Forecast: Overwinter survival and mild spring weather have set the stage for a robust year of quail production and hunting success in Idaho. With the one exception of the Clearwater Region due to continued drought conditions, large quail broods have been observed across the quail range and hunters should be ready for an excellent season, reports Jeffrey Knetter, upland game and migratory bird coordinator for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
“Based on the roadside survey results, quail hunting should be very good in the Magic Valley Region,” said Knetter. “Hunters should expect to find areas with abundant quail along the Snake River and its tributaries west of Twin Falls. Although, good quail numbers are also being observed as far north as Shoshone.” The 2013 statistics show approximately 8,400 hunters harvested 66,500 quail in Idaho.
There are abundant public land (state and federal) and “Access Yes!” properties which provide public hunting opportunities within the state. In 2013, Idaho opened up over 1 million acres of private and landlocked public lands through the “Access Yes!” program. The state expects additional hunting access to become available this fall, with all public lands available on the
IDFG website.
Season Dates: September 20, 2014 through January 31, 2015 only in Ada, Adams, Benewah, Blaine, Boise, Bonner, Boundary, Camas, Canyon, Cassia, Clearwater, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce, Owyhee, Payette, Shoshone, Valley, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka, Twin Falls and Washington counties (Area 1); Area 2 is closed
Daily Bag Limit: 10 (Aggregate)
Possession Limit: 30 (Aggregate)
Field Notes: Roadside surveys suggest robust California quail numbers across southern Idaho. Idaho is considered a paradise for upland bird hunters with a multitude of species available to pursue on millions of acres of public land. Hunters can pursue three species of forest grouse – dusky, ruffed, and spruce – and two species of prairie grouse – Columbian sharp-tailed and sage-grouse – all native to Idaho. Idaho also offers some of the best chukar and gray partridge hunting in the country, with both species thriving on large tracts of public ground.
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