Many Kansas upland bird hunters take advantage of light hunting pressure and colder weather to pursue their favorite game in January.

Remember, however, that quail season will end today and not on the last day of the month, as it has in the past.

Pheasant season will remain open through Jan. 31, as will prairie chicken except in the Southwest Unit (west of U.S. Highway 281 and south of I-70).

With an upland bird season that runs almost three months in much of the state, many upland hunters have put away their shotguns for the year.

However, late-season upland hunting presents a great opportunity for hunting without crowds. As chilly January temperatures sweep across the plains, birds tend to bunch up, making hunting even better.

Birds may hold in heavier cover, making dogs a real asset. Cold weather and snow may prevent birds from flushing early, providing closer shots, and, in many areas, birds concentrate in draws and thick grassland.

In addition, early-season pressure may have moved birds from public hunting areas to adjacent private lands in November. But wildlife management practices on public and Walk-In Hunting Access lands usually provide quality habitat, drawing birds back once hunting pressure subsides.

Late-season hunting also may create opportunities for hunting private property because landowners may be more receptive to granting access.