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

**keeferfish** · 01-09-2023, 12:55 PM

I can’t tell you the last time I seen a quail in MO but I bet it's been 5 years. Where we deer hunt we actually started by bird hunting that area. It’s just East of St. Joseph. 20 years ago it was loaded and we even would get pheasants fairly often. When we started deer hunting up there covey’s of quail would walk under our stands, you could hear them coming. Heck they would give you a heart attack waking to your stand in the morning before sunrise! We hunted from the Stockton area all they way to the Iowa border but not any longer.

We’ve always had a Britany to hunt and as a pet. The current one we got specifically got as a pet because there are no birds around to hunt. I take her on lots of walks all over Smithville and sometimes where we hunt and in over two years have not seen one quail.

I'd post in the Ask a Biologist or Conservation Agent Forum but not sure there is anyone that ever responds to those Forums any longer and they probably should just go away.

Turkey are going down the same path as the other birds. We would see flocks of 25 to 30 Turkey all the time bow hunting, this year I seen 1. Seems real strange and man I miss it.

**jbornhop** · 01-10-2023, 06:26 AM

I used to quale/pheasant hunt in Gentry County over there in NW Mo some 30 years ago, was very good hunting, and a blast. we have a small farm in Jonesburg which is pretty open and usually have a couple of small coveys, but we baby them and do not hunt them. I wonder if MDC could re stock or if they even care? maybe to worried about the bears and elk

**ripnlips** · 01-10-2023, 06:26 AM

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.

**keeferfish** · 01-10-2023, 07:42 AM

Originally Posted by ripnlips

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.

Or the beautiful MO Hellbender? We all know how many people look forward to the Hellbender Sporting Season! Anyone breed Hellbender dogs?

How A Conservation Project Has Saved Missouri'''s Hellbenders For Another Generation | STLPR

**BarryG** · 01-10-2023, 09:51 AM

A big reason is trapping in Missouri is going down. Trapping helps control the nest raiders like coons, opossums, and fox, coyote. Plus loss of suitable habitat! That could be the Biggest problem!

**jbornhop** · 01-10-2023, 03:53 PM

hellbender sounds like a bass lure to me, just saying

**missed mallards** · 01-10-2023, 07:48 PM

Wish I could tell you. Been on a few properties in Mississippi that once held a few coveys but have seen a dramatic decrease in population.

I’ve said for years the decrease in turkeys in my area have a lot to do with the price of fur. One could argue the same. Plus a lot of land has been changed by human hands either by field work, land clearing, or otherwise.

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**nsfr1206** · 01-10-2023, 10:48 PM

My dad has said when he farmed in Mississippi back in the 80’s he’d work ground at night and would stop to let the quail run out after they’d run along in the lights. Not near as many around as there used to be. I’ve heard it’s because there isn’t as much native grass.
Maybe the wild hog population or coyotes have something to do with it here.

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**lugnutzz** · 01-11-2023, 10:00 AM

I’m not that old but we used to let a some gentlemen quail hunt our farms. They never killed many but had fun doing it. Used to hear them out the back door time to time calling in the early morning or late evenings. Don’t see the rabbits we used to either.
I think it’s due to tree lines being cleared for land improvements and subdivisions moving out into the country side. Also now that every farmer is using herbicides to control weeds ditch banks and tree lines don’t grow up like they used to.

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**beagle man** · 01-11-2023, 10:22 AM

Fescue/cattle/no trappers, but down here we have several quail, several land owners lease out their land to private hunt clubs, I seen a covey of 8 going to stockton couple weeks ago. hear a few calling in the spring up at the lake, Not on my place or anywhere around me, My neighbor turned 300 loose 4 years ago, hear nothing from them, but he has 3600 acres so hard to know.

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

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