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Quail mega-covey!
#6475024
09/30/16 05:58 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 20
cactusfishman
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 20 |
Saw the largest covey I have ever seen cross in front of my truck last weekend. Counted 43 of those suckers! They kept scurrying along side as I drove up the field. Thought I was going to run them over. They had no fear. My place is in Haskell county. What is the largest covey y'all have seen?
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Re: Quail mega-covey!
[Re: cactusfishman]
#6475036
09/30/16 06:10 PM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11,537
rickym
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11,537 |
Multiple coveys when I was in Arizona as a child of 20+ im not a quail hunter and im sure ive seen bigger coveys but wasnt paying them any mind. In texas the biggest was 7 birds at my grandpas near eastland. Have recently considered giving quail huntin a try
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Re: Quail mega-covey!
[Re: cactusfishman]
#6475044
09/30/16 06:14 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
bill oxner
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Saw the largest covey I have ever seen cross in front of my truck last weekend. Counted 43 of those suckers! They kept scurrying along side as I drove up the field. Thought I was going to run them over. They had no fear. My place is in Haskell county. What is the largest covey y'all have seen? It's called the fall shuffle. A covey of quail starts out as a family unit. They merge onto a large covey of several family units, then split back out into social units. I've seen too many to count. Maybe as many as 60.
Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill
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Re: Quail mega-covey!
[Re: cactusfishman]
#6475062
09/30/16 06:23 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 13,204
CCBIRDDOGMAN
Bird Herder
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Bird Herder
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 13,204 |
In 04-05, I know we saw coveys of Blues and Bobs both that were 60 plus. No way you could count them.
Haven't had it in years but never spit any out. I am a sucker for happy endings and strapped cowboys.
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Re: Quail mega-covey!
[Re: bill oxner]
#6475064
09/30/16 06:25 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,868
Chet
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Bill's correct, years ago during the shuffle had a dog point along the Medicine River in south central Kansas and maybe 100 birds got up. Made the dog crazy. A month from now 20-25 bird coveys will be big ones.
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Re: Quail mega-covey!
[Re: cactusfishman]
#6475163
09/30/16 08:04 PM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,068
NorthTXbirdhunter
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,068 |
One time, 1992, north of Sweetwater, I flushed a covey with at least 100-120 in it. Never before nor never since. My greatest witnessed covey rise of all time. One that I will never, ever forget. Yes, there had to be a shuffle of 4 to 5 coveys together. Seriously, they blacked the sun out for 2 to 3 seconds as they left. It left me speechless and looking for TP.
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Re: Quail mega-covey!
[Re: cactusfishman]
#6475189
09/30/16 08:28 PM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,723
tigger
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,723 |
Waders are needed for this thread.
Tigger If it isn't white it is not a birddog.
KC Lying is lying. Don't bitch about one doing it and condone another. That's called hypocrisy. _________________
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Re: Quail mega-covey!
[Re: tigger]
#6475207
09/30/16 08:41 PM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,068
NorthTXbirdhunter
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Waders are needed for this thread. Tigger, This will hit close to home with you. I COUNTED 60+ birds at one time under a deer feeder last season in Kent County. All Bobs.
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Re: Quail mega-covey!
[Re: tigger]
#6475247
09/30/16 09:17 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,868
Chet
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,868 |
Waders are needed for this thread. Make sure the waders are new don't want any leakage, less than a week later I was working dogs with Don Gerstner who had a wonderful dog named Oklahoma's Mark. Mark pointed on the edge of a huge plum thicket and at least 50 or 60 birds lifted all around Mark. They flew across the river and we got a pretty good count on the birds. Those are the only times I have been out and witnessed the shuffle but if you hit it right it's really an amazing deal..
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Re: Quail mega-covey!
[Re: NorthTXbirdhunter]
#6475276
09/30/16 09:45 PM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,723
tigger
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,723 |
Waders are needed for this thread. Tigger, This will hit close to home with you. I COUNTED 60+ birds at one time under a deer feeder last season in Kent County. All Bobs. How many coveys do you believe that was.
Tigger If it isn't white it is not a birddog.
KC Lying is lying. Don't bitch about one doing it and condone another. That's called hypocrisy. _________________
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Re: Quail mega-covey!
[Re: cactusfishman]
#6475278
09/30/16 09:47 PM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,723
tigger
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,723 |
The last boom year I shot a pointed covey and a least 5 coveys flushed from the shooting.
Tigger If it isn't white it is not a birddog.
KC Lying is lying. Don't bitch about one doing it and condone another. That's called hypocrisy. _________________
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Re: Quail mega-covey!
