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Finding Quail
#7034174
01/11/18 03:25 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 693
JTS
OP
Tracker
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OP
Tracker
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 693 |
I am fairly new to quail hunting so I thought I would ask here. If you are hunting a new piece of property where do you typically look for coveys. Do you hunt open areas, brushy areas, along creek or on hilltops? Does the weather influence where you hunt like on a windy day verses calm day?
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Re: Finding Quail
[Re: JTS]
#7034182
01/11/18 03:33 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,287
scalebuster
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,287 |
Quail like structure. There’s usually a covey around tank batteries, pump jacks, windmills, old barns, Ect. It’s so dry right now I’m not finding many bird anywhere there’s not water close by.
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Re: Finding Quail
[Re: JTS]
#7034208
01/11/18 03:48 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 |
There is an old 50/50 rule. Fifty percent of the quail are usually found within 50 yards of the fence line, but it goes much deeper than that. Time of. Day makes a difference. They usually roost in open areas. Look for weed seed this time of the year for feeding areas.
Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill
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Re: Finding Quail
[Re: JTS]
#7034652
01/11/18 08:47 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 |
I usually find them upwind right behind a pointed dog. Like Mr. Oxner stated fences are a good bet but so are ditches, creekbanks and terraces. If the wind is blowing, down in the canyons and valleys. Always play the wind and watch your dog figure it out for you.
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Re: Finding Quail
[Re: JTS]
#7034660
01/11/18 08:51 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 16,793
68rustbucket
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 16,793 |
The few birds I had taken this season had greens in the craw. Look for small, green weeds sprouting.
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Re: Finding Quail
[Re: JTS]
#7034739
01/11/18 09:48 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,467
bassfishinglawyer
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,467 |
I think of hunting quail most of the time like bass fishing. They are on the edge of the cover (fence lines, tree lines, plum thickets, cedar trees, etc.) and structure (draws, especially if windy) most of the time. If you focus on those things, you're bound to find them.
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Re: Finding Quail
[Re: NorthTXbirdhunter]
#7034756
01/11/18 10:00 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
bill oxner
THF Celebrity
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416 |
I usually find them upwind right behind a pointed dog. Like Mr. Oxner stated fences are a good bet but so are ditches, creekbanks and terraces. If the wind is blowing, down in the canyons and valleys. Always play the wind and watch your dog figure it out for you. It's much easier to hunt into the wind while Hunting from vehicles. A good cross wind works fine to.
Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill
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Re: Finding Quail
[Re: JTS]
#7034859
01/11/18 11:57 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 392
arandy
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 392 |
Find Broomweed or Ragweed with good loafing cover and if there are birds you probably will be pretty close to them.
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Re: Finding Quail
[Re: JTS]
#7035032
01/12/18 01:57 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
bill oxner
THF Celebrity
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Posts: 91,416 |
I've known people who went out before sunrise and listen for them calling from the roost. I'd rather sleep in.
Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill
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Re: Finding Quail
[Re: JTS]
#7038889
01/15/18 03:50 PM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 306
rowdydog1
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 306 |
Bill, I've heard of that as well. never seemed like a gentlemanly thing to do.
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Re: Finding Quail
[Re: rowdydog1]
#7038912
01/15/18 04:11 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 47
fway
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 47 |
Rowdy. If you have never watched the sun come up and hear those whistles......you have missed one of the sports truly inspiring moments!!! Do you turkey hunt? If so do you listen for the gobble? Awsome isn't it? And I can assure you I'm a gentleman!!!!
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Re: Finding Quail
[Re: JTS]
#7039196
01/15/18 08:29 PM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 475
Mundo
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 475 |
A quail day: Roost in the open until sunrise or a little later. Go feed. Go loaf in heavier, cover, preferably with some overhang. Go feed. Go roost. Quail prefer to roost in open grassy areas. They feed on insects, weed seeds, legumes in south texas and new green plants. The more food there is available the less time they will have to spend feeding and will spend more time in loafing areas. Most birds are found during feeding as they move as a covey and then spread out when they find a source of food. Some birds are found in loafing areas but they are more difficult for dogs to locate because they aren't moving much and don't leave much of a scent trail. Roosting birds are found less as hunters often aren't out during roosting periods and the birds aren't moving, thus limiting scent opportunities On weather changes such as colder mornings or wet mornings they may spend more time on the roost and less time feeding before going to loaf or roost. On good weather following those spells they spend more time feeding. So, in mornings and afternoons look for moving birds where there is more food available. If you must hunt mid day look for loafing areas such as overhanging or thorny brush, structure and creeks. Higher winds make dog work more problematic because the winds are often shifting slightly and dogs have trouble following scent to birds. Dogs do better in higher humidity. I'd say ideal weather for good scenting conditions would be high 50s- 60s with some dew on the ground.
Last edited by Mundo; 01/15/18 08:32 PM.
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Re: Finding Quail
[Re: JTS]
#7039205
01/15/18 08:46 PM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 306
rowdydog1
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 306 |
fway, I'm sure it's majestic and no I don't really turkey hunt. I just like to give the birds a chance to get off the roost and start feeding before I go after them.
