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Early die off?
#7084960
02/19/18 08:11 PM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 306
rowdydog1
OP
Bird Dog
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OP
Bird Dog
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 306 |
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.
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Re: Early die off?
[Re: rowdydog1]
#7084971
02/19/18 08:24 PM
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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 |
You need to go back as soon as you get a rain and try it out again, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
President and cofounder of magical pellet club.
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Re: Early die off?
[Re: rowdydog1]
#7084976
02/19/18 08:28 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 |
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.
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Re: Early die off?
[Re: rowdydog1]
#7085003
02/19/18 08:55 PM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 81
quailg
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 81 |
I hunt in Dimmit county and I agree there has been a huge die off due to the freeze.
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Re: Early die off?
[Re: rowdydog1]
#7085016
02/19/18 09:07 PM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 306
rowdydog1
OP
Bird Dog
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OP
Bird Dog
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 306 |
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.
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Re: Early die off?
[Re: rowdydog1]
#7085034
02/19/18 09:25 PM
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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 |
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.
President and cofounder of magical pellet club.
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Re: Early die off?
[Re: rowdydog1]
#7085048
02/19/18 09:40 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 392
arandy
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 392 |
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.
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Re: Early die off?
[Re: arandy]
#7085136
02/19/18 11:03 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 |
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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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 16,797
68rustbucket
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 16,797 |
It happens every year. That’s why there’s only 20% survival rate.
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Re: Early die off?
[Re: rowdydog1]
#7087174
02/21/18 02:03 PM
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,091
Wacm
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,091 |
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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