South Carolina bobwhites are experiencing a positive trend
Given that it’s impossible to control the weather, it’s fair to say South Carolina lucked out in terms of what Mother Nature has thrown its way this year.
“South Carolina had a milder spring and summer than the past few years and had pretty good rains statewide that should have provided plenty of quality nesting and brooding habitat,” says Michael Hook, quail coordinator for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
“The rains were timely and consistent throughout much of the summer and many of the native forbs and grasses have really responded,” he adds. “It appears to have been a banner year on several of our wildlife management areas for partridge pea, and within the past couple of weeks a blanket of green and yellow have really taken over more than a few blocks of timber across the state.”
While data from annual brood surveys aren’t yet available, several cooperators report seeing average brood numbers, while others report seeing better-than-average brood numbers.
Hook is crossing his fingers the state doesn’t experience a major flood event like it has the past two years. Provided that doesn’t happen, he expects the state’s low country to offer banner quail hunting this fall. Berkeley, Colleton and Georgetown counties should offer good hunting, and Hook says he’s also heard good things from Edgefield and McCormick counties.
“There have been a lot of changes on the landscape in the past two or three years, and a great deal of those changes have been positive for quail,” Hook says. “Check out some of the old familiar wildlife management areas (WMAs) you used to hunt – I believe you will find there has been a great deal of changes as many of our WMAs have been more active with respect to timber management and burning. There has been a great deal of focus on providing good quail habitat.”
SOUTH CAROLINA QUAIL HABITAT NOTE
Each year in Early March, the DNR Small Game Program and cooperating partners conducts a Wild Quail Management Seminar at the James W. Webb Wildlife Management Area in Hampton County. For more information visit
Wild Quail Management Seminar.
LINKS
South Carolina Quail Page
South Carolina Brood Survey Reports
South Carolina Quail Habitat Restoration