Page 36 - 2020 Jan/Feb Outdoor Oklahoma

weather have the greatest effect on the boom-and-bust nature of quail pop-
“Some of the best
hunts I’ve ever had
in my life have been
on public ground.”
ProViDeD
A shot of Knipp and one of his dogs while hunting blue quail.
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OutdoorOK-2020-January-February.indd
OutdoorOK-2020-January-February.indd
ulations. When the weather is good, habitat is also good and quail numbers
rebound in many areas of Oklahoma.
Knipp said a friend of his from New Jersey told him that he was very
lucky to still have quail in the wild. Populations have disappeared in the
Southeast, and many hunters from those areas are now coming to Oklahoma
when they want to hunt quail.
The Future
Knipp is committed to keeping and training his dogs. And he’s commit-
ted to keep hunting as long as he is able. Going after wild turkey, pheasant,
chucker, Hungarian partridge and sharp-tailed grouse takes him on several
trips every year.
He also committed to keeping the hunting tradition alive for future gener-
ations. He knows there are fewer hunters nowadays, but the hunters now are
more serious about the sport and have better trained dogs, which is better
for the resource.
He estimated that he’s taken about 30 youngsters on their first hunts over
the years. And really all you need to quail hunt is a good pair of boots, a
shotgun, and a place to go. And while most private landowners have over
the decades become more reluctant to allow hunting on their property, it’s
still worth knocking on the door and asking permission.
But he hunts on public lands all the time. “Some of the best hunts I’ve ever
had in my life have been on public ground.”
OUTDOOR OKLAHOMA
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