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Re: Finding Quail
[Re: JTS]
#7039239
01/15/18 09:25 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 47
fway
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 47 |
Just because you hear them whistle is no guarantee you will find them I can assure you. Try it sometime and you will see...I take offense to your statement that it is not gentlemanly, I like to listen go eat breakfast let em move and then let the dogs out.
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Re: Finding Quail
[Re: rowdydog1]
#7039269
01/15/18 09:56 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 |
Gentlemanly Hell! With what a real birdhunter spends on hunting 365 days per year, and most with a puppy that needs to get on birds, I will take every advantage I can get to locate birds. I am as purist as a birdhunter that one can imagine and I see nothing wrong with locating birds by whistle location, in fact I will whistle at them trying to get the location. It is an art form but like was mentioned, there is no guarantee you will ever make contact with them. The whistle bird is the on guard bird and more time than not, he is going to give you the slip. The whistle cadence has been used for a couple of centuries now and it will never go away. It is a well known part of birdhunting and will remain so. We get up to listen at the camp every day we are there. Beautiful!!!
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Re: Finding Quail
[Re: rowdydog1]
#7039299
01/15/18 10:23 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 |
fway, I'm sure it's majestic and no I don't really turkey hunt. I just like to give the birds a chance to get off the roost and start feeding before I go after them. BTW, when a quail is whistling, it is not on the roost. It means the covey has separated i.e. feeding or got split up and the rooster is calling the covey in. You would be amazed how little,if any, scent a covey puts off when they are circled up tail to tail.
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Re: Finding Quail
[Re: NorthTXbirdhunter]
#7039360
01/15/18 11:13 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 |
fway, I'm sure it's majestic and no I don't really turkey hunt. I just like to give the birds a chance to get off the roost and start feeding before I go after them. BTW, when a quail is whistling, it is not on the roost. It means the covey has separated i.e. feeding or got split up and the rooster is calling the covey in. You would be amazed how little,if any, scent a covey puts off when they are circled up tail to tail. I've hunted wild bobwhite quail in Texas for 50 and in over 80 counties and I've seen one covey pointed while on the roost.
Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill
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Re: Finding Quail
[Re: bill oxner]
#7039422
01/15/18 11:59 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 |
fway, I'm sure it's majestic and no I don't really turkey hunt. I just like to give the birds a chance to get off the roost and start feeding before I go after them. BTW, when a quail is whistling, it is not on the roost. It means the covey has separated i.e. feeding or got split up and the rooster is calling the covey in. You would be amazed how little,if any, scent a covey puts off when they are circled up tail to tail. I've hunted wild bobwhite quail in Texas for 50 and in over 80 counties and I've seen one covey pointed while on the roost. You sleep in much too late!!!!!!
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: Finding Quail
[Re: NorthTXbirdhunter]
#7039964
01/16/18 02:18 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 47
fway
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 47 |
I agree northtexas that most times a whistle is not on roost.....except at daybreak....that one is on the roost. Usually only one or two whistles and done. I've been whistling for em for almost 50 years....lol. Have a whistle I've had for 40. I've had em answer me at night with a full moon.
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Re: Finding Quail
[Re: JTS]
#7040095
01/16/18 03:44 PM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 306
rowdydog1
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 306 |
Fway, I'm not trying to be offensive, and besides if you're going to listen, then going back for breakfast and then starting your hunt then you are not doing what I'm talking about. What I'm talking about are the people who are there at sun up, whistle for the birds, and then go try and shoot them off the roost.
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Re: Finding Quail
[Re: rowdydog1]
#7040118
01/16/18 03:56 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,287
scalebuster
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,287 |
Fway, I'm not trying to be offensive, and besides if you're going to listen, then going back for breakfast and then starting your hunt then you are not doing what I'm talking about. What I'm talking about are the people who are there at sun up, whistle for the birds, and then go try and shoot them off the roost.
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Re: Finding Quail
[Re: JTS]
#7040136
01/16/18 04:10 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 5,427
RayB
red bone Bob
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red bone Bob
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 5,427 |
The lease rule on the Kent Co lease is no hunting before 8 a.m. So if they are still on the roost at that time shame on them
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
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Re: Finding Quail
[Re: scalebuster]
#7040167
01/16/18 04:26 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 |
Fway, I'm not trying to be offensive, and besides if you're going to listen, then going back for breakfast and then starting your hunt then you are not doing what I'm talking about. What I'm talking about are the people who are there at sun up, whistle for the birds, and then go try and shoot them off the roost.
Good luck with that! I bet you will miss the covey 8 out of 10 times. Easier said than done
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Re: Finding Quail
[Re: bassfishinglawyer]
#7040350
01/16/18 06:10 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,502
reeltexan
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,502 |
I think of hunting quail most of the time like bass fishing. They are on the edge of the cover (fence lines, tree lines, plum thickets, cedar trees, etc.) and structure (draws, especially if windy) most of the time. If you focus on those things, you're bound to find them. It sure is. Structure, cover and food supply are keys.
"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: Finding Quail
[Re: JTS]
#7040441
01/16/18 07:20 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 47
fway
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 47 |
In all my yrs of bird hunting I've had may e two on the roost and it was in the snow mid morning....they all came up together and I found the roost. Was under prairie grass bent over like and igloo and as warm as could be...I could feel the heat!
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