Forecast: The 2014 roadside whistle count, conducted annually in June, showed a 30 percent decline in the number of male bobwhite calling in the South Hunting Zone (South of Interstate 74) and a 52 percent decline in the North Hunting Zone (North of Interstate 74) from those observed in 2013. Indiana quail hunters harvested an estimated 20,000 bobwhite quail during the 2012 season.
“We had a long winter, with heavy snow across northern Indiana and extremely cold temperature statewide, reports Budd Veverka, farmland game research biologist for the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife. “The spring and summer were cool, but not excessively wet. Nesting was likely near normal levels, though birds in Indiana tend to like it warm and dry.” Indiana has future plans to establish at least one National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative Focus Area by spring of 2016.
Season Dates: Area 1 (North of I-74): November 1, 2014 through December 15, 2014 and Area 2 (South of I-74): November 1, 2014 through January 10, 2015
Daily Bag Limit: 4 (North); 8 (South)
Possession Limit: 8 (North); 16 (South)
Field Notes: Parts of Indiana continue to hold good quail numbers, but few spots have enough coveys to provide consistent action throughout the day. The hunter who does his homework and puts in the time should continue to be successful in southwest Indiana.
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