Boots on the groundThis page on Bobwhite Quail is as controversial as we get. There is a lot of ego amongst Bobwhite Quail hunters and there do seem to be plenty of bobwhite experts that have made their comments known. Our intent at discussing wild Bobwhite Quail on this page is not to further debate, but to present the collective knowledge about quail population range and density within MAHA lease land areas. We will start with this map that shows the overall Bobwhite Quail range within the region of the USA that the MAHA staff has very thoroughly surveyed. LocationThe area of orange outside of the red area indicates the region where bobwhite quail exist to allow for at least a single covey each day during down years. The red area is the region where in good years 4 to 8 coveys is common. In the red area this author has had as many as four distinct coveys in one half section and days when limits were achieved before lunch. Much of the land in the red and orange do also have fair to great pheasant population densities where on the very best of days a limit of roosters and quail have been made several times over. This map reflects the first hand experience of the two MAHA staffers that run bird dogs on coveys and pheasants both and have done so in this region for a long time. Challenge
Regardless of the negative feedback none of those folks have ever offered an alternative so we will continue to display this picture and the information it contains. This picture is of three distinct covey roost piles. Finding such a spot on a farm through the season is not hard. Having several of these farms in close proximity makes for a good day's hunt. We deduce that three covey piles in one small spot in addition to others in the same field demonstrate this covey has not been pressured off this farm. This picture was taken in mid December on a farm of 160 acres that more often than not always held at least one covey of around 20 birds each time this author hunted it. This farm was also a good hunt in terms the coveys flushed along a wooded creek bottom allowing for plenty of singles action. Hunting & HabitatAnother point about bobwhite quail in this region is that any crop field with any type of edge, drainage or brush habitat is a must hunt field. Not all will hold a covey, but enough will that will motivate the bird dog hunter to get out and work his quail dogs. A last point about your Association staff. None of us claim to be hunting experts or have the best dogs. We simply enjoy hunting whether we bag out or not. For those that wish to debate what is the best quail dog or how to best hunt quail or what is the ideal habitat they will find a better discussion with others than ourselves. For those that understand the true value of upland hunting with their own dogs then we look forward to talking with you. |
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It is always difficult to demonstrate bobwhite densities especially by text versus actually being in the field. The closest we have come to showing density is this picture that many have criticized as being irrelevant. Again the ego amongst hunters.
