A wildlife biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources expects another good year for quail hunters after a dramatic increase in the number of birds taken last year. The D-N-R’s Todd Bogenschutz says the estimated 28-thousand-400 quail taken were a 165 percent increase compared to 2014. This year’s roadside indicates the trend could continue.

He says there was a slight upward trend in numbers and he says the statewide count of quail is the highest it has been in 27 years. Bogenschutz says quail numbers had suffered from the weather just like pheasants.  “I think we do have a small suite of folks who just go out to find quail. Of course those numbers have declined with our lower numbers over the last 20 or 30 years — but I think we still have a small group of dedication quail hunters that when they go out the door that’s basically what they’ve focused on,” he says.

Bogenschutz says there are also hunters who will take what they see. He says in southern Iowa, which is the best quail range, hunters will take pheasants or quails, depending on what they run into. Bogenschutz says the recent mild winters have helped all upland game improve their numbers.

(Radio Iowa)