[oucorry]

Hunters who sold their bird dogs may be sorry they did.

Oklahoma’s quail population – which has been miserable the last two years – seems to have rebounded this year, although the state Wildlife Department’s annual roadside surveys don’t show it.

The August and October surveys indicate a 20 percent decline statewide from last year and a whopping 50 percent reduction in northwest Oklahoma. And last year was a record low.

However, hunters, landowners, and state wildlife officials in the field are telling a much different story about this year’s quail season, which opens Saturday.

"Talking to our guys in the field and some landowners, everybody is real encouraged,” said Rod Smith, southwest region supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "It should be one of the better years (this decade).”

Longtime outfitter Danny Pierce of Rush Creek Guide Service, who hunts quail in the eastern Texas Panhandle and the Cheyenne area of western Oklahoma, agrees.

"We are seeing just a lot of birds, and with the poor scenting conditions, there are lot more birds than what we are seeing,” said Pierce, who already is hunting in the Texas Panhandle where the season has opened.

Both Pierce and Wade Free, northwest region supervisor for the state Wildlife Department, said deer hunters have been flushing lots of quail.

"Some blackpowder hunters told me there were quail everywhere,” Free said. "I don’t know that it is that good, but last year these same bunch of guys were saying there weren’t any.”

Quail hunting always is spotty. Even in the worst years – like the last two – some hunters will find quail in patches that receive just the right amount of rain at the right time, and vice-versa.

As always, the farther west you go, the better the quail outlook. The best hunting typically begins in mid-December when scenting conditions improve.

So even though the roadside surveys are gloomy, the anecdotal evidence suggests otherwise.

"It depends on where you are looking, but it’s going to be a better season,” said Free, an avid quail hunter. "I would call it pretty encouraging for most of the northwest (Oklahoma). The Panhandle might be a little different.

"I haven’t heard anybody saying it looks terrible. It’s not going to be a humdinger, because it takes three good years for quail to rebound (from two consecutive poor seasons), but I am encouraged.”

[shortbus]

sure has been a long time since I've been quail hunting in Oklahoma.

I'll believe the quail population is up when I see it or one of my friends can provide some solid evidence.

I've lived in Oklahoma my entire life and one thing we've never had to worry about is too many quail.

[birdman]

You would think it would be very difficult to conduct meaningful roadside surveys for quail. I mean how many quail do you hear / see from the road. I can see the usefullness in pheasant roadside surveys, but quail? I'd rely on those who truly know. Better yet, why don't you get out yourself and go blastin?

[oucorry]

It's not as hard as you would think when the birds are in a covey on the side of the road. But I think when they do their survey they have to drive like 25-30 mph. Driving that fast makes it extremely difficult.