Quail hunting

[Steve in MI]

Where i live we have had a covey of quail for 4 years now it started out as 3-4 and each year has grown they are now numbered about 18. Lat year there was a short season for quail. I was wondering if any body had any luck and if they knew if the season was to be opened again this year?? I hunted else where i have grown to like seeing the quail during bow season. Have planted cover for them as well as for the pheasant, courtsey of Pheasants Forever.

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Steve,
There is nothing like the flush of a covey of quail to get my heart pounding! I used to occasionally find coveys on state land and on the farms that were enrolled in the public access program, but haven't found any in the last few years. The season usually starts Oct 27th or 28th and goes for about a week. Since we live in the northern most part of the bobwhite's range, the winter usually determines if we have a season or not. With the mild winters we have had the last few years, I think that we will have one again this year. the seasons are usually posted in the Michigan Waterfowl Hunting Guide. A couple of tips: learn to pick one bird out of a covey, and then start to learn to identify the cock birds (they are the ones with the white cheeks and throat patches; the hens are buff in color). Also, never shoot more than 50% of the birds in a covey...leave some "for seed" for the next season. Good luck and good hunting!

[Seldom]

I just read where the State has made the quail season the same as the pheasent season. They must have heard that "Steve in MI" had seen his covey grow by 4 or 5X.