Mearns Quail Stamp Initiative

 This has been an interesting week ,I have been on the phone to AZGFD debating with Biologists what role Mearns Quail Hunters  play in the biological equation,or more simply put what impact does hunter harvest  have on Mearns Quail recruitment .Of course ,we agree to disagree and there is no shot that I can see for a reduced bag limit especially without the data that is needed .The long term solution  in all of this maybe the Mearns Quail Stamp Initiative ,which  addresses the concern of  "nobody really knows what is going on .A  Mearns Quail Stamp  will provide excellent data to those concerned, from the info gathered hopefully proper management will be applied to this unique Quail. Please read it and   PLEASE provide your input by commenting that you agree or disagree.Please also add you name and where you are from and pass it along to your bird hunting friends .The more comments the better .

Thanks
Dave Brown

Masked Bobwhites -they once lived in AZ now they are extinct

                                    Mearns Quail Stamp Initiative

Background Information  and Concerns

Arizona is home to the only substantial  huntable population of Mearn’s quail in the world.  Though this species is found in Texas (which does not allow hunting for this species) and New Mexico, Arizona is the state that offers the greatest opportunity to hunt for this sporty and unique bird.  The trophy status of this unusual quail is underscored by the numerous sportsmen who travel from all over the United States to hunt for this species and the attention this species receives in the hunting media.  Arizona ‘s largest Mearn’s quail  populations are found in the Coronado National Forest and for the most part 90% of the Mearn’s Quail hunting takes place within that relatively small  area on Public lands .  For a number of reasons most wingshooters regard, Mearns quail  as a  “trophy game bird’.  .   Not the least of these being  the legendary reputation these birds have of  holding for pointing dogs.  Couple this attribute with their unique beauty, the  ruggedly stunning environment in which they are found, and the fact that of all the Quails that  inhabit the the United States, the Mearn’s is considered to be the most rare and it is easy to understand why these little birds are so highly valued by sportsmen.
Due to recent increased notoriety brought about by numerous articles in sporting magazines, several sporting T.V.Shows featuring  Mearn’s quail hunting and the general low numbers of desert quail populations hunting pressure for these birds has increased.  
Additionally new and improved roads along the border, and the increasing popularity of the use of ATV’s for hunting has contributed to the number of hunters afield for these quail.  Resulting in both resident and non-residents hunter alike complaining about areas being overcrowded and receiving too much hunting pressure.  The sheer number of hunters in the field in some areas has resulted in confrontations.  There has also been several complaints, both warranted and unwarranted, regarding poor guiding ethics. 
Based on field observations and internet chat rooms, non-resident hunters make up the largest user group when it comes to Mearn’s quail hunting.  The current perception by most residents who hunt Mearn’s quail is that out of state hunters who come and hunt for several weeks to months on end are depriving them of a resource that they pay for through support of the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the purchase of hunting licenses and tags.  Out of state hunters not only pay relatively little to recreate in Arizona but they offer no other support for the management of our state’s wildlife or wildlife management agency, political or otherwise, than the purchase of their hunting license.
Another aspect of increased pressure on Mearn’s quail is that easily accessible areas are shot out early in the bird season.  This severely limits the less capable sportsperson such as the aged or youth access to these quail.  It is widely accepted that opportunity is an important factor in maintaining and recruiting new sportspeople.  The limited distribution of this species and the often rugged terrain they inhabit already severely hinder those of lesser capabilities. 
-

