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Early die off? #7084960 02/19/18 08:11 PM
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rowdydog1 Offline OP
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Has anyone else noticed a significant decline in birds over the last few weeks? I hunted my lease on Jan 20th weekend, then took two weeks off for family reasons. I have hunted the last two weekends and there is a huge drop off in birds. We had a big freeze in between. The lease is between Aspermont and Stamford. I'm talking going from 15 coveys a day to 4. Not sure if the cold got them or something else. It's been super dry all year and our cover is thinning out.

One of our members collected some samples this weekend to send to Dr. Rollins for evaluation.

Re: Early die off? [Re: rowdydog1] #7084971 02/19/18 08:24 PM
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cattle69 Offline
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You need to go back as soon as you get a rain and try it out again, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.


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Re: Early die off? [Re: rowdydog1] #7084976 02/19/18 08:28 PM
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I’ve noticed a decline in covey size in the last few months. Many of them wound up on a plate with a side of white bread and gravy.

Re: Early die off? [Re: rowdydog1] #7085003 02/19/18 08:55 PM
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quailg Offline
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I hunt in Dimmit county and I agree there has been a huge die off due to the freeze.

Re: Early die off? [Re: rowdydog1] #7085016 02/19/18 09:07 PM
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rowdydog1 Offline OP
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We actually had 3/10ths of rain friday night, I realize that is not much but we had over 75% humidity when we hit the field saturday morning and there was no difference. I assume you were referencing scenting conditions. I sure hope you're right in that they are still there.

Last edited by rowdydog1; 02/19/18 09:29 PM.
Re: Early die off? [Re: rowdydog1] #7085034 02/19/18 09:25 PM
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Saturday no rain 3 coveys the whole day (started at 7:30 to noon and 5 to close). Rained 2 tenths Sunday morning so we started at 10:30 to 2:30 and then went back for an hour (3:30 to 4:30 because had to leave early). Pointed 8 coveys in the morning and 4 in the afternoon same ranch and only difference was the moisture. The week before pointed 17 coveys on Sunday (which we had moisture again that morning). The next two days the guys got 7 coveys total in two days only difference then was the moisture. I hope I am right as well because a die off is no good.


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Re: Early die off? [Re: rowdydog1] #7085048 02/19/18 09:40 PM
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arandy Offline
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You also need to take into consideration that we have killed the dumb ones and what's left are
well educated and in survival mode.

Re: Early die off? [Re: arandy] #7085136 02/19/18 11:03 PM
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Originally Posted By: arandy
You also need to take into consideration that we have killed the dumb ones and what's left are
well educated and in survival mode.


Well articulated.


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


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Re: Early die off? [Re: rowdydog1] #7085177 02/19/18 11:39 PM
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It happens every year. That’s why there’s only 20% survival rate.



Re: Early die off? [Re: rowdydog1] #7087174 02/21/18 02:03 PM
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The old saying "they are were you find them" could apply here. Our birds disappeared on us just down the street from you in Rule TX. Conditions were poor so we had all sorts ideas as to why. We got a little rain last week and my brother went out. He went with a mind set that they are there and he would hit different cover to find them. He started in the usual spots and nothing. Then he went to thick cover and nothing. He didn't know what else to do. We have this old ag field that's ate down pretty bad. It's got strips of cover. He decided to try it. He was almost to the truck and veered off the thick mesquite cover into the wide open ag strips. He found 3 coveys in half the length of the field. They were even holding well so he shot 8 in no time and called it quits.

The birds were out there eating tiny green shoots that were growing out in the open field. Man we never hunt that field. Our place has so much great cover but that's were they wanted to be. All of them.:)

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