Quail Hunters Had More to Smile About This Season
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
There was plenty of good news for South Carolina quail hunters during the 2025-26 season.
Results from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources' annual Quail Hunter Survey showed not only increased participation from hunters across the state, but also some of the strongest hunting success rates seen in recent years.
Perhaps most encouraging, participation in the survey doubled compared to the previous two seasons. More hunters spent time afield, more hunting data was collected, and that information painted a positive picture for the state's bobwhite quail resource.
Survey participants reported 131 hunts during the season, with most activity occurring during December and January. Hunters averaged nearly six hunts each during the season, providing biologists with valuable information on quail populations and hunting success.
The biggest headline, however, was what hunters found once they got into the field.
Hunters flushed an average of 0.49 coveys per hour during the 2025-26 season, a substantial increase from the previous year's rate of 0.27 coveys per hour. Quail harvested per hour also increased, rising from 0.14 to 0.24 birds per hour. Average covey size climbed from 9.7 birds to nearly 11 birds per covey.
These improvements were seen throughout much of the state. Hunting success during November, December, January, and February all exceeded recent five-year averages. The Northern Coastal Plain region posted the highest success rates, continuing a positive trend in that area.
While the survey results are encouraging, biologists caution that hunter participation remains critical. The survey serves as an important tool for monitoring quail populations and tracking long-term trends across South Carolina. The more hunters who participate, the more accurate and useful the information becomes.
That's where you can help.
If you hunt wild bobwhite quail in South Carolina, consider joining the Quail Hunter Survey for the upcoming 2026-27 season. Participation is simple, and every hunt reported helps wildlife biologists better understand the status of quail populations and guide future conservation efforts.
Whether you're a longtime quail hunter or someone who plans to chase coveys for the first time this fall, your observations matter. The survey depends on hunters from every corner of the state, and new participants are always welcome. A few important items to know about the survey:
You will not be asked to identify your hunting spots. Only the county where you hunted is needed.
It takes less than 60 seconds to log your information after a hunt. You can do it through your cell phone or by filling in a log sheet provided to all participants.
If you really want to help out, you can provide a wing from each bird you shoot. Information from these wings helps biologists determine the age of the birds at different points in the season, which in turn provides data on when the birds are nesting and hatching during the summer.
As we look ahead to another season, the combination of increased hunter involvement and improved hunting success gives quail enthusiasts plenty of reasons to be optimistic.
We hope to see even more hunters contributing to the survey this fall. You can sign up to participate here.
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