Wildlife Department Making Strides in Quail Habitat Restoration

By Oklahoma Dept of Wildlife Conservation

First posted on 03-09-2010

Research shows that bobwhite quail numbers across the nation have been in gradual decline since the 1960s, but Oklahoma remains a great holdout for the long-celebrated upland bird.

Despite its location along the western fringe of the bobwhites native range, Oklahoma offers some of the best quail hunting and habitat in the nation including large, contiguous tracts of outstanding mixed grass prairie as well as portions suitable for restoration.

At its March meeting, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission heard a presentation from wildlife biologists highlighting efforts to benefit bobwhite quail and fight downward trends.

Factors that have been blamed for downward population trends of bobwhite quail include everything from mammalian and avian predators and competition for resources with other wildlife to bird flu and aflatoxins found in corn used for feeding deer. Additionally, loss of hunting opportunity has been blamed for low quail harvests and reduction in the number of hunters pursuing quail. But biologists with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation say there is no one thing that can be blamed for the downward trends of quail population and hunter success; however, while theories circulate, there are two key observations that are sure.

“Research to date shows habitat loss and fragmentation to be the principal culprit,” said Doug Schoeling, upland game biologist for the Wildlife Department.

And according to Schoeling, habitat restoration is the primary focus of the Wildlife Department when it comes to addressing downward trends in quail populations.

Much of that focus is aimed at private land management.

“Since Oklahoma is made up of 97 percent private land, that’s where we’re going to affect the quail population,” Schoeling said.

In recent years biologists have managed private land quail habitat at locations scattered statewide through programs that benefit quail along with other species of wildlife.

“Wherever in the state we could get it, wed go out there, meet with the landowners and do these habitat improvements,” Schoeling said.

Today, the Department is taking on a more targeted approach in order to encourage complete landscape changes. Through the Natural Resource Conservation Services Environmental Quality Incentives Program, biologists have determined five focus areas across the state using GIS technology to identify key habitat areas targeted for improvement. Landowners who are interested work with biologists to develop a management plan that will benefit quail. Landowners then have the option of contracting with the Natural Resource Conservation Service to receive financial assistance as part of its Quail Habitat Restoration Initiative. As the name suggests, the initiative is designed specifically for the benefit of quail and their habitat.

According to Erik Bartholomew, programs and research biologist for the Wildlife Department, targeting contiguous tracts will “increase the likelihood of having a population response” while increasing funding opportunities and lowering investment expenses.

Along with efforts on private land, the Wildlife Department actively manages thousands of acres of public land for wildlife, with quail among those species that benefit. Public land efforts have included converting Old World Bluestem to native grasses, restoring pine bluestem habitat and timber thinning to restore native grasses.

The Department also actively engages in outreach efforts such as presentations, field days and news correspondences to encourage interest in quail habitat restoration and plays an advisory role for a number of programs and organizations that affect the environment and habitat conditions.

In other business, the Commission accepted a donation of more than 70 taxidermy mounts from Sam Munhollon, a conservationist who has been a longtime friend of the Wildlife Department and past president of the Oklahoma Station Chapter of Safari Club International.

Munhollon’s donation is valued at almost $40,000 and includes a range of native Oklahoma wildlife as well as all six subspecies of wild turkey.

“We will be using these mounts primarily at the Department’s new Outdoor Education and Training Center at Lake Arcadia,” said Nels Rodefeld, chief of information and education for the Wildlife Department.

The taxidermy mounts will be used for a range youth education programs.

The Commission also heard a presentation from William Voelker, director and founder of Sia, the Comanche Nation Ethno-Ornithological Initiative. Sia is a cutting edge research facility and information center for scientists and native people from around the world. Voelker is considered one of the nations foremost experts on raptor behavior, breeding and handling and, as a member of the Comanche Nation, Voelker brings a unique perspective on eagles and their importance to native peoples.

Sia’s facility in Cyril currently cares for close to 50 eagles. Voelker extended an invitation for the Department to use Sia as a resource and pledged to be active in educating the public about their work with both culture and science. The word ‘sia’ is Comanche for ‘feather,’ and the group’s work is focusing in part on bridging the disciplines of ethnology — the study of culture —and ornithology — the study of birds.

The Commission voted to approve a number of hunting and fishing-related rule changes, many of which simply make permanent rules that were already in place. In wildlife, rules approved will open some additional Corps of Engineers property to hunting; allow hunters to use telephonic and internet based check stations, establish a timeline, and require the confirmation number to be provided when transferring harvested big game to another individual; require hunters to add the date and time to field tags for elk, deer and turkey; open youth deer gun season for Wildlife Management Areas as published in the hunting guide; extend furbearer season; establish seasons on the new Candy WMA; modify hunting seasons on four WMAs; allow buckshot to be used for shooting feral hogs on private lands; allow camping by hunters and anglers on Chickasaw National Recreation Area; and establish rules to prohibit explosive devices on all Department lands.

In fishing, approved rules modify black bass length limits on Birch Lake; require paddlefish anglers to release immediately all paddlefish caught on Monday and Friday; require paddlefish anglers to immediately record the date and time of harvest of all paddlefish on their paddlefish permit; close snagging on the Grand River from the HWY 12 bridge upstream to the Markham Ferry dam from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. year-round; remove exemption on use of grabhooks for Delaware and Mayes counties; close the Spring River to paddlefish angling by all methods from the HWY 60 bridge upstream to the Kansas state line; permit only triploid grass carp to be stocked in private waters (diploid grass carp would be allowed for use by licensed aquaculture facilities for specific purposes). Additionally, one rule change will require all fishing guides to obtain a guide license unless exempt, and will outline certifications needed by an operator prior to obtaining the license.

In addition, approved rules will establish a price of $25 for the new Wildlife Management Area Atlas, which also will include a one-year subscription to Outdoor Oklahoma magazine.

A complete listing of approved fishing and hunting regulation rule changes is available online at wildlifedepartment.com.

The new regulations must now pass through the legislative process and be signed by the governor. Look for complete details in the next Oklahoma Hunting and Fishing Guides.

The Commission also accepted federal and other grant money to fund three initiatives relating to High Plains habitat initiatives and voted to increase the capitol improvement budget to expand the Drummond Flats WMA in Garfield County.

Additionally, the Commission accepted sealed bids to lease the Wildlife Departments mineral interest on 2,598.75 net mineral acres in Atoka County.

The Wildlife Conservation Commission is the eight-member governing board of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The Wildlife Commission establishes state hunting and fishing regulations, sets policy for the Wildlife Department and indirectly oversees all state fish and wildlife conservation activities. Commission members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate.

The next scheduled Commission meeting is set for 9 a.m., April 5, at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation headquarters (auditorium), located at the southwest corner of 18th and North Lincoln, Oklahoma City.