The Bobwhite Chronicle - A newsletter dedicated to the conservation of bobwhite quail and other wildlife in northeast Missouri

Volume 3 Issue 4; October 2008

Written by Chris Lee, Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever Private Lands Biologist for Northeast Missouri.

Phone: (660) 216-2520 (cell);
(573) 767-5276 ext. 115 (office)
Email: clee@pheasantsforever.org

To download a PDF copy of this month's newsletter, click here.

Moving On
After two years and eight months as the Private Lands Specialist for Pheasants Forever in this area, it is time for me to say goodbye.

I have accepted a job in my hometown of Burlington, Iowa as Natural Resources Manager for the Des Moines County Conservation Board. I start this new job on November 3rd so officially, my last day here will be at the Northeast Missouri Pheasants Forever Banquet on November 1st.

There is nothing more important to me than my family and this move will take me back to my hometown where my parents, grandparents (I still have all four), and my siblings all still live. I decided long ago that I would not vacate this position unless it would take me back home and allow me to do basically the same thing I do here - put conservation on the ground. This was an opportunity I could not pass up.

So as for the fate of this newsletter, I can't say. Obviously, I will no longer be writing it from here forth and I can't say whether my successor will continue it or not. I'm currently in talks with my supervisors about hiring someone to take my place but we have yet to nail town a timeline.

I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for your interest in conservation and for your hard work at bringing back the bobwhite and creating habitat for wildlife. Rest assured that I'm not just going to up and leave anyone hanging out to dry on pending projects. I will be keeping my current cell phone number so that the landowners I've been working with can keep in touch and I can ease the transition from my project oversight to someone else's. It has been a pleasure working with all the landowners, chapter volunteers, and agency employees over the past few years. I've learned a lot, had some really great times, and made some really good friends. I am grateful for having had the opportunity to advance conservation around here and I hope that you've benefitted from it.

If you would like to keep in touch or have any questions on current or future projects, I'll be able to be reached at my current cell number and my personal email account is chrislee0515@yahoo.com.

Before I go, I have one final request. I would like to see this year's banquets be the biggest they've ever been. The upcoming banquet dates are listed below so if you are available any of those days, make plans to attend a banquet. These chapters have helped fund my position for the past few years and will be pivotal to funding the next biologist and the programs he or she will have available such as the MDC-matched cost share program which to date has provided nearly $20,000 in funding to landowners in the area. Remember, every dime these chapters raise from these banquets stays local. PF/QF is the ONLY national conservation organization that gives its local chapters 100% control of their locally raised funds. Thus, supporting these chapters directly supports conservation in the local community. I've included some information on each chapter later on in this newsletter. Once again, thank you for all you do for conservation and I hope to see you at an upcoming banquet!

Upcoming Banquet Dates

• Whistling Bobs Quail Forever Chapter - October 18, 2008 - Knights of Columbus Hall, Edina
• Northeast Missouri Pheasants Forever Chapter - November 1, 2008 - VFW Hall, Memphis
• Ten Rivers Pheasants Forever Chapter - February 21, 2009 - Caldwell Building, Canton

Quail Forever's Quail Hunting Forecast
Pulled straight from the pages of Quail Forever's website, here is this years forecast:

Bobwhite quail numbers across the board are mixed depending on location and weather conditions, but generally speaking appear to be stable or slightly better than last year, when drought coupled with the declining availability of habitat gave the birds a double whammy. However, looking at the larger picture, bobs still remain a bird in severe decline due first and foremost to massive losses of suitable habitat.

