Habitat & Conservation,Hunting & Heritage,Quail Hunting Forecast  |  10/02/2017

Florida Quail Hunting Forecast 2017


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Rains hit Florida quail, but birds held their own

Earlier this year, everything seemed to be lining up nicely for Florida’s bobwhite quail. Thanks to great over-winter bird survival, combined with favorable weather and excellent cover, the nesting season got off to an early start. Then the rain started, capped off by the catastrophic Hurricane Irma, which slammed the state in September.

“Unfortunately, significant tropical moisture has impacted almost the entire state during the latter half of the summer, potentially impacting chick survival and late season hatch,” says Tony Young, media relations coordinator for the Florida Wildlife Commissioner’s Division of Hunting and Game Management.

While Florida didn’t conduct any systematic statewide summer quail surveys, and it remains to be seen exactly how the flooding associated with the hurricane affects things, “barring any additional significant weather impacts, hunting season should be moderately above average on properties being managed for bobwhites,” Young says.

According to Young, the Florida Wildlife Commission and its partners – including the Florida Forest Service, Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Forest Service and Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy – are committed to providing healthy habitat for bobwhite quail. Florida offers more than 190,000 acres of public land for hunting quail, including Quail Enhancement Areas throughout the state where intensive management for the birds occurs.
 

FLORIDA HUNTING TIP

* “Florida continues to provide numerous hunting opportunities on public land throughout the state where bobwhites are featured and management efforts have been increased,” says Young, who recommends hunters focus their efforts on the northwest, northeast and southwest regions of the state.
 

LINKS

Florida Quail Page

Florida Public Hunting Lands