“Our added winter moisture and active calling period led to a very long nesting and hatching season, starting in late April and extending into early summer, with chicks hatching as late as early July,” O’Dell said. “From a population standpoint, we are out of a deficit for the first time since 2001-2002. Quail are starting to pop up in places they haven’t been seen in a while.
“If you’ve never had the chance to experience what Arizona quail hunting built its name on, then this would be the year to get out and enjoy it.”
Meanwhile, hunters should note that the season for Mearns’ quail doesn’t begin until Dec. 4. It’s summer rainfall that plays a key role in nesting success and population numbers of this species. After a spotty and relatively weak monsoon across southern Arizona, these birds are likely to be abundant only in pockets that received sufficient precipitation this summer.
A valid Arizona hunting or combination hunt and fish license is required for all hunters 10 and older. Those hunters under 10 must either have a valid hunting or combination hunt and fish license, or be accompanied by an adult who possesses a valid hunting or combination hunt and fish license. Licenses can be purchased online or at license dealers statewide. A youth combination hunt and fish license (ages 10 to 17) is $5.
The general bag limit is 15 quail per day in the aggregate, of which no more than eight may be Mearns’ quail (when the Mearns’ season opens Dec. 4). The general possession limit is 45 quail in the aggregate after opening day, of which no more than 15 Gambel’s, scaled or California quail in the aggregate may be taken in any one day. After the opening of the Mearns’ season, the 45-quail possession limit may include 24 Mearns’ quail, of which no more than eight may be taken in any one day.
More quail-hunting information can be found on the department’s website at https://www.azgfd.com/Hunting/. Another resource for both new and experienced hunters alike is “An Introduction to Hunting Arizona’s Small Game.” Written by Randall D. Babb, the 196-page, full-color book covers where and how to hunt small game birds (like quail), squirrels, rabbits, ducks and geese. It also includes how to prepare and cook your harvest, with illustrations and recipes. The book can be ordered for $16.95 at www.azgfd.gov/publications.
Finally, hunters should check out O’Dell’s techniques for field-dressing quail at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gRwZAcWzzk.
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Publishers Notes: OUT OF STATE HUNTERS, FISHERMEN & OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS; Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, there could be limitations for OUT of STATE hunters, fishermen and other outdoor enthusiasts to include a 14-day quarantine requirement or negative COVID-19 testing alternative. Please check with the State's Department of Natural Resources BEFORE you travel or apply for the 2020 Fall Hunts.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this site are that of the authors and not necessarily that of TBC Press
Arkansas Offering Five WRICE fields for 2021 Early Teal hunting Sept 25-26
Submitted by: TBC Press
Posted on: 09/20/21
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News # 14539
Five private rice fields that are part of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Waterfowl Rice Incentive Conservation Enhancement program are being made available to public hunters via draw for next weekend, Sept. 25-26, during the state’s special early teal season.
Four of the WRICE fields are in Monroe County, while the fifth is in Prairie County near Slovak. The fields are Greenlee A, C and D and Keevil B in Monroe County, and Prairie County’s Slovak C.
“The WRICE program has been popular among duck hunters in the past two years, especially last year when we were able to expand the program out to more than 40 privately owned fields. We thought, with rice harvest concluding in some of our WRICE fields, that we would offer an opportunity for public hunters to take in a teal hunt on private land,” said Luke Naylor, the AGFC’s waterfowl program coordinator.
Hunters can apply for a permit for this weekend's hunts by signing on the AGFC’s website at www.agfc.com and clicking on the “Buy Licenses/Check Game” tab at the top. The permit application period will run through midnight Sunday, Sept. 19. There is a $5 application fee. Winners will be notified early next week with instructions to reach the field. Each winning applicant may bring an additional three hunters with them.
Arkansas’s special early teal season runs from Sept. 15-30 on public and private land. Daily limit of teal (blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon teal combined) is 6; the possession limit is 17. Shooting hours for early teal season are sunrise to sunset (regular waterfowl season is 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset).
Early Canada goose season is also underway in Arkansas through Sept. 30. Daily limit on Canadas is 5, with a possession limit of 15. Canada geese are legal to harvest on the early teal season fields, Naylor said.
For the past few years, private-land owners have been provided the opportunity to enroll acreage into the AGFC’s WRICE program. AGFC biologists developed the plan to help keep waste rice available for ducks, geese and other migrating birds when they pass through the state each fall and winter. The program was expanded in 2019 to allow permitted public waterfowl hunting opportunities on participating fields. Farmers may still operate and harvest their rice fields as normal, but can receive added income by leaving stubble and flooding fields during waterfowl migration and allowing permitted public hunting opportunities.
“Teal are here today, gone tomorrow in the area. They are even more unpredictable than a regular duck hunt. But teal have begun to migrate and we expect more to move if the expected cold front next week comes through. If the temps at night get 60 degrees and a little bit of a north breeze, as forecast, we usually see teal move through here in those conditions,” Naylor said.
For more information on the program, visit www.agfc.com/en/wildlife-management/private-lands-program/wrice.
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