Quail hunting could be fast in some areas

If you're looking for some fast upland game hunting this fall, consider pursuing California quail in Duchesne and possibly Millard counties. California quail populations in both counties are doing great this year.

There's also plenty of Gambel's quail available to hunters in many areas in southern Utah.

Hunting for pheasants should be poor to fair in Utah this fall, and sharp-tailed grouse hunting should be good for the 278 hunters who obtained a permit.

All of these upland game hunts start Nov. 4. Dean Mitchell, upland game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, provides the following preview for each hunt:

Quail

Two species of quail are found in Utah.

The Gambel's quail is native to southern Utah and is found mostly in the Mohave Desert habitats in Washington County.

The California quail is an introduced game bird. California quail populations are scattered throughout Utah, with the main concentrations found within urban areas along the Wasatch Front, east into the Uintah Basin and southeast into the Carbon and Emery county areas. If you're hunting next to an urban area, you're strongly encouraged to contact local authorities to learn what regulations those areas have regarding the discharge of firearms.

California quail populations appear to have increased somewhat over last year in some areas. Recent and ongoing transplants of California quail from the Wasatch Front to suitable habitats in outlying areas is the reason hunters are seeing quail in new places in Utah. Duchesne, Sevier and Uintah counties are traditionally the best areas to hunt.

Here's what to expect in each of the DWR's five regions:

Northern Region: Urban populations.

Central Region: The quail population is similar to last year. Most of the quail habitat in the Central Region is along the Wasatch Front where hunting is very limited, if not restricted altogether. Caution should be used when hunting in the foothills above housing areas, taking note where city limit boundaries are to avoid illegal shooting.

Northeastern Region: Excellent hunting is expected in Duchesne County. The extended opportunity to hunt quail in the Uintah Basin through December has provided some good recreational opportunity for hunters.

Southeastern Region: There are a few small quail populations in the region. Production seems to be improved this year, but hunting will be spotty.

Southern Region: California quail provide only limited hunting in localized areas. 2006 brood counts within the Millard County area are as high as ever, though. Hunting should be good in areas where quail can be safely pursued.

Gambel's quail in Kane County are found in the Kanab area where the population seems to be increasing. Many of these quail tend to live within city limits and cannot be hunted. However, with some scouting, you can locate birds in areas where you can hunt them. As always, make sure you obtain written permission before hunting on private lands.

Although the number of Gambel's quail observed during water hole counts in Washington County decreased this year, production appears to be good and quail are plentiful. Despite the fact that thousands of acres of quail habitat was destroyed by wildfires this summer, success is expected to be good in the desert areas west of St. George. There's more water for the birds this year, and quail may be distributed over a larger area. Hunters should concentrate their efforts along dry washes. Calling can be an effective way to locate coveys of birds.

Ring-necked pheasant

Despite the fact that Utah pheasant populations have declined considerably over the years, many Utah hunters will be afield this year for the wily ringneck. Hunters will probably see about the same number of birds as last year.

Hunters should concentrate their efforts in areas that still have suitable habitat for pheasants. Most of Utah's pheasant hunters participate during the opening weekend only. Those who are persistent and hunt on weekdays are usually successful in harvesting some birds.

Pheasant hunting will be fair at best throughout Utah this fall. Here's a preview for each of the DWR's five regions:

Northern Region: In Box Elder County, fewer pheasant chicks survived because of dry spring conditions, but hunters can still find healthy, isolated pockets of pheasants throughout the county. In Cache County, pheasant populations appear stable and are similar to last year.

Waterfowl management area personnel report fair pheasant numbers at the Salt Creek and Public Shooting Grounds waterfowl management areas and good numbers at the Ogden Bay and Farmington Bay WMAs. A late pheasant hatch was noted at the Ogden Bay WMA. At most of the WMAs in northern Utah, habitat for pheasants is improved over last year.

Central Region: Pheasant populations are similar to last year throughout the region.

Northeastern Region: Fair hunting is expected in both Duchesne and Uintah counties.

Southeastern Region: Biologists have seen fewer pheasants in the region this year. Hunting will be difficult.

Southern Region: Incidental sightings and brood counts in Millard County were higher than last year, but are still well below numbers that were found in the county a decade ago. There are some reports of birds in the Escalante Valley and Washington Fields areas. Pheasant numbers are low in Garfield and Kane counties, and hunters should expect a poor hunt in those two counties. The Sevier Valley population seems to be increasing from last year, and a fair hunt is expected in that area.

Walk-in Access Program

To provide hunters with more access to private lands, the DWR is kicking off a brand new pilot Walk-in Access program in its Northern Region. Under this new program, more than 37,000 acres of private lands in northern Utah will be open to hunting for a variety of species, including pheasants. To learn more about the program, please visit wildlife.utah.gov/walkinaccess on the Web.

Sharp-tailed grouse

Sharp-tailed grouse numbers in Box Elder County have decreased slightly from 2005. Hunters who obtained permits are allowed to take two birds during the season. A total of 278 permits were allotted this year.

Permits are issued on a conservative basis, and there should be plenty of birds available for those who obtained a permit.

Hunters are reminded that nearly all sharp-tailed grouse hunting in Utah occurs on private land in eastern Box Elder County. Hunters are encouraged to contact landowners before the season to secure permission to hunt. Hunters are encouraged to complete and have the landowner sign the landowner permission card available on the DWR's Web site at wildlife.utah.gov/law/permissioncard.html

Sharp-tailed grouse hunters will also have some additional areas to hunt in eastern Box Elder County this fall. To learn more about Utah's new Walk-in Access program, please visit wildlife.utah.gov/walkinaccess on the Web.