With two bad nesting years due to poor monsoon Rains in 2009 followed by a cold snap in January of 2010 most sportsmen  feel  that these natural events have reduced the population of these sporty birds to very low levels which has  fueled  a management debate  between Arizona Game and Fish Department and the sporting community.  In order to protect the remaining stocks, many concerned hunters feel that the bag limit should be reduced and some have suggested closing the season altogether.
The position espoused by the AZGFD is that hunting pressure does not affect Mearn’s  quail populations. (this is based on a research project by Kirby Bristow and Rich Okenfelts-you can get a copy of this report from the Dept.).  However there is no definitive data on how much pressure this limited resource is actually receiving.  In all likelihood the decline in desert quail numbers during our long-standing drought, increased publicity, and a few year spike in Mearn’s quail populations brought about by a fortuitous run of excellent summer rains along the border have conspired elevate the popularity of this bird and greatly increased the hunters in the field pursuing it in recent years.  To accurately assess the actual pressure on these birds both the AGFD and the hunting public would benefit from precise data so the issue may be clearly delineated.  
Currently Mearn’s hunting data is collected via mailed surveys to a small percentage of hunters.  Some of these  surveys are doubtlessly mailed to people that may not have even hunted Mearn’s quail that season resulting in a waste of time and money at a time when such recourses are in short supply.   Additionally many hunters do  not bother to complete and return the survey and still others who perhaps  avidly hunted Mearn;s quail  all season may never  receive the survey at all. Random mail surveys to hunters based on the purchase of a license is perhaps a good way to estimate general participation in small game pursuit but not a good method for assessing the actual use of a particular resource.   
The Stamp

The only way to accurately measure the number of hunters who actually pursue this bird is through a special permit or license that must be acquired prior to hunting Mearn’s quail.  Just such a permit, in the form of a stamp, currently exists and is required for the pursuit of band-tailed pigeons, blue grouse, and chukars in Arizona.  A Mearn’s stamp would help both the AGFD  and concerned sportsmen conservationists by collecting real time data on hunting pressure and sportsmen’s interest in Mearn’s quail.    Additionally important data such as hunter demographics and accurate harvest data would become available for the first time.Hunters would be required to complete  a survey before they could purchase next season’s stamp as is currently done with the aforementioned stamp for blue grouse, chukars, and band-tailed pigeons. Personal information would be kept private.  This information could also prove a valuable resource in hunter retention/recruitment pursuits.

Costs

Resident  season Mearns Stamp - $5.
Non-Resident 5 day Mearns Stamp - $20.
Non-Resident Season Mearns Stamp - $75.
The Funds generated by the stamp would be used to administer the stamp program and the data it provides .Funds from stamp sales could also be used for future and ongoing research and management for Mearn’s quail research.
Online Survey
Additionally stamps could be purchased online as hunting and fishing licenses currently are.  This would facilitate both in and out of state hunters getting afield with a minimum of effort.  Potential questions to be included in the questionnaire could be:
Age
Sex
Race
Address
Phone number
E-mail address
Did you hunt Mearn’s quail last season?
How many Mearn’s quail did you harvest during the season?
How many Mearn’s quail did you knock down and not recover?
Which area of the state did you hunt ?  Please be specific.
How many days did you hunt Mearn’s quail. Please count half days as full days.
What was the average covey size that you saw ?
How would you rate your Mearn’s quail hunting  experience on a 1-10 scale ___
If your score is below  5 please gives us your reasons ?
Where you guided ? if so, how would you rate your guided experience on a 1-10 scale ___
Additional Comments

Conclusion
The stamp or permit concept offers a reasonable avenue in a proven format to collect vital data on a limited resource which is perceived as receiving increasing pressure.  Without the information that the proposed stamp would provide, the debate over Mearn’s quail management will continue and could  the long run  constitute a growing financial burden to the Department  in the form of loss of revenues through dissatisfied bird hunters not to mention have the potential to alleviate or mitigate the burden of fielding addressing concerns of sportsmen.  It would also serve the purpose of showing the hunting  and conservation community that the Arizona Game and Fish Department is not only concerned and interested in what their supporters have say but is also proactively managing wildlife in our state.  The present perception is that the Arizona  Game and Fish Department is not receptive or responsive to the hunting public’s concerns.
The costs to the hunter for this Stamp are reasonable, more than fair, and should not present an undue burden on those who pursue this species and will likely have little or no impact on hunter numbers.

Mearn Quail -not extinct in AZ .. yet