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Quail mgmt question #6084567 12/15/15 07:26 AM
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Mike Honcho Offline OP
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I was asking two fellas that are avid quail hunters what their opinions were and what i can do to try and keep as many quail as possible alive and promote breeding for next year. One said dont waste your time enjoy this banner year, while the other said shoot only 25% of what you flush. Ive been told quail arent that resilient. So i thought maybe first guy was right, but not having any management seems foolish and i just cant get buy into that. So share your opinions and anything i can do to help the resident quail. Ive thought about buying 300+ bobs and releasing this jan to help keep high numbers, but i dont know how far they range and if they can realistically survive.

lay of the land about 300 ac. About 180ac is fields of sudan grass, buffle grass, and johnson grass. The remainder is very very thick huisache and mesquite with grasses. We are on rio grande, but south grass pastures are at its closest 200 yds from river. We have a 30 yd diameter pond that usually doesnt ever go dry that is connected to the north 130ac. Neighbors have very thick non grashy brush to the east and west. Cane fields to north.

Thanks as usual for all the helpful info.

Last edited by jorge; 12/15/15 07:30 AM.

“Two things that define an individual what you do when you have everything, and what you do when you have nothing."


Re: Quail mgmt question [Re: Mike Honcho] #6084665 12/15/15 01:02 PM
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Buying and releasing quail will do nothing to help maintain you quail population Clearing out some more of the brush could help. Planting more sudan grass could help. The buffle grass is no good for quail. Some of your current quail population could be due to the quail coming into your pasture for feed. I don't like the idea of shooting too many quail.


Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill


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Re: Quail mgmt question [Re: Mike Honcho] #6085154 12/15/15 05:07 PM
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You are just pi_ _ng into the wind if anyone tells you that liberated birds will survive and reproduce. The mortality rate without hunting liberated birds is around 80% after the first 3 weeks. As for reproduction, research shows that only 1/2 of 1 percent(.005) of liberated hens can lay a clutch of eggs. My advice to you is to establish food plots and cover on your property and try to entice and establish as many wild coveys as you can. That probably means no hunting for quail for a couple of years.

Re: Quail mgmt question [Re: Mike Honcho] #6085700 12/15/15 08:36 PM
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Establish cover and ensure they have enough food to eat. We've had a lot of success by flagging mesquite bushes and then pouring milo or lablab at the flagged bushes when we're out. This way the birds can eat in cover versus trying to feed in the open at a deer feeder.

Last edited by duckbill; 12/15/15 08:40 PM.

Originally Posted By: LandPirate
Yeah, don't listen to me. I'm just an idiot.

Originally Posted By: East
Lol. Duckbill that was funny!

Originally Posted By: thecoach
The dude up top has already taken lots of bone before this deer, both mule and whitetail.
Re: Quail mgmt question [Re: Mike Honcho] #6085710 12/15/15 08:40 PM
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RayB Offline
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I'm hunting with a group of old quail hunters, we have a 10 bird limit and shoot only on a covey flush. Hope that helps. That was their idea.


There is time, and you must take it, to lay your hand on your dog's head as you walk past him lying on the floor or on his settle, time to talk with him, to remember with him, time to please him, time you can't buy back once he's gone" GBE
Re: Quail mgmt question [Re: Mike Honcho] #6086269 12/16/15 01:55 AM
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Mike Honcho Offline OP
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Thanks yall.

So what suggestions do yall have in increasing sutvival rate going into years to come besides food and hunting pressure. I think they have lots of cover.


“Two things that define an individual what you do when you have everything, and what you do when you have nothing."


Re: Quail mgmt question [Re: Mike Honcho] #6086448 12/16/15 03:12 AM
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I think moisture is the key ingredient, without, you don't get the rest!!


There is time, and you must take it, to lay your hand on your dog's head as you walk past him lying on the floor or on his settle, time to talk with him, to remember with him, time to please him, time you can't buy back once he's gone" GBE
Re: Quail mgmt question [Re: RayB] #6086486 12/16/15 03:34 AM
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Originally Posted By: Barny Topwater
I think moisture is the key ingredient, without, you don't get the rest!!


^^^^^^^^^^^
This x10
2015 has proven this beyond any shadow of any doubt.

Re: Quail mgmt question [Re: Mike Honcho] #6086593 12/16/15 04:24 AM
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Well we have a fair amount of water in the area. That pond in the front area. And have the rio to the south and east (makes a curve) no further than 400yds away from where i flush em up. Or are yall talking about setting up drinkers?


“Two things that define an individual what you do when you have everything, and what you do when you have nothing."


Re: Quail mgmt question [Re: Mike Honcho] #6086782 12/16/15 12:40 PM
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Jorge,
Think rain and lots of it. Rain creates cover and food for successful nesting and further sustainability.

