1xshot

To Walcrabass, I understand the urge to find a legislated solution but I can't say I'm in favour of following California's lead in about anything. I think Mo Con has better idea in foraging partnerships with land owners. I don't doubt that habitat plays a roll but I think there is still something else going on with the decline in quail numbers. If you really get out and drive rural roads in southwest Mo there are more fallow fields and acres out of production than I've seen in years. I think our conservation dept does a wonderful job over all but I'm just not sure they've got this problem completely figured out yet. One thing I do know is that the only way the problem will be resolved is for sportsmen to stay engaged and not give up. Engaged sportsmen are the reason we have the hunting and fishing opportunities we have available now.

Also, I know that the conservation dept down plays it, but I believe there are a great many more predators now than there were back then. Back then you didn't see two feral cats in every field and a hawk on every other fence post. There were alot more hunters back then and they knew how to deal with competition from predators.

I agree it's very sad. I hunted quail in the sixties with with my grand dad who owned an orchard in Greenfield. He always had a great pair of pointers and knew where every covey in Dade county lived. I always planned on buying a pair of bird dogs when I retired. Well, I retired this past June and with so few birds it seems pointless (pun intended).