The outlook for the 2009 hunting season is mixed€¦ in some areas, heavy rains and flooding throughout the summer and fall and ice storms during the winter of 2008 had a devastating impact on upland gamebird populations. In other areas, however, the rain proved beneficial, ending long-term drought conditions and replenishing cover and insect populations, the latter a critical food source for growing chicks.

Here's the state-by-state rundown.

ALABAMA
In 2007-08 approximately 13,500 hunters took an estimated 343,000 quail. Season this year probably Nov. 15-Feb. 28 with limit12 daily. Web: www.outdooralabama.com. Quail management publication www.outdooralabama.com/hunting/game/Quail.cfm.

Wildlife biologist Stan Stewart says, "Weather looks more favorable this year, with rains breaking a 3-year summer drought. Production should improve with favorable habitat.

Successful quail hunting on public lands is poor, and access to private lands with good quail numbers is limited."

ARKANSAS
Quail Nov.1- Feb. 8 (Several WMAs have different regulations). Game and Fish Dept. quail biologist Steve Fowler says, "I would suspect a similar season to last year, with fair to good hunting in isolated areas of the state." Good areas include the Fort Chaffee WMA, pine-bluestem restoration areas in the Ouachita National Forest. Fowler says,

"Several thousand acres of CP-33 have been established, mostly in East Arkansas. The new SAFE CCRP practice for grass establishment has created 4,000 acres of quality quail habitat." Small game five-day license $55 and $80 annual. Hunting guidebooks available at all license dealers. All info on website www.agfc.com

ARIZONA
Gambel's and scaled quail Oct. 2, Mearns Nov. 27. All run through Feb 7. Bag 15 daily (no more than eight Mearns), possession after opening day is 30. Ron Day, small game biologist for the Game and Fish Department, says, "For the second year in a row most of Arizona enjoyed a wet winter which means Gambel's and scaled quail should have another successful nesting season. Last year Mearns hunting was above average to great.

Early season tends to be hotter and drier than later in the year. Many bird hunters wait until after Dec. 1 to allow for winter moisture and the associated cooler temperatures."

Annual non-resident $151.25, three-day $61.25. Web site: http://www.azgfd.gov/. Up-to-date quail prospects on web in October. In the past Gambel's best between Phoenix and Kingman. Scaled is southeast quarter. Mearns often close to Gambel's and scaled.

CALIFORNIA
Pheasant - Nov. 14 - Dec. 27, daily 2 males first 2 days of the season; 3 after, possession double daily bag. Quail different zones, starting Sept. 12. Last bag report pheasant 103,364; California quail 382,130; mountain quail 104,765, Gambel's quail 43,533. Jesse Garcia of the Department of Fish and Game says low rainfall will cut production. Last year was above average production. Best pheasants Sacramento Valley, upper San Joaquin Valley, Sacramento and San Joaquin river delta, and Imperial Valley; California quail southern coast ranges and Sierra Nevada, and western Mojave Desert on Forest Service and BLM land; mountain quail high elevations of coast ranges, Sierra Nevada, and transverse ranges on Forest Service Land; Gambel's quail upland and riparian habitats of the Colorado River, Imperial and Coachella valleys, and desert mountains in eastern Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. Check http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/uplandgame/gamebird/docs/Food_Plots_Map-2007_jpg.pdf Nonresident Hunting License: $136.50. Upland Game Bird Stamp: $8.

COLORADO
Seasons set in July, regulations brochure out in August. Season info at http://www.wildlife.state.co.us/hunting. Bobwhite, Gambel's and scaled, depending on area. Last year's fees $56 annual small game one-day $11. Walk-in permit $20. Buy on line or call (800) 244-5613. Directory guide for State Trust lands. Northeast has more than 100,000 walk-in acres, as does southeast. Counties include Weld, Morgan, Logan, Washington, Yuma, Phillips, Sedgewick Pueblo, Las Animas, Crowley, Lincoln, Kit Carson, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Prowers, Baca, and Bent.

FLORIDA
Quail Nov. 14 - March 7. Bag 12 daily, 24 possession. Nonresident 10-day $46.50, WMA permit $26. Web site http://myfwc.com/hunting. Best quail where there is frequent prescribed burning, roller chopping and thinned timber. Private land north Florida plantations best, but only paid hunts. Best wildlife management areas Babcock Webb, Blackwater, Three Lakes, Bull Creek and Triple N Ranch. See http://myfwc.com/RECREATION/Hunt_WMABrochs.htm. For harvest information http://myfwc.com/recreation/Hunt_Small_Game.htm.

