Yesterday and this morning were our first trip this year to a ranch near Benavides where we often handle dogs. The ranch is groomed specifically for quail, and the pastures seemed in vastly better shape than last year. We found and pointed 19 coveys between 8 am yesterday, and just after 1:00 pm. Then, starting around 4:00 pm, we found another 5 coveys before we quit hunting at 5:15 pm. Yesterday was cool and damp, and this morning was a different day. we found seven coveys before noon

Bill can tell you, in times past, that might be a pretty ho-hum weekend, but nowadays, well, I think one of the ranch's guests put it best by saying,
"It was stellar!"

BTW: I am hearing reports of quail numbers down U.S. 77 near the Rio Grande Valley, described as "buttloads of birds". No, they are not accessable to the general public, but it does illustrate that the birds are on the rebound. All the research in the world doesn't seem to do what rains at the proper time does.

Glad you asked. I was on a lease just east of Benavides for three years, in the late 80s. It was just south of Freer on hwy 16. I was the only bird dogger on the lease. I was down to only my pointer named Ginger the first year. We had some great hunts there our first two years. I've written several stories about our hunts, including the one about the young guys who went out head lighting.

The third year I went back and the ranch looked like a beach with a few broom weeds sticking up.

Someone reply and I'll tell you another story about Casey, my next door neighbor's dog.

WOW!! I feel lucky if we find 2 covies in a days hunt and get to work a few singles! Glad to hear that they're rebounding in places though! Hopefully that trend continues throughout the state.

I hunted with a pointer man a few weeks ago who reported that he found 20 coveys one morning on his lease in the same general area. Another friend reported no bird contact at all on a morning run on the Jones ranch which is in the general area.

I think it was in 1987 when I was on the lease down there. Bubba and I left the camp house with Ginger and his female pointer named Casey. Ginger was to the front but Casey got behind. We went over a ridge and lost Casey. We'd look back and see her head, and then she would disappear. This happened several times. We finally got to the top of the hill and Casey was pointed. She had been coming to get us and going back to point the covey.

I was in Roma, Tx with my father at his lease, and we saw a couple of "Buttloads" of quail. We weren't hunting them, but like I said, they were all over the place.There were more of the (blue) scale kind.

That surprises me about all blue quail in that area. Some of the best bobwhite country in the world was just east of there before the big decline.

Was down south of Hebbronville this past weekend. We consistantly found birds hanging out near the heavy brush. More open areas of the ranch simply seemed barren as far as birds were concerned.

I was walking with the dogs, and Pete began lagging behind. I was watching on the GPS as he would stop, then move a little and stop for a while again. He was now about 375 yards behind. Sometimes moving closer, but refusing to leave the general area he was in. (Pete normally hunts to the front)
I started back to the dog truck which was following me, and told them, "Lets go back to Pete. He is on birds."
As we approached, thru the brush, we could make out his stately black head held high and his 12:00 poker straight white tail. He quite properly remained in this state of suspended animation until we flushed the covey. There were other points and flushes that day, but this one stands out in my mind, and it is the one the hunters were talking about when they left the ranch.

Pete and PeeWee both had a great morning, the boys (I am talking dogs) seemed to outdo the girls on this particular day. The girls will have their day soon enough!

Someone on this forum ask why use a Garmin. I think a Garmin find is one of the most exciting.

Watching them skid to a stop is also in the running for most exciting, as well as caught in midstride.

Speaking of memorable points, Bill, your post brings to mind a long ago dropped bird hunt where we were heading for the truck just about sundown. A young Tess (one of my first pointers, if you'll remember), loped easily back and forth as she hunted in front of us in her seemingly tireless manner. Just as she passed a prickly pear growing on the fenceline we were skirting, she froze into a horseshoe. What I like to call a pretzel point. The birds were flushed and they sailed away directly into the setting sun. I don't recall if after the shot one fell or not. It's not important anyway. Its the memories of the dogs and their deeds that matter.

Sure sounds like its been a good year for quail in Texas.
I just hope we continue to get the rainfall at the right times.