OUTDOOR CORNER: HUNTERS GET WORKOUT IN NOVEMBER

Hunting seasons are in full swing and more on the way.

If you hunt in Missouri, you have probably had a busy month. The list of open hunting seasons in November is a long one. It includes rabbit, squirrel, crow, archery deer/turkey, furbearers, ducks (in some areas) and, of course, firearms deer.

For those of you who chose to pursue "something different" there were snipe, rail, ruffed grouse and woodcock.

Hunters needn't despair just because the month is nearly over. December in another busy month for hunters because many of the seasons that are open in November remain open into next month. In fact, some of them don't get into full swing until December.

Duck and goose hunting in both middle and south zones have the potential to be good. Breeding duck populations have increased to the highest level since 1979. The total fall flight will be about 83 million, compared to 77 million in 1995.

Duck season in the middle zone opened Nov. 2 and closes Dec. 21. Ducks in the south zone opened Nov. 23 and runs until Jan. 11. Canada geese may be taken from Nov. 29 to Jan. 31 in the middle zone.

In the south zone, goose hunting started Nov. 23 and runs through Jan. 31 for Canadas. Blue, snow and Ross' geese may be taken in both zones through March 9. For more specific information about zone boundaries and daily/possession limits, consult the "Migratory Bird Digest 1996-97".

Although prospects are good for waterfowl hunters, we would like to see improvement in the quail picture. Population surveys indicate a long-term decline in quail numbers in 27 or 30 states evaluated. The most stunning decline has occurred in states located in the southeast, an area once famous for its large numbers of quail and rich quail hunting tradition.

Throughout bobwhite quail range, habitat loss and severe winter weather have been blamed for the low population levels. How are prospects in Missouri? Like other states, the trend is downward, but don't rush out and sell your shotgun and bird dogs. Missouri's quail are in better shape than those in states to the north, east and south.

Over the past three decades we have witnessed a 30 percent decline in the number of whistling bobwhites. Similarly, the annual state-wide harvest has dropped from a high of about four million to less than 1.5 million in recent years. The declining number of quail hunters from about 170,000 in the late 1960's to less than 80,000 today also plays a major role in the total harvest.

If you are a quail hunter, the reduced competition probably sounds good. Just how hood (or bad) is modern quail hunting compared to the good old days? By some standards, quail hunting is still pretty good. In fact, the average hunter today does just about as good as hunters who experienced the "golden age" of the 1960's. For example, today's hunter bags only slightly fewer birds during the season. In 1991, the average was 19.3 birds per hunter. That compares to a season average of 21.4 birds in 1969.

The 1990's seem to have ushered in a new era for Missouri's quail -- too much rain. Production of ground nesting wildlife like rabbits and quail have suffered accordingly. Fortunately, these species have a tremendous capacity to rebound. Whether affected by drought, excessive rain or severe winters, quail have consistently recovered their numbers with a few years of mild weather allowing for maximum production.

For small game hunting season and limits consult the following publications available from the Missouri Department of Conservation: "The Wildlife Code of Missouri", "A Summary of Missouri Hunting and Trapping Seasons" and the "Migratory Bird Digest 1996-97".

~Gene Myers is a Missouri conservation agent in Cape Girardeau County.