Quail hunters and enthusiasts have been begging for some good news lately, and there is finally some from quail country to report. First, habitat initiatives are working - states all across the map reported federal conservation practices like the Conservation Reserve Program's (CRP) Conservation Practice 33 (CP-33, or "bobwhite buffers") and state-designed programs for bobwhites are yielding results. Second, the new CRP practice State Acres For wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) program - practices targeted at various species within specific states - allocates over 130,000 acres in 21 initial projects over 20 states that hold the potential to establish quality habitat targeted specifically for bobs. Finally, the 2008 federal Farm Bill includes provisions that will provide incentives for thinning and burning of CRP tree plantings, perhaps the biggest news for quail and quail hunters in a generation and the biggest quail-related news to come out of Washington, D.C., during Quail Forever's three-year existence. And how about Quail Forever! There are now over 105 QF chapters in 25 states, and habitat projects are starting to hit the ground. Looking at available habitat tools including CP-33, SAFE, thinning and burning incentives and the continued growth of QF, we're merely starting to scratch the surface of what it will take to restore this great game bird to prominence.

Always consult state hunting regulations for rules and season dates before taking to the field. Find your state agency by logging onto www.QuailForever.org/page/StateAgencies.

QF's Forecast for Missouri
The 2007 season continued the negative trend in quail hunting with record lows in both number of hunters and quail harvested in Missouri, with 27,830 hunters (a 7.6 percent decrease from 2006) harvesting 258,448 bobs (an 11.5 percent decrease from the 2006 season). This year, several ice storms occurred in the northwest and Bootheel regions of the state that likely impacted winter survival for bobs. Coupled with an unusually wet spring, production was hampered, and preliminary data collected from the 2008 August roadside surveys show the quail index was down statewide about 13 percent, from 3.3 birds/route to 2.9 birds/route. Areas higher than the statewide average include the northeast, west-central, and central portions of the state. National CRP programs, especially CP-33 are continuing to add suitable habitat to the Missouri landscape. SAFE acres are just getting off the ground and will provide additional habitat for bobwhite in the future. The Missouri Department of Conservation also has 19 public areas designated as "Quail Emphasis Areas" where habitat improvement is a main priority.

For more information on quail hunting in Missouri, check out MDC's website at www.mdc.mo.gov.

Quail Forever's 2008 Quail Hunting Guide
Ten Tips to Make This Your Best Autumn Yet!
By: Anthony Hauck, PF/QF Public Relations Specialist

We mean it as no slight to the other seasons, but there is just something about autumn. The changing of the seasons brings with it a beauty that keeps minds poetic and a crispness that keeps bodies comfortable. It can be argued that hunters spend two-thirds of the year preparing for this final third, the advent of "hunting season," the opportunity to harvest fruits from the land. And because you've waited all year for this, Quail Forever has 10 final tips to ensure this upland hunting season is your best yet!

1. Get Buddy, Bella and Your Butt Moving. You shouldn't take an out-of-shape dog into the field, and you shouldn't take an out-of-shape "you" there either. Fit dogs equate to fuller game bags, not to mention healthier hunting companions. Find pre-season conditioning tips at Quail Forever's Bird Dog Bonanza presented by Native performance dog food. Don't take your own physical condition for granted, either. Even with most hunting seasons just weeks away, there's still time to get a pre-hunt medical check-up and to start a daily walking or exercise regimen. If you've never learned CPR or taken a first aid course, now is a good time, and even if you have, a refresher in those areas is always beneficial.

2. Pre-Hunt GamePlan. It can be said for many things in life that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail, and quail hunting is no exception. So let's hurry you up to speed. First, get some expectations for this season by checking out Quail Forever's 2008 Quail Hunting Forecast. No matter what state you're hunting in, be sure you're familiar with that state's hunting regulations at Quail Forever's State Agency page. Finally, take an equipment inventory. Whether you're missing anything, or just plain want something new, your upland gear connection is Quail Forever's MarketPlace.

3. Post-Hunt Exam. The hunt is done, and hopefully you've managed to slide a bird or three into your vest. But there is one more step before you've wrapped up your day's work. Spending just a few minutes directly following the hunt to run your dog through a post-hunt exam can eliminate or alleviate problems later on. Look over the dog for obvious abrasions or bleeding. Then check the dog from head to toe. Start at the head and then check the mouth, tongue, nose, lips, eyes and ears. Next, look over the neck, chest and abdomen. Finally, check the feet and legs - typically the biggest problem area - for any abnormalities. Your bird dog can't tell you what's ailing, so you have to pay attention to their behavior and take the time to give them a good exam after every trip afield.

