Wildlife & Hunting

Quail Program

Bobwhite quail populations have declined substantially in Mississippi during the last 50 years. These declines have been due to changes in land use and management.

Despite the loss of habitat and declining quail populations, local populations can be increased with planned habitat management at proper scales. Abundant quail populations were once a byproduct of agriculture. Today, habitat management practices that produce the proper cover resources required by quail are essential to increase local populations.

The MDWFP does not have a quail stocking program. Information on managing habitat for quail can be found under the Habitat and Population Management section below. Technical assistance is also available for managing land for quail habitat.

Small Game Biologist
Rick Hamrick
Rick.Hamrick@wfp.ms.gov

Wildlife Bureau (601) 432-2199

Quail Habitat and Population Management

• Management Information 
• Technical Assistance
• Population Trends
• Bobscapes Mobile App - Record Your Quail Observations

Quail Hunting

• Hunting Season
• Public Land Hunting
• Shooting Preserve License and Bird Dog Training Permits
• Hunter Harvest Trends

Quail Recovery Plans

• National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative
• Quail Conservation in Mississippi

Commercial or Domesticated Quail Information

• Raising Quail for Commercial or Personal Use
• Releasing Pen-raised Quail - Considerations

Additional Resources

• Delta Wildlife
• Mississippi State University, College of Forest Resources
• Mississippi State University Extension Service
• Natural Resources Enterprises Program
• Quail Forever
• Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation
• Tall Timbers Research Station
• USDA - Farm Service Agency
• USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Wildlife Mississippi