In and around Abilene, the quail population is better than last year, but in all honesty, ranch owners and people looking are having a heck of a time determining just how good or poor it is. Due to the extremely wet conditions this year, there is unbelievable cover for the birds and you know they are there, but seeing and determining the amount of birds is not easy. If you plan to visit anywhere close to Abilene for the quail season opening then be prepared for heavy, heavy vegetation. In addition, there has not been any cool weather so far, so if you bring dogs bring lots and lots of water for them.

A friend had a pointer hit in the face by a rattlesnake at the first of dove season, so any consideration of using a bird dog must be accompanied with the thoughts that there are plenty of snakes and they have not even thought about going into hibernation.

Just wanted to give you an update with less than two weeks before the opener for quail. We need some cooler weather for sure to make it bearable for the opener.

Feel free to give reports on range conditions or availability of birds if you like on this thread.

Regards,
Mud-Dabber

Report from the owner of my quail lease property says the place is "infested" with quail and turkey both. It is about 30 miles north of San Angelo (Coke County).

Everone needs to be very aware of the snakes. Saw 2 about 40 yards apart last time I was out checking feeders.This was in Shackelford County.

amen to all the above

A hunting guide over in the Albany/Breckenridge area I know, reported seeing considerably more birds around his deer feeders than last year. Odd thing, he and others are reporting many of the quail seen are still chicks, with some maybe two weeks old. Looks like there may be alot of undersized birds right now.

Rancher friend in Stamford had his cow dog hit in the lip last Friday by a rattlebug. Dog had already had 3 snake shots and swelled some, but was out of the vets within 36 hours. Vet said it looked like the dog did not get a full dose of the rattlesnake. Second person I know that has had a dog struck by a snake after the rattlesnake antivenom had been administered over the last two years. Vet is a big believer.

Good Hunting,
Mud-Dabber

Our ranch is between Abilene and Coleman and we have more bookings this quail season than ever before and we've got a very good bird crop. And speaking of birds have you die hard dove hunting guys noticed the size of the doves you are killing? JMHO, I think we had a late hatch and now we've got young birds (smaller in size)

Quote:

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It is about 30 miles north of San Angelo

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I'm about an hour north of you, and we're covered up. Gonna be a good year.

Well last time I was at the pitchfork, they were everywhere. I probably got at least 2 or 3 in my grill guard. Thank God Ive only seen one rattlebug this year so far. The price of that antivenom is crazy and having to get two or three doses, that could hurt the pocket book real quick!

I was on a quail survey with dogs saturday in fisher county, all dogs had a real hard time finding birds even though we know the population is good. The cover most places is so good that we will not know what is there until a hard freeze and some moisture. Snake should be moving since we have had some cool weather in North Texas. Be careful and do not get down on your dogs if they do not handle the birds very well.

10/25/07

Abilene area and north
Broom weeds to 5 feet tall and heavy Johnson grass. Winds this week brought in alot of sand and dusty conditions for dog work. Low humidity except from sunrize to 10:00 A.M. or so. (Not much moisture for good dog work) Quail are more numerous than last year, but it does not appear to be a bumper crop over most of the area as reported by most ranchers. Many covies of birds are half grown from late hatches.

West of Abilene and farm areas to the West

Not as much cover as Abilene area and the birds are mostly mature in the Colorado City and Roscoe areas. Tons of grass burrs and goatheads in the sandy areas. Looks like Colorado City area could be a hot spot for bobwhites.

Snakes are out and about, but moving slower due to cooler temps. Not aware of any areas that have had a killing frost, so watch for snakes while picking up the birds and please utmost caution on your hunting dog.

Good Hunting, I am headed west to the New Mexico/Texas line around Seminole and Plains, where there are plenty of Bobs and Blues in the area, just not a bumper crop it appears.

Ron, Mud-Dabber

I have been out bow hunting around Shamrock and up around wheeler and I haven't seen a quail yet. I've heard a few but I haven't seen a bird yet and I usually have lots of them. I'm pretty worried about it. I like to hunt them a little after deer season but I don't think I have any to hunt.

South Texas Update:
While dove hunting on my friends ranch in South Texas (Cotulla area) we flushed fifteen good covies 10+ birds, just driving the perimeter alone (1200 acres) Can't image how many are actually in all the thick stuff. Should be good down there after deer season when all the vegetation dies back.

Seminole and Andrews area:
Saw multiple covies of blues and bobs. Brush was thick as it has ever been in that area plus sandhill areas. Over 25 inches of rain in most of the area this year. Limit of birds both Saturday and this morning. Dog work over by 10:00 a.m. or so due to dry and dusty conditions.

Weather was perfect for the hunter, would have been ok if it was cooler for the dogs. Calm wind and 36 degees to start with then warming throughout the day.

Regards,
Mud

What size where the birds?

The very first covey of bobwhites, I shot the first bird. A covey of 18 plus/minus. The bobwhite was extremely small, so we quit shooting and did not hunt any singles. When cleaned the bob was perhaps 3/4 grown. The rest of the two days the blues and bobs were full grown and in exceptional shape with full craws of seeds and in one spot we shot several that had been feeding in a still green alfapha field as their craws were full of green, weedy growth. Grass burrs were absoltely horrible and were growing as tall as your waste in places. Dogs were booted, but a Brit spaniel had a coat full.

Birds overall were more full grown than those observed in the Abilene area overall.

Driving between Snyder and Lamesa, I saw several bird hunting groups at the roadside park near Gail prior to sunrize getting ready to go pop a cap. Don't know if they visit this forum or not, but there were quite a few.

Regards,
Ron

We hunted near Albany. Air temp 39 at start, probably 72 by afternoon. Air very dry with almost no wind early and picking up to about 12-15 / North, after lunch. Broom weed and grass higher than I've seen in years. Pretty tough conditions. We found four covies containing 8-12 birds each. A big improvement from last year. The dogs had a tough time but managed to keep it interesting. Had numerous hard points on spots where apparently birds had just been. Also shot a few very large dove that got a little too close to the muzzle. Good day, had a great time.

Any snakes guys?

Whoa
Along the NM/TX border where I hunted, we did not see any snakes. I killed a rattler on Friday outside Coleman on a county road in the afternoon (small one).

Mud-Dabber

Turkey and Quail are both looking well here this year! But yes the rattlesnakes are really moving.

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no snakes, but the old boy on the place says he's killed 38 in the last 2 years..........gulp!

Stamford Tx
New dog,1st point on wild birds, big covey 25+- , caught them right off the roost,after that zip untill the afternoon,5 covey's road hunting (legal) between 5:00-dark
Two man limit. We sat in the middle of the road & watched 22 quail cross the road one at a time. I wish I had video of it. It was beautiful. Mucho cover. Hard on dogs. Shot about 20 dove & showed down on dove and quail Sat. night. Coyotes howling, cold Bud Lt.,fire roaring... life is good!
Thank You Lord

Showed is supposed to be chowed

I'm sorry I can't spell when I'm ineb??/ inebreate..., drunk!

Talked to a guide client of ours and they moved 37 covies on opening day around Laredo. It was not his property that he guides on but another place he was at. On his property, they moved 35 covies in 3.5 hours. I'd say it will be a good year in South Texas!!!