Western Oklahoma has the best numbers of quail: Black Kettle National Grasslands, Packsaddle and Cooper WMAs. Nonresident $137 plus a $5 legacy permit. Five- day license $42.50 plus the $5 legacy permit. Schoeling adds, "I would guess a little more carryover this year than last. Hunting conditions last year were dry and the scenting low in Western Oklahoma. The population was up but it was hard to find birds. If we get favorable weather this nesting season and get a good hatch we could have a good season." Web www.wildlifedepartment.com or write Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, 1801 North Lincoln, Oklahoma City, OK 73105 or call (405) 521-6450 or (405) 521-2730.

OREGON
Check web site for seasons and bag limits which vary widely. Last year non-resident $76.50, game bird validation $31.50. For information on the Access and Habitat program (http://www.dfw.state.or.us/ah/) and the Upland Cooperative Access Program http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/upland_bird/access/UCAP_brochure.pdf. Hunters average about 50,000 pheasants, 92,000 California quail and 36,000 mountain quail a year.

PENNSYLVANIA
Pennsylvania is almost all put-and-take and budget cuts have cut that in half. Long-range goal is to raise and stock 250,000 pheasants/year. A restoration program has targeted Pike Run, Somerset and Central Susquehanna wildlife areas for release and protection of wild-trapped pheasants. Game Commission's web site http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/ . Non-resident seven day permit $31.

SOUTH CAROLINA
Monday before Thanksgiving (Nov. 24 - March 1 statewide). Daily bag limit is 12 quail. Hunting on some Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) is limited to certain days and some have more restrictive bag limits. Check www.dnr.sc.gov. Billy Dukes, Small Game Project Supervisor says, "We have about 6500 wild quail hunters who harvested about 60,000 wild quail. With a good nesting season (adequate rainfall, no extended heat waves), populations should continue to improve on areas where habitat is adequate." Some of the best-managed public areas include Draper WMA in York County, Crackerneck WMA in Aiken County, Canal WMA in Berkeley County, Manchester State Forest in Sumter and Clarendon counties, Long Creek WMA in Oconee County; Webb, Palachucola, and Hamilton Ridge WMAs in Hampton County, portions of Marion National Forest in Berkeley and Charleston counties, and portions of Sumter National Forest. Some are open only on specified days. There also are drawing hunts on McBee WMA in Chesterfield County. A Wildlife Management Area permit ($76) required for public lands. Non-resident three day $40 and $75 for 10 days. Dukes says, "The WMA program is similar to walk-in programs in other states with about one million acres. " Maps at http://www.dnr.sc.gov/wma/index.html

SOUTH DAKOTA
Pheasant and quail seasons Oct. 17 - Jan. 3. Quail limit five daily, 15 possession; pheasant three roosters daily, 15 possession. Last year about 76,000 residents and 100,000 nonresidents took over 1.9 million pheasants with an average of 11.0 birds per hunter. Second largest pre-season hunting population since 1961 of 10.3 million birds, and the 3rd highest harvest seen in South Dakota since 1963. Biologist Chad Switzer of Game, Fish and Parks says, "Our statewide winter survey indicated 47 cocks per 100 hens, or approximately 1 cock for every 2 hens going into the 2009 breeding season." The James River Lowlands and south-central produce high pheasant densities. Much public land is in northeast. Isolated pockets in west provide great hunting with both sharp-tailed grouse and greater-prairie chicken. South Dakota has lost approximately 385,000 acres of CRP, and another 235,000 is set to expire in 2009. However, with 1.2 million acres of CRP and favorable nesting weather, this could be another year to remember. Nonresident (valid for two five-day periods) $110. A record 1.2 million private land Walk-In acres last year. The Hunting Atlas is at almost any convenience store, license agent or online at http://www.sdgfp.info/Publications/Atlas/Index.htm. Also see http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/hunting/Pheasant/Index.htm. Hunters may contact SD GFP at http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/Requests.htm for information.