GEORGIA
Quail Nov. 13-Feb 28. One-day $12; three-day $30; Season $75 and WMA stamp (if you hunt WMAs) $73. Most recent data 22,850 hunters took 622,123 quail (79 percent pen- reared). Reggie Thackston, bobwhite project leader for the Georgia DNR says, "Increased rainfall this past summer allowed bobwhites to increase in quality habitat. Assuming good winter carry over these populations should be poised to respond favorably if we have adequate rainfall in the spring and summer. Moderate to low density populations on DiLane WMA and River Creek WMA (quota only; see regulations in August); Clarks Hill WMA; Elmodel WMA; Piedmont NWR; Oconee NF; and certain other public lands.

Contact Region Offices listed in hunting regulations; or www.gohuntgeorgia.com. Numerous commercial shooting preserves. For information, see www.quailhuntgeorgia.com.

IDAHO
Youth only pheasant season: Oct. 3-9. General season: Oct. 10 - Dec. 31 in north Idaho, Oct. 17 - Nov. 30 in eastern Idaho, Oct. 17 - Dec. 31 in southcentral and southwest Idaho. Quail season: Sept. 19-Jan. 31. Website http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/hunt/misc/species.cfm#upland. Jeff Knetter, upland biologist for Fish and Game, says, "Drought in 2008 reduced bird populations and production. The winter had difficult conditions for upland gamebirds. So 2009 upland gamebird hunting may be challenging but there are pockets of habitat with healthy numbers of birds." CRP in southeast Idaho and north-central Idaho are good. Walk-in areas on web under "Access Yes!." (http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/huntplanner/accessyesguide.aspx) Non-resident small game $81.75, not valid for the first five days of pheasant season. Shooting preserve permit $12.75. Nine areas require a $23.75 permit for 17 and older and allow up to six pheasants (you can buy extra permits). Some areas closed to game bird hunting, so check regulations. Idaho stocks management areas -- overall pheasant bag about 100,000. Knetter says, "For pheasants, quail and grey partridge: Southwest between Weiser and Boise, north central between Lewiston and Moscow. For chukars: Owyhee canyonlands in southwest, Snake River canyon along Idaho/Oregon border, and the Salmon River canyon."

ILLINOIS
Both pheasant and quail seasons Nov. 1 -

Jan. 8 in the north zone; Nov. 1 - Jan. 15 south zone. Two roosters/day, six in possession after third day, eight quail/day, 20 possession after third day. Illinois hunters take about 119,000 pheasants and nearly 200,000 quail. Michael Wefer, acting agriculture and grassland program manager for the DNR says, "Carryover should be average in northern Illinois where lots of corn remained unpicked late into the winter and likely moderated effects of deep snow cover. Carryover may be lower in southern Illinois as ice storms likely reduced quail winter survival." Productive areas include north-central and east-central for pheasants and south-central for quail. West-central is usually good. State Pheasant Habitat Areas require a permit for a one-day hunt. Hunters can apply for permit drawing online at DNR website or get information: (http://dnr.state.il.us). Some good public quail areas include: Pyramid State Park (Perry County), Jim Edgar Wildlife Area (Cass County), 10 mile Creek Wildlife Area (Jefferson, Hamilton counties). Presently, non-resident full season license $50.75, plus $5.50 Habitat Stamp. A 5-day permit is $28.75.

INDIANA
Bag typically 10,000 pheasants and 30,000 quail annually. Heavy snow and ice in northern Indiana may have affected pheasants and especially quail. Severe flooding in central Indiana last spring likely hurt quail nesting, although there were early reports of good quail numbers in parts of southern Indiana. Bag likely to be similar to last year or only down slightly. Pheasants best in Benton and Newton counties, but are also good in Dekalb, Steuben and Noble counties. Quail are best in the southwest counties of Pike, Dubois and Daviess, but other areas in southern and western Indiana can be good. Web: www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild and http://www.in.gov/ai/appfiles/dnr-license/index.html for a hunting license.