4. Quail Forever Loads. Fill your game vest and make a contribution to quail conservation with the purchase of Federal Premium® Ammunition's Wing-Shok® Quail Forever loads. Federal makes a donation to Quail Forever's habitat work for every box of QF-labeled shells sold. These QF loads were designed specifically with quail hunters in mind and are some of the best loads on the market for the avid quail hunter. Northerners will also find the Quail Forever offerings to be an excellent choice for ruffed grouse and woodcock. Wing-Shok® QF loads are available in 12 and 20 gauges, #7.5 and #8 options. For more information on QF loads, as well as the rest of the Federal Premium line-up, visit www.federalpremium.com.

5. Cast and Blast. Habitat across the quail range helps improve water quality and protects fish populations in many places as well. The crossover between hunting and fishing in the United States is quite high, as nearly 70 percent of hunters are also anglers. And fall is no time to put away the rod and reel and become a one-trick pony. For many anglers, the fall bite is can't-miss, so bookend a day of fishing with morning and evening hunts, then enjoy your reward that evening: A combo platter.

6. Add Some Seasoning. All hunters have their favorite spots, honey holes they religiously return to year in and year out. With good reason, as these spots have proven to be productive - or else why come back? But do yourself a favor this year and try becoming less a creature of habit and more a creature of habitat...new habitat that is! Make it a point to trek some new ground this year. Do some sleuthing - or "sloughthing" if you're waterfowling - and find a new tract of public land or knock on the doors of a few area landowners to open up some new opportunities for yourself. Variety is the spice of life, and makes a great seasoning for any hunter! If you do happen to gain permission, thank a landowner with a Gift Membership to Quail Forever.

7. Vote on November 4th. Okay, a trip to the ballot booth isn't as exciting as one to the backwoods, but taking a few minutes to fulfill your civic duty goes a long way to ensuring continued support for the outdoors. Typically, there is strong voter turnout among sportsmen and women. But if you're one who loves the outdoors and hasn't drawn the direct correlation between casting a ballot and casting a line, time to wise up. Year in and year out, elected officials from all levels of government have hands in decisions affecting regulations and outdoor funding. Get to know the candidates and where they stand on issues related to conservation and the outdoors. And, if you are going to be "a traveling hunter" on November 4th, be sure to pick up an absentee ballot in advance.

8. Your Heir Apparent. By now its common knowledge that hunter and angler replacement numbers are not keeping up with the hunter and angler attrition rates. If you were gone, you'd like to know your family was taken care of. Wouldn't you also like to ensure your outdoor legacy will continue long after you've hung up the hunting boots? Quail Forever's No Child Left Indoors initiative is meeting this challenge head on, as is our Grassroots Conservation Campaign.

9. Join Quail Forever. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service reported in 2006 that hunters and anglers spend $76 billion each year (about $2,200 per person) on gear, travel, etc., yet only contribute $22 million in support for conservation group projects. The fact is the average sportsperson is spending $2,200 every year to enjoy hunting and fishing, and (excluding state and federal license fees and special tax fees) is giving back less than $2 every year to ensure hunting and fishing opportunities in the future. You can talk about the need for conservation, or you can do something about it. Log onto www.QuailForever.org today and join, donate, attend a local QF banquet, volunteer as a chapter officer, or pick up some QF merchandise! We need YOU and so do the coveys!

10. Third Annual QF / NSTRA National Championships. Mark your calendars for the Third Annual QF / NSTRA National Championships, coming January 14-17, 2009, at the 4-Star Plantation in Carlton, Georgia. The event is brought to you by QF and the National Shoot to Retrieve Association (NSTRA) and is open to any pointing breed registered with Field Dog Stud Book (FDSB), American Kennel Club (AKC), Continental Kennel Club (CKC) or NSTRA. This is as close to hunting as you can get and still compete with your dog! For more information on this event, click here.

