Share your experience with the AGFC through the Quail Hunter Survey 

LITTLE ROCK — Bird dog enthusiasts have been “on point” for the last few weeks, waiting for the Nov. 1 opening day of northern bobwhite season in Arkansas. Help the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission paint a picture of conservation by filling out a quick survey in the AGFC app after every hunt in pursuit of northern bobwhites in The Natural State.

The survey takes only a few minutes and covers a few facts about each hunt.

“We ask for the location of the hunt, whether you saw birds, shot birds and chased any singles from a previous flush,” Clint Johnson, AGFC Quail Program coordinator, said. “These and other questions on the survey help biologists determine hunter satisfaction as well as response to some of the habitat work we’ve done around the state.”

Hunts on private and public land are both eligible to be entered into the survey. The more hunts that are recorded, the more complete the picture will be when biologists plan future habitat work. Data are collected only at the WMA or county, so AGFC is not asking for specific covey locations that would give away a favorite spot. Participants will receive a custom decal at the end of the season.

“We know that you can’t just transplant quail and hope they survive in the wild,” Johnson said. “But we can find areas where quail populations exist and expand habitat nearby to begin to grow those populations across a landscape. It’s slow, methodical work, and it takes the help of hunters and landowners alike.”

Johnson says respondents in the last two years have reported promising results during their hunts in Arkansas.

“States that are well-known for quail, like Kansas and Texas, obviously have higher numbers in similar surveys, but the gap between Arkansas and these hot spots isn’t as large as you might think. Arkansas public land hunt results actually are pretty comparable to public land hunts in Georgia, which is also well known for hunting quail.”

One observation Johnson has made is the extremely conservative mindset most quail hunters have during their pursuit.

“Upland bird hunters are really almost self-regulating when it comes to quail,” Johnson said. “Through previous surveys, we’ve found that most only shoot one bird or so out of a covey and move on to find another covey instead of chasing down birds they just flushed. It’s more about working the dogs and putting a few feathers in their mouths than it is taking home a bunch of birds for the table.”

Northern bobwhite hunting season in Arkansas is Nov.1-Feb. 1. The daily limit is six birds, and the possession limit is 12 birds. Some wildlife management areas have different season dates and regulations. Visit www.agfc.com/wheretohunt to find WMA-specific information.

Visit https://www.agfc.com/hunting/more-game/quail for more information about northern bobwhites, including the latest Annual Quail Program Report, which includes population estimates for many WMAs. Hunters can also enter their hunts through the Quail Hunter’s Log weblink under “Helpful Resources.”

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CUTLINES:

DOG WITH BIRD
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon image by Scott Terrell, courtesy AGFC Hunting Buddies Contest.

YOUTH WITH DOG
Braque Francais and young hunter image by Chad Knudsen, courtesy AGFC Hunting Buddies Contest.