Farmland encroachment has jeapordized wild quail populations in Iowa
Once ubiquitous in Iowa, bobwhite quail have been disappearing from the state, and nationally, since the 1920's. In 2010 the tiny game birds, distinctive for their cheery "bob-bob-white" whistle, can be found only in the southern part of the state. Populations there are also steadily declining, as farming operations become larger, encroaching on the birds' preferred habitat.
Background
Some preservationists have advocated releasing farmed quail into the wild. Releasing pen-raised birds, however, has been costly and ineffective, according to the state department of natural resources, and can even be detrimental to wild populations. Usually fewer than one percent of pen-raised birds survive more than six months, and their inability to defend themselves can attract predators to existing populations. To protect native populations, the state has introduced regulations for game preserves releasing farmed birds for hunters.
Quail remain extremely popular with hunters--second only to pheasant in total harvest and hunter population, according to the state department of natural resources. Hunting has been shown to have little effect on wild quail populations, whose biggest threat is habitat encroachment from farmland. Yet game preserves, where hunters release and bag the same birds, are popular because they can guarantee a productive hunt. These preserves must be licensed and the state restricts the number of birds that can be released and bagged.
Licensing
Anyone operating an Iowa hunting preserve that propagates, sells or shoots game birds must have a state license. Preserves must be at least 320 acres large and no larger than 2,560 acres, in contiguous area. The property where the birds will be released and hunted must be marked with signs distributed by the state. The birds may be propagated and housed on different property than the land where they are released. The preserve where the birds are released must not be detrimental to wildlife or interfere with the normal activities of migratory birds. The license fee in 2010 was $200. Preserve operators' licenses expire on March 31 of each year.
Hunting Limits
The state restricts the number of birds that can be hunted on a licensed preserve. A licensed hunting preserve may take up to 80 percent of the total number of quail released. A minimum of 500 game birds are allowed to be released during the preserve season by each licence holder. But license holders, operating two or more licensed hunting preserves, must release at least 800 birds during the hunting preserve season.
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