No time like the present to go quail hunting
If quail hunting is your bag of oats, there’s no better time than the present to pick up your shotgun, grab a box or two of shells and, by all means, if you have a good bird dog, bring him or her along as well.
If quail hunting is your bag of oats, there’s no better time than the present to pick up your shotgun, grab a box or two of shells and, by all means, if you have a good bird dog, bring him or her along as well.
While I no longer pursue this delectable tasting upland game bird as often as I’d like, it does bring me back to a time in my early teenage years and my first honest to goodness “organized” quail hunt which turned out to be a humbling experience to say the least.
Two gentlemen from our neighborhood in Bixby were excellent bird hunters and they both had bird dogs.
I had a spot to hunt over in the steep hollers of Westville, and they took me, as I couldn’t drive just yet. Their dogs pointed, and we located a lot of quail. Unfortunately, I’ve never been a good wing shot.
For the novice quail hunter, be prepared to burn up the calories and wear tread off the sole of your boots.
While hunting, I was struck with a bad case of cramps in my legs like I’d never experienced at any time. I was in great shape since I was playing football and wrestling for Bixby. However, these two older gentlemen had to almost carry me out of a holler or two that day. In retrospect, I appreciate them taking the time to take me afield.
According to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (OWDC), there are two species of quail found in Oklahoma.
The northern bobwhite’s range is nearly statewide, while the scaled quail is restricted to the western edge, including the Panhandle.
Both species are ground-dwellers, primarily foraging on seeds and insects. Areas with high amounts of forbs can act as a food source in two ways — providing nutritious seeds and attracting protein-rich insects. Though insects are seasonal in nature, forb seeds are longlasting and can be utilized into fall and winter. Prime foraging or “bugging” areas have a wide diversity of forbs, including ragweed, crotons, sunflowers and legumes.
In addition to a reliable food source, quail require adequate nesting, protective and loafing cover.
Though able to nest in a variety of places, quail prefer building nests in mature, native bunchgrasses 12 inches in diameter and eight inches in height.
Once chicks hatch, they are immediately moved to “weedy” areas with high insect activity.
Morning and afternoon feeding sessions are separated by time spent resting and digesting while in loafing cover.
The ideal cover is at least three feet tall with a closed canopy and relatively open ground conditions.
You can chase quail until Feb. 15 statewide.
The daily limit is 10, with 20 in possession after the first day. One regulation is that no covey of quail can be shot while resting on the ground which is commonly called “pot shooting.”
Please consult the full ODWC hunting regulations. Be sure of your target. Gun safety is top priority.
John Kilgore is the former Greenleaf State Park manager. He can be reached by emailing him at jkilgoreoutdoors@yahoo.com.