Quail

[dennishoddy]

I used to hunt from the hay loft of the barn that is collapsed now, with a feeder set up about 40 yds away. Always set it close to the cover, as a covey would hide, make a mad dash out, get some corn and run back to the cover.
They always knew when a hawk was coming in. They would stay in the cover until it made its pass, then come back out.
One morning I saw motion just below me, and in the grey light, could just make out three bobcats laying in weeds watching the feeder. Two were pretty small, so I'm thiinking they were kits, and moma was teaching them hunting skills.

 

[Master Carper]

I released 500 quail here on our property 4 years ago and another 500 quail 3 years ago and now, you canno so much as hear one whistle! I don't know what happened to all of them - very depressing...

Back in the 60's, 70's and even early 80's, I was a very common occurance to go out with a good pair of bird dogs and kill a dozen quail between two hunters. We always had plenty of birds to hunt. Not anymore....

DAVID

 

[Glock]

I released 500 quail here on our property 4 years ago and another 500 quail 3 years ago and now, you canno so much as hear one whistle! I don't know what happened to all of them - very depressing...

Back in the 60's, 70's and even early 80's, I was a very common occurance to go out with a good pair of bird dogs and kill a dozen quail between two hunters. We always had plenty of birds to hunt. Not anymore....

DAVID

The most logical theory is a blend of agriculture shrinkage and a man-made predator problem. Agriculture settled predominantly into wheat/soy/cotton, the state introduced the whitetail, the whitetail brought the predators, crops forced smaller mecro-systems, predators honed in on a somewhat easy meal.

 

[348]

I haven't been quail hunting in forever. There was plenty to be had back then. I miss it.

 

[tntrex]

Too many predators running round -yotes, coons, bobcat, barncat, hogs and then some.

 

[jfansler]

I need a Xanax prescription just for the depression I has suffered from not being able to have good pointer because there are no birds to train them on.

 

[dennishoddy]

Too many predators running round -yotes, coons, bobcat, barncat, hogs and then some.

True for the most part. Thats almost a new thread topic.

 

[ok 22250]

What about the predators like turkey and roadrunners that eat babies and eggs.

 

[aviator41]

Like you all, we've introduced and introduced only to have them disappear. Either from predators or moving to better properties.

Haven't quail hunted in over 15 years just cause there's not population to sustain a hunt.

Last year it seemed things turned for the better.

We had several small (4-8 bird) covey's on our property near Crescent and they've managed to stay put. We saw our first Covey in PV this year. Not very big, but hey they are there! Not sure what changed yet. We are emphasizing the predator kills at both places, have been for the past several years. I like to think that has something to do with it.

We were talking in passing over the dinner table last night and our oldest asked "why don't we hatch some quail this year?" - couldn't come up with a good reason why not, so we're putting together an incubator, hatcher and building a flight pen. plan on trying our hand with 100 eggs first.

Kids are super excited and we can't think of any negatives to doing the project. Great way to give back to the land, as I see it.

 

[Master Carper]

aviator41,

I have an incubator with a brand new 41 count automatic egg turner I'll donate to the cause if you or someone else wants to come and get it...

You can put 120 quail eggs in at one hatching, it you do not want to use the automatic turner....

DAVID