IOWA
Pheasant: Oct. 31 - Jan. 10, three roosters daily, 12 possession. Quail Oct. 31 - Jan. 31, eight daily, 16 possession. Shooting hours for both 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. DNR biologist Todd Bogenschutz says, "I expect last season's bag to be 400,000 and 20,000 pheasant and quail respectively. We had a much milder winter in 2008-09 and expect better over-winter hen survival. We expect populations in the eastern and southern thirds of Iowa to remain below normal in 2009. March was wet and cool -- less than ideal for upland birds; hopefully this trend will not continue into April and May nesting season." Bogenschutz adds, "Iowa has very good public lands in northern half of the state for pheasants, but with high corn prices over 200 square miles [143,000 acres] of private CRP were plowed up last fall with another 185 square miles to be plowed up this fall." Non resident license ($80.50) and habitat stamp ($11.50). Licenses available online https://www4.wildlifelicense.com/ia/start.php. Maps available at http://www.iowadnr.com/wildlife/wmamaps/pubhunt.html and http://programs.iowadnr.com/ims/website/recreation/viewer.htm and the Iowa Sportsman's Atlas is $21.95 at http://www.sportsmanatlas.com/. DNR's roadside counts are the best tool for hunters looking for areas to bird hunt. Check http://www..iowadnr.com/wildlife/app/roadside/ for roadside counts.

KANSAS
For regulations see www.kdwp.state.ks.us. Walk-in-hunting acreage tops one million acres across the state. Printed copies are at most license vendors, KDWP regional offices or by calling the KDWP operations headquarters (620) 672-5911. Non-resident annual small game license $72.15 (under 16 $37.15).Pheasant population was strong last fall in central, northcentral, and northwest Kansas; fair in southcentral Kansas; and generally poor in southwest Kansas. A fairly mild and dry winter and early spring could result in a late green-up and hamper production in some areas. Kansas had fair to good quail numbers throughout much of central Kansas last fall and even up into far northwest Kansas. Quail poor in the eastern 1„3 of the state and far southwest Kansas. Quail made it through the relatively mild winter without much weather-related mortality. In 2007 pheasant harvest was around 880,000 birds and the quail harvest was around 475,000. Last year pheasant harvest was around 800,000 and quail around 550,000.

KENTUCKY
Winter ice storms across KY produced harsh conditions for bobwhites, especially in the western portion of the state, although the ice didn't stay on the ground long enough to dramatically reduce bobwhite numbers. In return, the ice damage created many acres of suitable bobwhite habitat by opening forest canopies and creating brushy areas across much of the landscape. Peabody Wildlife Management Area in Muhlenberg and Ohio Counties continues to be the best option for public land hunting in KY. Season dates: November 1-14, 2009; November 16 - February 10, 2010 (eastern zone) November 16 - February 10 (western zone). Website is http://www.fw.ky.gov/.

MICHIGAN
Web site http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/ Limited three week season on pheasants and quail October through early November; one-month season December/January for much of the southeastern part of the state. Non-resident permit $69, three-day $30. Check Hunting Access Program for private land open to hunting.

MINNESOTA
Pheasants Oct . 11 - Jan 3, two roosters daily, six possession. Web site: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/pheasant/index.html) Farmland Wildlife Program leader Bill Penning says, "We lost more CRP in 2008 and the winter was pretty rough in some areas but we had pretty good carry-over throughout much of the state. If we have a good spring we should have plenty of birds. There will be areas with localized population depressions so watch for the August Roadside Count map which will be posted on the DNR web site in early September. The 2007 harvest was 655,000 birds, the highest since 1964. A very preliminary guess is that 2009 harvest will be around 500,000 birds."

MISSISSIPPI
Quail Nov 26 - March 6; Daily bag 8. Previous year's harvest about 50,000 quail. Summer weather conditions during 2008 were good, and quail numbers are expected to be slightly greater going into the 2009 breeding season. Quail populations are responding positively to habitat management. In general, the northern 1„3 of Mississippi tends to hold higher bobwhite densities than the other regions of the State. Several Wildlife Management Areas are managed for quail and small game. Bobwhite whistle counts averaged about a bird per listening station on 8 WMAs with fair to good upland habitat. A 7-day non-resident small game license $33.85 ($78.85 season); a Wildlife Management Area User Permit is $30 for non-residents. See website www.mdwfp.com/quail for information on public hunting, licenses, and regulations.

MISSOURI
Non-resident changed from $75 to $80. Resident small game remains $10; small game/fish remains $19; daily small game permit (good value for non-residents) will remain $11. Season Nov. 1 - Jan. 15 both species; quail 8 daily, 16 possession, pheasants two roosters daily, four possession except Bootheel season Dec.1 - 12, one daily and in possession.. Youth quail/pheasant weekend is Oct. 24-25. Upland biologist Tom Dailey says, "Worst news is that record rainfall in 2008 likely diminished production by all ground-nesting critters--modern record low counts for turkeys, quail and pheasants.

