Quail Numbers Show a Rise in 2026
The latest Whistling Cock Census shows encouraging signs of stability and a modest increase in calling males, offering quail hunters reason for optimism while reminding us how much work remains.
South Carolina’s annual Bobwhite Quail Whistling Cock Census has delivered some encouraging news for quail hunters. The 2026 survey recorded an increase in calling male bobwhites compared to last year, suggesting that the state’s breeding population is holding steady and showing signs of improvement.
Now in its 48th consecutive year, the census provides a valuable look at the health of South Carolina’s wild quail population and helps biologists track changes in habitat and population trends over time.
A Positive Step Forward
The 2026 survey recorded an average of 5.5 calling males per route, up from 4.4 in 2025. That represents a roughly 25% increase in the statewide average.
Looking at the 70 routes surveyed in both years, observers recorded 357 calling males in 2026, an increase of 35 birds—or 10.9%—compared to 2025. Overall, 61% of those routes recorded the same number of calling males or more than the previous year.
While the increase is not large enough to establish a significant statewide population jump, it does suggest that habitat improvements are having the desired effect.
The Long-Term Picture
Despite the year-over-year improvement, South Carolina’s quail population remains well below historical levels.
The long-term average for the census is 11.7 calling males per route, more than twice the 2026 average. The decline over the past several decades reflects a combination of factors, including changes in land use, habitat loss, and weather conditions that can affect nesting success and survival.
Many survey routes that once passed through a mix of farmland and forest now run through areas dominated by pine plantations. These changes have reduced the availability of the open, diverse habitat that bobwhites need to thrive.
Why Habitat Matters
For quail hunters, the census reinforces an important point: good quail numbers depend on good quail habitat.
Bobwhites need a mix of native grasses, forbs, shrubs, and open ground to provide food, nesting cover, and protection from predators. As suitable habitat disappears or becomes fragmented, quail populations struggle to recover.
The census is one of several tools biologists use to monitor the state’s quail population. When combined with brood surveys, hunter surveys, and fall covey counts, it helps provide a clearer picture of how quail are responding to habitat changes and management efforts.
Reason for Optimism—and More Work Ahead
The 2026 results offer a welcome bit of good news. More calling males were detected than last year, and breeding populations appear stable in the short term.
But the long-term numbers make clear that South Carolina still has a long way to go to restore the wild quail populations that many hunters remember.
For hunters, landowners, and conservation organizations, the message is straightforward: celebrate the progress, keep improving habitat, and continue investing in the work that gives wild bobwhites a chance to thrive.
You can read and download the full report here:
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