By Chad Love - Editor, Quail Forever
Weather
"Rainfall has been variable throughout the central and eastern parts of the state, with some areas receiving an overabundance of rain while others have had adequate, well-distributed rainfall,” explains Dallas Ingram, Georgia state quail coordinator. “Reduced survival may occur in those areas receiving too much rain in a short amount of time. Portions of southwest GA experienced a moderate drought for just over a month shortly after nesting began. Brood cover in many areas began to die off. Rainfall has since returned with some areas receiving heavy rainfall. Brood cover has recovered but there have only been spotty reports of chicks. A few areas have reported two hatches. “
Habitat
“With the return of rainfall across the state, ground cover is looking favorable in areas where habitat management is taking place for bobwhites; things like heavy thinning, prescribed burning, hardwood control, and winter disking,” says Ingram. “Southwest Georgia experienced a good burn season, with many areas able to conduct good growing-season burns. Rainfall was good following the burns and the vegetation has responded well.”
Programs
"The Bobwhite Quail Initiative and Working Lands for Wildlife 2.0 Bobwhites continues to be successful in providing technical and financial assistance for private landowners implementing habitat management practices for bobwhites and other early successional-dependent species,” says Ingram. “This program, along with the WLFW gopher tortoise initiative, has added value to thousands of acres of quail habitat across the state. In addition, the Florida/ Georgia Quail Coalition, a partnership with Quail Forever chapters, has continued to provide valuable funding for quail habitat work on public lands in southwest Georgia.”
Prospects
“Adequate amounts of rainfall coupled with suitable groundcover in portions of the state should lead to a successful upcoming quail season, however we are waiting to see how the late hatches finish out to have a better idea of hunting success this upcoming season statewide,” says Ingram.