Likely lower harvest, number of hunters and hunting success. Hunting statistics for quail and pheasants have been downward for years, but success for those still in the field has declined at a slower rate -- there still is reasonable hunting, jus

t not much of it. Winter was mild with very little snow. If nesting season weather is mild this year, all gamebirds should bounce back somewhat." See http://www.mdc.mo.gov/ for species status reports.

MONTANA
Hunter reports suggest pretty good numbers of pheasants in extreme eastern, particularly northeastern and a real "mixed bag" over the rest of the state due mostly to inclement weather during last spring's nesting and brooding period. Extraordinary winter will have an impact on pheasant numbers in the northeast, which is among the better places for pheasants. Pheasant: Tentatively Oct. 10 - Jan. 1. Daily bag limit/possession limit three and nine. Montana hunters take about 140,000 roosters annually. Conservation license $10, upland game bird license $110 (three-day preserve $20). Web site http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/regulations.html. Popular pheasant hunting counties include Cascade, Choteau, Dawson, Fergus, Phillips, Pondera, Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan, Teton, Valley and Yellowstone counties.

NEBRASKA
Pheasant and quail opening dates probably Oct. 31. Latest bag (2007-08) was 366,000 roosters and 125,000 bobwhite quail. Jeff Lusk, upland game program manager for Nebraska Game and Parks, says, "Typically Southwest and Northeast are the best spots for pheasants, and the southeast is the best spot for quail. Private land hunting is available through the CRP-Management Access Program and the Open Fields & Waters program. Maps of the areas are on the web site (www.outdoornebraska.org). There is an online search guide for the walk-in and Game and Parks hunting areas." Annual non-resident $81 and a habitat stamp ($16) for small game. Two-day permit valid between Nov.. 22 and Dec. 31 $36.00. Permits online at the above link. Limits usually three roosters, 12 possession; six bobwhites, 24 possession.

NEVADA
Gambel's quail populations should rebound in southern Nevada after a fairly moist winter and spring. The outlook for California quail is questionable. Late May precipitation in 2008 helped populations in northern Nevada. A mild winter in 2008/2009 likely prevented much winter kill in the northwestern portion of the state; rain rarely exceeded 75 percent of annual moisture in most measured drainage basins, affecting streams and springs that quail rely on. Web site: www.ndow.org for seasons. One day permit $21 (additional days $8), upland stamp $10.

NEW MEXICO
Pheasant statewide (over the counter): Dec.10 - 13; pheasant draw hunts vary. Quail: Nov. 15 - Feb. 15. Pheasant - 3 males/day, 6 possession. Quail - 15 per day (no more than 5 Montezuma quail), 30 in possession (no more than 10 Montezuma quail). Non-resident small game license for season ($90), 4-day license ($33). Habitat Management and Access Validation ($4) required for hunting, fishing or trapping on any lands. Habitat Improvement Stamp ($5) Required for hunting, fishing, or trapping on U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management properties. Web site: http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/publications/documents/rib/2008/smallgame08.pdf (check for 2009 updates)

NORTH CAROLINA
Quail: Nov. 22 - Feb. 28. Daily limit six; Possession 12; Season, no limit. Pheasant: Nov. 22 - Feb. 1 (male pheasant only). Daily limit 3, possession 6; Season 30. North Carolina's only wild pheasants are on the Outer Banks and populations are dwindling. John Wooding, Wildlife Resources biologist, says,"Bobwhites are abundant in eastern North Carolina in timber cut-overs and around crop lands. Elsewhere, populations are spotty, with few great hunting areas for wild birds, although there are exceptions on well managed private property." See website (www.ncwildlife.org) for availability of public hunting on Game Lands. Six day permit $40 (South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee residents pay more), $15 additional to hunt game lands. North Carolina hunters took an estimated 228,000 quail last season, nearly half in the Coastal Region and the other half mostly in the Piedmont.

NORTH DAKOTA
Pheasant opening Oct. 10 (check http://gf.nd.gov/info/season-dates.html for regulations. Tentatively, no change in cost of licenses from 2008. If none, non-resident permits are $100 annual, plus $13 habitat stamp. Game and Fish State Owned Areas and Private Lands Open To Sportsmen (P.L.O.T.S lands) have special regs. These areas cannot be hunted by nonresidents the first week of pheasant season. Long, tough winter, with mortality higher than normal. Expectations are for a lower breeding population. Game and Fish Biologist Stan Kohn says spring population will be lower than last several years. "Winter mortality will be higher than past years, but we'll know more after crowing counts in June," Kohn says. Traditionally south of I-94, the northwest corner of the state, and the area around the east end of Lake Sakakawea have better pheasant numbers. There will be an atlas of walk-in hunting areas available at any sporting goods store after Sept. 1. Check (http://gf.nd.gov/info/plots.html) or write Game and Fish Dept., 100 North Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck 58501-5095 (Tel. 701-328-6300). North Dakota traditionally is in the top five pheasant hunting states with more than half a million roosters bagged annually the last several years.