This Issue's Quotable
"To cherish what remains of the Earth and to foster its renewal is our only legitimate hope of survival." - Wendell Berry.

Habitat Management Timeline
October

• Spray cool season grasses now through December 1 to thin them out.
• Spray brome and fescue along fencelines, field edges, and under shrub thickets after a killing frost to create the bare ground quail need.
• Disk CRP acres now through Dec. 31 to promote annual weeds.
• Conduct quail whistle counts on calm, clear mornings.
  
  November
  
• Spray cool season grasses now through December 1 to thin them out.
• Basal spray undesirable trees according to herbicide label now through March.
• Order trees/shrubs for your habitat projects.
• Prepare ground for spring tree/shrub plantings.
  
  December
  
• Complete your edge feathering projects now through spring.

Make plans to attend a PF/QF banquet
One way to help reverse the falling quail population is to support a Pheasants or Quail Forever chapter by attending the chapter's annual banquet. If you are familiar with the PF/QF organization, you already know that it is the ONLY national conservation organization that allows local chapters to keep 100% of the money they raise. Therefore, by attending a chapter's banquet, you are directly supporting quail habitat efforts right in your own community.

There are three chapters in my area here in NE Missouri. Here's a little information on each:

Northeast Missouri Pheasants Forever - Located in Scotland County, this chapter will host its 13th annual banquet on November 1st at the VFW Hall in Memphis. At its banquet, a dozen guns will be given away, including the two shotguns the chapter donates to two youth each year who successfully complete Hunter Education. The NEMO chapter has spent tens of thousands of dollars throughout Scotland County and the surrounding area building habitat and promoting conservation education. It currently is partnering with the MDC to offer a $6,000 cost-share program and funds numerous other special projects in addition to that.

Whistling Bobs Quail Forever - Located in Knox County, this first-ever QF chapter in NE Missouri will host its third annual banquet on October 18th at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Edina. This chapter is the proud sponsor of the highly successful Knox County FFA trap team and has partnered with the state to offer $8,000 worth of cost-share funding to private landowners in the area.

Ten Rivers Pheasants Forever - Located in Lewis County, this chapter not only hosts the online version of this newsletter, but also hosts a youth pheasant hunt each year, and sponsors more youth events than you can shake a stick at. It also has partnered to offer $6,000 worth of cost-share funding to landowners in the area. That's in addition to the $1,200 the chapter spent on habitat projects that weren't eligible for state matching funds, the $1,700 it spent on youth efforts, and the $1,000 it spent on food plot seed IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ALONE. The Ten Rivers Banquet will be held February 21st in Canton.

So as you can see, these chapters put their locally-raised dollars to good use. Supporting these chapters is a great way to support local wildlife populations. For ticket information or to find out more, contact me any time.

New CRP Rental Rates
At long last, USDA has finally come out with new CRP rental rates. This has been in the works for quite some time and I've finally received the new rates. It appears that in this area, soil rental rates have increased by about 8-9% across the board. In Lewis County, soil rental rates range from $78 to $115 per acre. The CRP contracts I've worked with since these rates have come out have averaged in the $90-$95 range. Keep in mind that CRP programs such as CP38 and CP33 come with a $100/acre up front bonus payment and an additional $2/acre maintenance rate tacked on to cover the mid-contract management requirements.

These new rates make CRP programs even more lucrative, especially for field borders and low-yielding acreages on your farm. Keep in mind that most of these continuous programs have limited acreages (see below) available so the sooner you can apply for the programs, the better chance you have of securing some acres. For more information on available programs, contact me or your local FSA office.

Remaing CRP Practice Acres
(As of 10/7/08)
CP33 - 3,962.1 acres
CP38 - 2,288.6 acres

Upcoming events
Oct. 18 - Whistling Bobs Quail Forever Banquet - Knights of Columbus in Edina, MO

Oct. 25-26 - Youth Quail/Pheasant Season

Nov. 1 - Quail/Pheasant Season opens!

Nov. 1 - NEMO Pheasants Forever Banquet - American Legion Hall in Memphis.