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Quail decline article in Pointing Dog Journal
#4093239
03/02/13 12:32 AM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 154
Double 6
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 154 |
A good read on what others are doing on the problem. For the life of me I just see anything working. Wish I could see light at the end of the tunnel. A 2 year period of timely rains will tell the tale on a come back. Pray we get the timely rains.
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Re: Quail decline article in Pointing Dog Journal
[Re: Double 6]
#4093293
03/02/13 12:58 AM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 152
Rockhunter
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 152 |
It is confusing, isn't it. None of the answers seem to make a lot of sense by themselves.
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Re: Quail decline article in Pointing Dog Journal
[Re: Rockhunter]
#4094365
03/02/13 04:11 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091 |
Anecdotally it seems they are making at least some sort of a comeback. Hear stories of some multi-covey days that I haven't heard in the past few years. As you said, hopefully the wet weather will continue.
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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Re: Quail decline article in Pointing Dog Journal
[Re: Nogalus Prairie]
#4100610
03/05/13 01:46 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 339
Creek Henry
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 339 |
I blame it on fireants. When I was a kid we could sit on the ground or pick something up without worrying about fireants. We just didn't have them. Now, forget doing that. You have to be very careful where you sit, stand, or touch when afield. I dont' see how any ground covey animals have NOT been affected by them.
But, if this is a leading cause, I don't know what the cure is. Fireants are not going away any time soon.
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Re: Quail decline article in Pointing Dog Journal
[Re: Creek Henry]
#4101010
03/05/13 03:58 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,486
reeltexan
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,486 |
"Give me an Army of West Point graduates and I'll win a battle... Give me a handful of Texas Aggies and I'll win a war." - General Patton
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Re: Quail decline article in Pointing Dog Journal
[Re: reeltexan]
#4101817
03/05/13 09:13 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,275
cos
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,275 |
Went to a seminiar a few yrs back and they had built a pen with fireant mounds in it and some hen birds actually raised some chicks in the pen, they seem to thinks loss of prime habitat contributed more than anything else. Rain is a must at the right times now.
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Re: Quail decline article in Pointing Dog Journal
[Re: cos]
#4104004
03/06/13 05:18 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 339
Creek Henry
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 339 |
Yeah, 4 or 5 summers of drought in a row cannot be a good thing. I don't even see rail snipes much any more (or whatever those little yellow wing tipped field birds that you can jump shoot are called).
2 summers ago I went dove hunting and there was NO grass for the 1st time in the pastures. Last year was much better though so maybe La Nina or whatever is causing the droughts is finally over.
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Re: Quail decline article in Pointing Dog Journal
[Re: Creek Henry]
#4104305
03/06/13 07:13 PM
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,409
Huntmaster
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,409 |
I think it's sad---but I think it's over.
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Re: Quail decline article in Pointing Dog Journal
[Re: Huntmaster]
#4104565
03/06/13 09:11 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 167
Raymond07
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 167 |
I do not think it is over. I had a better season this year than I have for the past two years. I hunted various counties all across the rolling plains and averaged 3 - 6 coveys a day. Last year these same ranches were producing 1 - 3 coveys a day. With good weather and aggressive management we can have birds. We may never see 20+ covey days again but 10 is not out of the question.
Don't give up on the birds, if the bird hunters quit on them they surely are finished.
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Re: Quail decline article in Pointing Dog Journal
[Re: Raymond07]
#4107842
03/08/13 02:48 AM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 340
texas wetlands
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 340 |
It ain't over. Mother nature fixes a lot of things.
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Re: Quail decline article in Pointing Dog Journal
[Re: texas wetlands]
#4109095
03/08/13 06:01 PM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,591
Pointer
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,591 |
It ain't over. Mother nature fixes a lot of things. You gotta believe! Texas is famous for droughts. We'll see the timely rains one of these days, and just as the thirsty lands bloom in such times, so will the quail populations. They will unless we displace them with "progress". In that case, there will be no use at all for old quail hunters, and bird dogs...we'll all disappear.
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Re: Quail decline article in Pointing Dog Journal
[Re: Pointer]
#4109105
03/08/13 06:06 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 13,203
CCBIRDDOGMAN
Bird Herder
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Bird Herder
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 13,203 |
It ain't over. Mother nature fixes a lot of things. You gotta believe! Texas is famous for droughts. We'll see the timely rains one of these days, and just as the thirsty lands bloom in such times, so will the quail populations. They will unless we displace them with "progress". In that case, there will be no use at all for old quail hunters, and bird dogs...we'll all disappear. I love it too much. even if it's just pen raised birds, I will have a kennel full of dogs as long as my wife & I can still take care of them. I'm just fixing to turn 40, good lord willing, I still have a good 25 years left in me & with the use of a utv, hopefully longer.
Haven't had it in years but never spit any out. I am a sucker for happy endings and strapped cowboys.
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Re: Quail decline article in Pointing Dog Journal
[Re: CCBIRDDOGMAN]
#4109744
03/09/13 12:44 AM
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,409
Huntmaster
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,409 |
I used to run 5 dogs on the ground at once. Rain is just one of the things--what are the total things causing the extinction cannot be pinpointed.
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Re: Quail decline article in Pointing Dog Journal
[Re: texas wetlands]
#4109788
03/09/13 01:05 AM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,350
aeb
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,350 |
It ain't over. Mother nature fixes a lot of things. "The Dodo used to walk around, And take the sun and air. The sun yet warms his native ground – The Dodo is not there! The voice which used to squawk and squeak Is now for ever dumb – Yet may you see his bones and beak All in the Mu-se-um. " Hilaire Belloc 1896
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Re: Quail decline article in Pointing Dog Journal
[Re: aeb]
#4128475
03/18/13 04:07 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 339
Creek Henry
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 339 |
Also, remember, species go extinct all of the time WITHOUT man's interference. That said, more species are gone or on the brink that ever in history because of mankind.
I know what the long term answer is, but not a short term one!
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Re: Quail decline article in Pointing Dog Journal
[Re: texas wetlands]
#4128602
03/18/13 05:15 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,868
Chet
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,868 |
It ain't over. Mother nature fixes a lot of things. Yes She does..........
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Re: Quail decline article in Pointing Dog Journal
[Re: Chet]
#4131503
03/19/13 07:57 PM
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 100
AGaddy
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 100 |
I think they will rebound out west and south. East tx can forget it
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Re: Quail decline article in Pointing Dog Journal
[Re: AGaddy]
#4131715
03/19/13 09:23 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 were two different people at our field trial this past weekend, who had what amounted to 16 to 20 covey days this past season, on 3 different ranches.
Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill
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