Quail and pheasant hunters in south central Iowa may need to be more patient this season. Upland game biologist Todd Bogenschutz with the Iowa DNR tells KNIA/KRLS that Iowa is the northern fringe of the quail’s range, and the severity of the prior winter is a key factor in population.

“We generally have populations fluctuate with our winters. If we have a bad winter, it really hits them hard. This last winter hit them pretty hard. Statewide, our quail are down 50 percent. Then we’ll have winters where there’s not much winter at all and they do well. Quail are pretty low. Last year, we were about at our 10-year average, and now we’re below it. Not to say there isn’t quail out there, but generally across southern Iowa, our quail counts are down.”

Bogenshutz also says pheasant counts statewide are relatively unchanged from last year. However, the southern half of Iowa saw a population decrease while the northern half saw an increase. Quail and pheasant season begins Saturday, October 30th. Learn more about hunting regulations here, as well as an upcoming In Depth with Dr. Bob Leonard.