Re: Quail mgmt question [Re: Mike Honcho] #6086846 12/16/15 01:23 PM
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With 300 acres, I would not hunt the property lines until the end of the season. Birds like roads and fence lines, but if you jump them along the fence/property line on a regular basis, they figure it out and move away from the pressure and that may mean they move to the neighboring property where you can't go after them. Hunt the interior of the property during the season and hunt the property lines at the end of the season. Don't chase down the coveys after they bust. With the right conditions and a good dog, you can obliterate a covey by chasing down singles and doubles, especially bobs. If bobs, try to take the males and leave as many females as possible. IMO the bid biggest factors to reproductive success are the number of females and the spring/summer weather. It's tough, but as you take aim remember, butt, belly, beak, and look for a white cheek. I've passed on many a shot because I couldn't see the white cheek.

Re: Quail mgmt question [Re: NorthTXbirdhunter] #6087282 12/16/15 04:00 PM
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Originally Posted By: NorthTXbirdhunter
Jorge,
Think rain and lots of it. Rain creates cover and food for successful nesting and further sustainability.


Yep


Originally Posted By: LandPirate
Yeah, don't listen to me. I'm just an idiot.

Originally Posted By: East
Lol. Duckbill that was funny!

Originally Posted By: thecoach
The dude up top has already taken lots of bone before this deer, both mule and whitetail.
Re: Quail mgmt question [Re: Mike Honcho] #6087317 12/16/15 04:14 PM
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Navasot Offline
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let your fencelines grow... get rid of hay fields let native grass grow.. kill every coon, possum, skunk, armadillo, pig, legal snake in sight. the more you shoot the less breed

Re: Quail mgmt question [Re: Mike Honcho] #6087321 12/16/15 04:15 PM
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If its as thick as your talking a control burn may be something to look into also

Re: Quail mgmt question [Re: Mike Honcho] #6087589 12/16/15 06:37 PM
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Its all about habitat.

Create pastures with mixtures of motted brush areas (cover), native grasses (nesting), and disturbed soil areas (forb growth/croton for feeding). We provide water trough areas but also include wildlife overflows on the ground that create micro-environments for bugs and insects as well as water opportunity for deer/quail that typically don’t drink well from a trough. Young chicks need insects, not seeds in the early stages and will typically get most of the water they need from what they eat. Cattle can also be a great tool for habitat management is used properly but you have to be careful. They create trails, disturbance and keep the grasses from getting too thick which quail don't like. The flip side is that they can buzz off your habitat if left in the pasture too long. A good rule on cattle is "take 50, leave 50" on the grass.

Its really a catch 22 because rainfall helps with habitat because it contributes to all of these positively, but if you manage your habitat effectively in dry years and provide at least two of the three ingredients for good quail production (cover & disturbance) even with minimal water, you can also minimize the impact of really dry years. Then when you have a good rain year, you will see great numbers.


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Re: Quail mgmt question [Re: Mike Honcho] #6087817 12/16/15 08:41 PM
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El Nino is to thank for all of this.
My understanding is that it may last another three to five years.

Good times ahead, at least for a while.


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Re: Quail mgmt question [Re: Mike Honcho] #6088670 12/17/15 04:01 AM
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Mike Honcho Offline OP
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Thanks for the info chance!


“Two things that define an individual what you do when you have everything, and what you do when you have nothing."


Re: Quail mgmt question [Re: Mike Honcho] #6089404 12/17/15 06:47 PM
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fishfree Offline
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contact these folks Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch They also have youtube video on creating/improving quail habitat


good luck

Re: Quail mgmt question [Re: Mike Honcho] #6090419 12/18/15 05:39 AM
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Thanks fish free


“Two things that define an individual what you do when you have everything, and what you do when you have nothing."


Re: Quail mgmt question [Re: Mike Honcho] #6091801 12/19/15 09:31 AM
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Mike Honcho Offline OP
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Has anyone had any experience with chukar? I talked to one guy today and he said they are pretty resilient. Not that i would drop major coin to try to eatablish them in my area, but if we got them and when released for training or hunts how much resilient are they vs bobs of some didnt get shot are they hardy enough to reproduce? They do well in extreme cold, but not sure about prolonged south texas heat?

Same question as to pheasant?

I know up by brazoria, colorado, wharton, or ft bend counties tpwd tried to eatablish them. Talking to locals they are convinced that they never took because of high rain fall levels, and mainly fire ants. They tell me thats why quail and turkey dont do very well also.

Last edited by jorge; 12/19/15 09:36 AM.

“Two things that define an individual what you do when you have everything, and what you do when you have nothing."


Re: Quail mgmt question [Re: Mike Honcho] #6091944 12/19/15 02:18 PM
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I run my dogs for a outfitter in Waller, and I have never seen any of the released chukar, or pheasant make it till the next year. Most unshot birds are dead within a week or two. I believe most become dinner for the hawks.



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