OKLAHOMA
Pheasant season Dec. 1 - Jan 31st, Quail season Nov. 14 - Feb 15. Bag limit 10 per day 20 possession. Sooner State hunters took an estimated 380,847 birds in 2007, around 2.63 birds per hunter per day. "In 2007 we had one of the wettest years ever but nesting birds were in short supply, so quail season was better than the year before but not great," wildlife biologist Doug Schoeling says. "In 2008 there was a little more carry- over going into the nesting season and with average amounts of rainfall the population increased."

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 cert

ain 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.

TENNESSEE
Quail Nov. 8 - Feb 28. Daily limit 6, possession 12. Small game coordinator Roger Applegate says, "Numbers of bobwhites are low except in a few localized areas. We are working diligently to improve conditions on a few of our public areas to assure the future of bobwhite populations and hunting." Nonresidents need either an Annual Small Game hunting license at $175.50 or a 7-day small game hunting license $50.50. There is also a Junior Nonresident Hunt for ages 13 to 15 for $9. In addition, most Wildlife Management Areas require a WMA Small Game license for $17 or a 1-day WMA Small Game license for $10.50." Web site http://www.tnwildlife.org).

TEXAS
Pheasant: starts first Saturday in December for 30 consecutive days, three roosters daily, six possession. Quail: Saturday closest to Oct. 28 through the last Sunday in February, 15 daily, 45 possession. Hunters took nearly 1.96 million quail in 2007, averaging nearly four birds per hunt. Texas Parks and Wildlife upland biologist Robert Perez says, "Last season started pretty good hunting in the Rolling Plains. Then numbers once again dramatically dropped. We had our second extremely dry winter in a row. Quail rely on tender greens in late winter, which weren't readily available. Texas remains dry. Timely spring rains and possibly tropical storm activity could lead to good nesting and brooding conditions over the summer. I predict an average to a slightly less than average season with some spring and summer moisture." Best areas Rolling Plains and South Texas for Bobwhite and Trans-Pecos for Scaled Quail. Look for recently burned, disked, roller-chopped areas. Public areas include Chaparral and Daughtrey WMAs in south Texas, Gene Howe and Matador WMAs in the Rolling Plains. Public areas for scaled quail: Elephant Mt. and Black Gap WMAs in the Trans-Pecos. See website http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/public/ . Non-resident season $125, five-day $45, plus $7 upland bird stamp. Public hunting areas require a $48 permit.

UTAH
Fees, licenses etc. at DWR website: http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks/2007-08_upland_game/2007-08_upland_game.pdf. Look for list of wildlife areas and check Cooperative Wildlife Management Units (private land open for pheasant hunting). Non-resident $65, three-day $25. Tentative season for pheasants and California quail, November 7-22. Although Utah is primarily regarded as a big game state, in addition to the above two upland species the state also offers hunting for chukars and sage and sharptailed gouse.

VIRGINIA
Small Game project leader Marc Puckett says, "Virginia has experienced tough times for bobwhite over the past 30 years. Our highest densities are in the tidewater generally east of Interstate 95. The eastern shore also still supports good quail numbers in places. Land in these areas is mostly private. Virginia's new Quail Action Plan can be found on our new quail web page at www.dgif.virginia.gov/quail/." The web lists commercial preserves. Hunters numbered 14,076 and took an estimated 54,338 quail in the 2007 — 2008 season, averaging 4 hours/covey. Contact information is available by county at www.dgif.virginia.gov .

WYOMING
Web site http://www.gf.state.wy.us. Depending on area, some seasons open Oct. 1 to as late as Nov. 14. Limit two or three (depending on area), possession of six or nine. Non-resident annual: $72, daily: $20 plus $12.50 conservation stamp and $12.50 pheasant stamp for G&F habitat units, walk-in areas and state land in Johnson and Sheridan counties. Atlas available from web or license agents. Jeff Obrecht of Wyoming Game and Fish, says, "If we get a pheasant inquiry, we encourage them to look at the Dakotas, Nebraska or Kansas. That's only being honest. That's where serious pheasant hunters go. Best wild pheasant hunting is scattered pockets in the Big Horn Basin."