[Bristol-Birds] re quail hunting discussion

Hey folks,
*(See postscript for previous contributions to discussion)
This is an interesting situation. I have no doubt that actual numbers of bobwhite shot are relatively insignificant. What I wonder about is the effect on population dynamics of releasing genetically non-local birds into the local population, no matter whether the released birds are pen-raised or wild trapped. There is a possibility of genetic alteration of the local population that could lead to reduced viability and impairment of adaptation to local conditions. This is considered a no-no when talking about non-game animals, so why the double standard? Have any studies been done on the history and effects of this practice on bobwhite? This is a current practice by private individuals I have met locally, and I have been told it is legal. Those who release bobwhites I would imagine are among those who actively hunt. The question is, do the artificially elevated populations persist after the hunters quit stocking? And what happens to the local gene pool surrounding the stocked area? 
Don Holt
Johnson City, TN
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Terry Witt wrote to tnbirds:
This may be a bit off topic and also probably should be addressed more to Scott Somershoe than the whole list, but, is there any reason that there should still 
be a hunting season in Tennessee for Northern Bobwhite???
The population here is in freefall, and although that may not be true statewide, I suspect it probably is rapidly declining everywhere at best. I know that duck hunting bag limits and season dates are adjusted based on population estimates, why should quail be any different; and in reality, why should the season not be closed, at least temporarily? This may well become a moot point, as several of my quail hunting friends have stopped pursuing a target that has become so elusive. Disclaimer - I am not particularly anti-hunting of birds or any other 
game.
Food for thought, table open for discussion
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Michaek Bierly wrote:
Northern Bobwhite on Tennessee Christmas Bird Counts 1960-2007, have steadily declined. The highest number of individuals per party-hour during this 47-year period occurred in 1974 with 0.8409 per party-hour (682 birds on 16 counts). In 2007, the number of individuals per party-hour was 0.0438 (48 birds on 9 counts). The number per party-hour has been below 0.2 since 
1995 and below 0.1 since 2000. A chart and a graph can be made on the
Christmas Bird Count web site,
http://www.audubon.org/BIRD/CBC/hr/index.html, that demonstrates the species 
steady decline.
Did you know, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's web 
site, http://www.state.tn.us/twra/pdfs/waterfowldates.pdf, that in the
2008-2009 hunting season, you can legally bag 20 Ross' Geese a day; 15 coots and gallinules; and 25 Virginia Rails and Soras? This is not something new. 
My memory goes back decades on this. I asked why species that were so
uncommon or rare in Tennessee were listed, much less in those numbers. The 
steady answer was--in case someone shoots one, it will be legal. By the
way--you can take only 2 Brant per day.
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Bill Pulliam wrote:
A trend which has far more to do with suburban sprawl and the riding
lawnmower than with hunting.  I live in a rural area on 40 acres of
woods and weeds, all my neighbors hunt voraciously, and I flushed 19
bobwhite just this morning 100 yards from my front door (not to
mention that we are covered up in deer and turkey, and the woodcock
display right over my house).  Suburbanization and factory farming
are the culprits behind most bird declines in the southeast, not
hunting.  If you want to find the villain, look at your neighbors
manicured lawn, not his gun cabinet.


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