[Re: tigger]
#6475305
09/30/16 10:27 PM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,068
NorthTXbirdhunter
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,068 |
[quote=tigger]Waders are needed for this thread. Tigger, This will hit close to home with you. I COUNTED 60+ birds at one time under a deer feeder last season in Kent County. All Bobs. [/quoti How many coveys do you believe that was. 4-5
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Re: Quail mega-covey!
[Re: cactusfishman]
#6475617
10/01/16 04:38 AM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 986
westexhunt
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 986 |
Nothing like the numbers you guys are reporting but in Schleicher, Tom Green, Concho, Runnels and Taylor counties where I hunt and check cattle I am seeing more quail than I have in 20 years or so. No huge coveys but plenty of 8-15 bird coveys. It's great. I'm not hunting any of them this year. Will wait and see what next year holds.
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Re: Quail mega-covey!
[Re: cactusfishman]
#6475640
10/01/16 05:41 AM
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,692
cattle69
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,692 |
Wait if you want, but can't get much better than this year. I will be hunting in all those counties this year and a few more to boot!
President and cofounder of magical pellet club.
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Re: Quail mega-covey!
[Re: cactusfishman]
#6475651
10/01/16 08:55 AM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 773
TexasUplander
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 773 |
05 was the best year in memory. We hunted 1/2 mile of creek bottom all season and never failed to limit. It seemed like you never really got out of one covey into the next. It was public land too! I suspect this year could rival 05.....
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Re: Quail mega-covey!
[Re: cactusfishman]
#6475868
10/01/16 03:11 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 887
Slim
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 887 |
Two weeks ago within about a 30 minute period, I flushed two good size groups on my place in Cottle County while I was out filling deer feeders. I'd say that each covey had 20-25 birds, maybe more. Our place is in CRP so it doesn't get grazed, cut, anything.
Gonna be a good year!
"If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you're reading it in english, thank a Marine."
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Re: Quail mega-covey!
[Re: bill oxner]
#6475906
10/01/16 04:02 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
bill oxner
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416 |
Saw the largest covey I have ever seen cross in front of my truck last weekend. Counted 43 of those suckers! They kept scurrying along side as I drove up the field. Thought I was going to run them over. They had no fear. My place is in Haskell county. What is the largest covey y'all have seen? It's called the fall shuffle. A covey of quail starts out as a family unit. They merge onto a large covey of several family units, then split back out into social units. I've seen too many to count. Maybe as many as 60. It cuts down on incest.
Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill
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Re: Quail mega-covey!
[Re: cactusfishman]
#6476720
10/02/16 11:38 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,505
reeltexan
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,505 |
We had coveys of blues last year over 100 and bobs in the 70 range. And I expect they will be that good this year too.
It's a very good time to be alive and living in Texas.
"If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under." Ronald Reagan
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Re: Quail mega-covey!
[Re: cactusfishman]
#6477731
10/03/16 02:00 AM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 528
TXPanhandler
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 528 |
I have seen coveys of blues bigger than 75 birds on several occasions. Looks like the ground is moving out from underneath you.
upshaw-insurance.com
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Re: Quail mega-covey!
[Re: reeltexan]
#6477734
10/03/16 02:01 AM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 528
TXPanhandler
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 528 |
It's a very good time to be alive and living in Texas.
Very good way to put it!
upshaw-insurance.com
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Re: Quail mega-covey!
[Re: cactusfishman]
#6478062
10/03/16 12:03 PM
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 3,460
redhaze
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Re: Quail mega-covey!
[Re: cactusfishman]
#6478290
10/03/16 02:32 PM
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Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 194
Sailor Soane
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 194 |
I was out at the lease for a couple hours this weekend - flushed 13 coveys and all were over 20 birds with some over 30 all from the dirt road. Can't wait.
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Re: Quail mega-covey!
[Re: cactusfishman]
#6479196
10/03/16 11:10 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 20
cactusfishman
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 20 |
So I can conclude that a mega-covey of quail can be called a "shuffle" of quail? The "shuffle" then breaks up into smaller coveys. The "shuffle" occurs when... I think it's a good descriptive term. Good to hear others are seeing this event across Texas!
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Re: Quail mega-covey!
[Re: cactusfishman]
#6479268
10/03/16 11:47 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,868
Chet
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The "fall shuffle" is I've been told dependent on hours of daylight and temp. In Kansas it is late summer to early fall but never been out and experienced it here in Texas. Also been told it only last a few days to two weeks.
Last edited by Chet; 10/03/16 11:51 PM.
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Re: Quail mega-covey!
[Re: cactusfishman]
#6480352
10/04/16 05:40 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,467
bassfishinglawyer
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Posts: 2,467 |
I know the feeling. In high school me and my buddy in the Oklahoma panhandle jumped 100+ blue quail. Like NorthTXbirdhunter said, it blackened the sky as the flushed to the West from behind the log they were behind. All I know is we both shot twice and dropped 6 birds in those 4 shots.
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