In
an effort to improve quail management and quail habitat Arizona Quail Alliance will:
1) Support and fund scientific research to assist the Arizona Game & Fish in making the best possible decisions,
2) Invite all interested groups to participate and evaluate the research, 3) Recognize that there are differing views on what is best for the Mearns quail and provide periodic forums to discuss the state of knowledge and discuss the differing opinions.We will assist the Arizona Game & Fish by collecting more comprehensive data from hunters about what is happening in the field. The Arizona Game & Fish Department places a great deal of its management recommendations on hunter questionnaires and wing box samples. However, their retrieval information represents 30% or less of Mearns quail hunters. We hope to improve the reliability of this information.
We propose
to:
1) Place hunter questionnaires in the field and strategic locations so we can collect more comprehensive data. These questionnaires will be in locked boxes so hunters aren't advertising how good a day they've had.
2) Provide hunting guides with questionnaires.
3) The alliance has established a very interactive and informative website to insure your input.
4) Sponsor research through the University of Arizona Department of Wildlife Research Biology under the supervision of Dr. Bill Shaw and Dr. Conway. They will work jointly with the G & F in writing protocols for research in the following areas.