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Thread: Anyone know what really Happened to Missouri Birds (Quail)?

  1. #11
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    Speck is offline MO/MS Moderator and Fishing Legend * Member Sponsor
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    I’ve had a couple of coveys behind the house between a brushy creek bank and a corn field. We have a LOT of foxes and coyotes back there as well. I think they are keeping the quail cleaned out


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    Quote Originally Posted by ripnlips View Post
    The elk, otters, and wolves take up all the money and mdc interest. Us used to be bird hunters providing money chasing birds do not have their interest.
    Left off Hawks, we had 2 coveys here around the house. Darn red hawk picked them off, persistent sucker. I do not look good in orange or would have delt with him.
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    Loss of habitat I suspect. Guys that run cattle bulldoze the fencerows and plant fescue.

    I hear them more than I see them, there's a few around this area but not many.

    I have heard the same talking to guys that used to hunt the area many years ago. Deer and turkey were scarce, but there was plenty of birds.
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    Aren't all these things (cattle, hawks, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, possum, development, trapping) also issues in other states? Or...other parts of Missouri?

    We got to talking about it at the barbershop just yesterday with a bunch of hunters and they acted like, yeah, they see them quite frequently but it was always "over on the Kansas/Nebraska border" or "down in Oklahoma". But not around here so much?!

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    I would like to think it is habitat loss but even properties that have the same cover and crops have lost the quail. We don’t shoot hawks/owls or trap predators. I also think turkey’s have an effect on the young quail. I would guess they would eat them just like grasshoppers.


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    Around here Quail numbers are down but I think the biggest reason is mature timber stands, as Quail do better in new growth. They need ground cover and old growth does not have that, as I have noticed in our woods.

    Already mentioned hides are worth nothing so no one hunts or traps predator's around here any more. When us and the neighbors finally get fed up with the Coyotes we start pounding them pretty hard which lowers there numbers for a few years, it saves the heck out of local fawn crops.
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  7. #17
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    Hunted central Missouri 50 years ago, enough quail to be interesting but numbers declined steadily in the 70s and early 80s in that area. Most hunters that I know stopped quail hunting and keeping bird dogs. Think I’ve heard every theory there is, no idea of how credible they are but MDC seems to opine its loss of suitable habitat. I see and and hear a breeding pair and a rare small covey every once in awhile on COE property surrounding Truman Lake. Feel sorry for anyone that’s never heard the rush of a covey rising up over a good bird dog.
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  8. #18
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    The MDC must think there are still quail in MO, a couple of pics in this months Missouri Conservationist magazine. What is this? it was quail tracks in the snow and the other was a very small blurb that they are working on habitat. Pics were probably taken in some other state.

    Not much but they sure are proud of the eagles, bears and elk!
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    I believe that habitat is one of the biggest issues, in Northern Wisconsin they do mostly clear cutting 10 to 20 acre plots now if you want Quail. Once it starts to regrow we call them slashings can`t hardly walk thru it and the Quail move in and take over.

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    Hey Keefer / everyone else,
    Yes I am one of the many who kept/ trained bird dogs many years . Foot hunted quite a few years then had a good friend get me involved with horseback field trialing /dog training. Enjoyed the stew out of bird dogging.
    Yes there are a few birds around just about anywhere you go but the population is radically reduced compared to the 60’s, 70’s, and even the 80’s.
    Quail population declines are the million dollar question biologists in every state in the nation have pursued for many years. The blame has been pointed in many different directions and yes many factors have contributed to the decline. Fescue, predators, herbicides, land management, and more and more.
    Birds need small weed seeds for food, roosting cover from predators at night, overhead daytime cover for avian predation protection during daylight. Young birds need protective cover not too thick and not to thin for feeding.
    Yes , every predator on the planet wants to eat a poor old bird.
    Birds need edge. The transitions between fairly open and thick cover . Every farmer around wants to maximize his crop production so edge cover has been cleared about everywhere .

    One heck of a lot of money has been spent in every state trying to help out poor old Bob. A multitude of approaches have been made with varying success. Unfortunately none have found a 100% way to help the quail population.

    Count yourself very lucky to hear a bird morning or evening. Saver the times you actually get to flush a covey.

    Having a good dog locked up on point is a pleasure everyone should experience during their lifetime.


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