Another new lease question ---quail.

So, we checked out the new lease by ourselves a couple of weeks ago. We saw blues (mostly pairs) quite often driving around. I love seeing them. I want to set up at least one feeder. I know at least one of the guys, like me, wants to kill a few and grill them at camp. The LO is ok with it, even though he said "you're just gonna f^@# up your deer hunting." He's a real "peach", but I wouldn't have it any other way. We're thinking about designating an area just for quail hunting. 10,000 acres total for our pasture. (I'm not gonna tell you the height of the perimeter fence, 'cause I'm on this place, and I don't wanna hear it!) How would you hunt them and not disturb your deer (too much)?

I wanted to post this here 'cause I'm no bird hunting aficionado and I wanted deer (which is the #1 priority) hunter's opinions.

Thanks.

I would scout to see where you are seeing the most coveys. If it is around feeders or water troughs then I would try to find areas that I could put out cracked corn and whole milo on the roads everytime you go out. I would concentrate around water troughs to start. I do not think the shooting will effect you as much as the loud talking and all the walking to get the Blue Quail. Our best success in La Salle County was to corn/grain the roads for several days. Grain it then hunt it the same day. Drive around to find coveys and watch which direction they run into the brush. We place shooters along the road then had a few guys push them back to the road. Just have to practice good safe shooting and trust each other to shoot above the brush on flushed birds. Road feeder for feeding the deer around blinds to hunt was just as effective on quail. They learn the sound of the ice cream truck the same as deer. You can train them to certain spots just like deer, using milo or cracked corn will keep the deer from cleaning it up to fast also.

The water troughs always worked great for me in Blue country. Especially the ones that have good cover around them.

The water is great around this pasture. (He has to keep his "oodles" of gemsbok watered. I'm thinkin' there's too many, but what do I know.) Lots of low troughs, 3 head dams, and 3 to 4 big steel water tanks.

Thanks for the input.

Got my barrel for a Currie quail feeder that I've always wanted to try. Apparently 30 gallon barrels aren't very common anymore, at least that's what the guy at Dave the Barrel Man in San Antonio said. This one's around 35 gal. I think. Now for a wheel rim to set it on. There's always one laying around somewhere...until you need it.

Years ago had a buddy that had 1100 acres outside Carizo Springs. We would hunt Deer in the morning, go back to camp and make breakfast. Then load up the truck and scatter corn on the roads and senderos and look for dove and quail. Never really needed an evening hunt and we used to see a lot of deer as we were shooting birds.

I think the deer just get used to it.

dove.....

Mix in some milo with the corn in your feeders.