I probably did more bird hunting this year than ever before in my life. Had 6 great long weekend hunts. I've got more dog power than ever before (4 dogs and getting a pup this weekend). Last weekend was my last hunt for the year. Now I'm focused on next season. Looking for additional lease land, looking for dog trailer and considering getting a UTV with box, water, GPS collar system etc. This sport can really be a money pit. With all this said...........I've got the sickening feeling in the back of my mind that I'm gonna get all geared up and we will have another 3-5 years of poor hunting (no birds). You guys worry about this also?

Yes, if you are retired, you can north and hunt the prairie.
Montana and South Dakota got me thru the last long drought.

I want to keep it positive, with the carryover this year a couple of good rains and the outlook is great. We could take it down a notch or two and still have a fine bird season.

There you go with those negative vibes.

Quail hunting is a lot like sex to me. The worst I ever had was wonderful.

Everything cycles. The traveling bird hunter has the best success

That's also why you want big runners. Bird numbers are down more than they are up

If we have another drought, I use out of state hunts and field trials to get me through. They're not a horrible substitute.

Praying for rain! That is the key.

Amen!

Pharmvet, quail hunting is one heck of an investment. I already have most of what you have listed and then some. But I look at it this way. I paid for most of my investment in the lean years. I was only hoping for at least one more cycle where we saw birds like yesteryear. We have had the golden years for the last 3 seasons. I don't golf or own a vacation home. I don't take extravagant vacations. My time away is in the field chasing birddogs. That is what I enjoy. Even when the drought had us down, I was still happy with a 4-5 covey day. I live for quail hunting. Even if next year is only 50% of this year, it will be great. We pointed and flushed 51 coveys this past weekend in 1.5 days. I am a realist enough to know that it can go south in a hurry, but I am in it for the dogs. My dad taught me everything about quail hunting. But I don't hunt like my dad did anymore. He walked and I ride a UTV. I use a shock collar and GPS. I would have loved to have heard his crude comments on just those two things. I bought an RV to take to the lease, he stayed in cheap motels. Technology and equipment have improved the game and made it easier. What I am trying to say is that you invest in what you and your boys enjoy. You will never go wrong.The lean years can make you hunt in ways that you don't like i.e. put and take hunting preserves. Like I have mentioned before, use every situation as a traing session. When the birds come back on the upswing, you will be ready and not out scrambling to find a dog(s) when things improve. Quail hunting is like your 401K. You have to keep investing in it (even in a down market) to get the end result you need and want.

Not worried, yeah just a few covies a day and am happy. Preserve hunts are an option too.

Am so thankful for these past three years of great bird hunting. Prior to that, we were doing a lot of dog handling in preserve environments, and I miss that for bringing young dogs along...tons of bird contacts, and if a bird gets bumped (and many will). Nobody seems to get irked like they would if it had been a wild covey and a shooting opportunity lost, when they may have paid big money and coveys are few and far between.

I like the simplicity over deer hunting. When we are bird hunting there is much less gear. It's nice to not be loaded down with sacks of corn. No huge cooler to hold lots of meat. No layers of clothes. No ladders needed.

I will always deer hunt but now I do it to get it over with so I can focus on bird hunting:)

We are off to a great start this year. Our quail had extremely full crops last weekend. I think we are in for another great year.

I have a sneaking suspicion that there are more than a few deer hunters that have traded deer hunting for Dogs and birds?