - December 25. All deer harvested during the first three days of muzzleloader season, November 8 -10, must be checked at a state-operated station. Vendor check stations may check deer during the remainder of the season.
- Shotgun deer hunters can purchase one mainland either-sex deer permit and two antlerless permits. Both permits will be valid on state management areas and private land from December 6 to December 14; and from December 15 to December 21 on private lands. Antlerless deer permits will also be valid on December 27 to December 28, and from January 3 to January 4 on private land. All deer harvested during the first three days of the shotgun season, December 6 to December 8, must be taken to a state operated station. Vendors may check deer during the remaining dates.
- Mainland archery deer hunters will be permitted to take one either-sex and two antlerless deer from October 1 through January 31. Hunters who harvest two female deer or deer with no visible antlers will be given affidavits to purchase a special “Earn-a-Buck” permit, at the Division of Licensing.
- The suite of deer permits for Conanicut/Aquidneck Islands will stay the same as last season. Hunters can purchase a total of three permits, one either-sex and two antlerless, for each of the three season types - archery, muzzleloader, and shotgun - for a total of nine permits. This effort is being proposed to reduce the Island herds, without impacting the number of permits available to mainland hunters.
- Prudence Island bow hunters will be allowed to harvest one deer of either sex from state or private lands and one antlerless deer from private lands during the season, October 24 through January 4. The quota has been reduced from the 2007-2008 quota of 75 on state land to 50, to reflect the decrease in the number of deer in the management areas.
In other hunting regulations:
- Prudence: There will not be a lottery this year for hunts on state lands on Prudence and Patience Islands. However, permits will be required for all state land hunters. Requests for permits are available by sending a SASE to Prudence Permits, RI Division of Fish and Wildlife, 277 Great Neck Rd., West Kingston, RI 02892. As in the past, proficiency is required of all Prudence and Patience Island hunters. Counter-signed permission from the Portsmouth Chief of Police is also required on private land. A lottery will be conducted for the Heritage parcel. Requests for lottery applications are available by sending a SASE to Heritage Lottery, RI Division of Fish and Wildlife, 277 Great Neck Rd., West Kingston, RI 02892.
- The lottery will no longer be held for the TNC’s Francis Carter Preserve. However, all hunters must obtain a permit. Requests for permits are available by sending a SASE to FRANCIS CARTER COOP, RI Division of Fish and Wildlife, 277 Great Neck Rd., West Kingston, RI 02892. Only archery deer hunting is permitted on this property with a current proficiency card.
- Muzzleloader hunters will be allowed to use their muzzleloader firearms during the shotgun deer season, provided they have a valid shotgun permit and use their shotgun permit to tag their deer. Hunters must adhere to the shotgun season fluorescent orange requirements of 500 square inches. This is on a trial basis only.
- Regarding the pheasant season, hunters will be allowed to purchase an unlimited number of pheasant permits this season. The bag limit is two per day. The Division plans to stock 11 state management areas for opening day, October 18.
- The Division of Fish & Wildlife will be offering a junior pheasant hunting weekend on October 11 and October 12. An orientation will be held at the Great Swamp Management Area on September 20, with demonstrations provided in firearm safety, game preparation, and other related hunting topics. Pre-registration by September 11 is required and space is limited. Contact the Division of Fish and Wildlife for registration requirements and details at 789-0281.
- Air gun rifles will be allowed this year, with restrictions, for selected small mammals. See the Hunting Abstract for firearm restriction and species.
- The bag limit for the early goose season - September 1 to September 30 - is 15 birds per day. Permits are required for this season. Requests for permits are available by sending a SASE to Early Goose, RI Division of Fish and Wildlife, 277 Great Neck Rd., West Kingston, RI 02892. Hunters are also required to purchase both federal and state ducks stamps and obtain a HIP permit.
- The Division hopes to offer deer hunters the opportunity to check their deer during the vendor check portion of the season by calling a toll-free number or via online check-in. More information will be provided as the season progresses.
The 2008-2009 Hunting and Trapping abstract is available on the DEM website, www.dem.ri.gov, by clicking on Regulations from the homepage, then Fish & Wildlife, then Hunting Regulations Abstract.
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WMU 1B in Pennsylvania Sells Out of Antlerless Deer Licenses
August 15, 2008
Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 1B, covering all of Erie County, as well as portions of Crawford, Venango and Warren counties has exhausted its entire antlerless deer license allocation, announced Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe. As previously announced, antlerless deer license allocations for WMUs 2F and 2G have been exhausted.
Roe noted that this does not mean that hunters, both residents and nonresidents, are out of options when looking to hunt for antlerless deer thanks to Deer Management Assistance Prog