Quail numbers rebound slightly

I wish there was good news to report for the upcoming quail season, but unfortunately new data released from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation just doesn’t paint a rosy picture on their annual quail roadside surveys.

The ODWC has conducted annual roadside surveys in August and October since 1990 to provide an index of annual quail population fluctuations. The number of quail observed is reported to provide an index of quail abundance and indicates reproductive success.

ODWC employees surveyed 81 routes in 75 of Oklahoma’s 77counties. Oklahoma and Tulsa counties are not surveyed.

The state is divided into geographic regions and ecoregions to compare the index year to year. By looking at these divisions separately, biologists get a more precise view of on-the-ground conditions in each county. These divisions also can give hunters a better idea of conditions in the county they intend to hunt.

The 2023 August roadside quail survey shows the statewide quail index up 45.8% from 2022 climbing from 1.53 to 2.23 quail per route (q/r) which is 55.6% below the 34-year average, and 28.3% below the 10-year average of 3.11.

Southwest, which typically leads the state in quail production, continues to struggle with only 2.66 quail per route, a slight improvement from last year, but still well below the 10-year average and nearly 80% below the long-term average.

“There are several theories as to what has caused this decline, but it is primarily attributed to habitat loss and weather,” said Tell Judkins, upland game biologist for the Wildlife Department.

Age structure indicates successful early broods with females still nesting throughout the season. Last fall the latest known hatch was documented from the wing-box program with a harvested bird hatching out around September 19th in the Northcentral Region. If favorable weather patterns continue into the fall this could lead to even better numbers on the October Survey.

The past winter was fairly mild for Oklahoma, with only a few major systems that dropped temperatures below average, with the last major cold front arriving in early March. After three consecutive years of La Niña (warmer/dryer) weather patterns this spring saw a transition to El Niño (cooler/wetter conditions) which generally ties to better quail numbers. Precipitation in May and June had our conditions looking pretty good; by mid-August 64% of the state was drought-free. Summer heat and a lack of rain over the tail-end of August have allowed drought to steadily take hold once again.

“In 34 years of conducting these quail surveys, the August survey’s findings have not been the most reliable when it comes to forecasting the hunting season,” said Judkins. “The October roadside surveys will provide a better indication of what the upcoming quail season might have in store.”

Oklahoma’s quail season is right around the corner opening on November 11th and closing on February 15th, 2024. The bag-limit remains 10 quail daily. For more regulations and other information consult the Oklahoma Hunting and Fishing Guide online at https://www.wildlifedepartment.com/hunting/regs or in print wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold.