Hello All,

I moved to south Texas March of last year from Colorado. Without knowing it, I was apparently lucky to be able to have so many available productive acres of "walk-in" properties that were all within a days drive.

I now find myself with a young dog that should have a lot more experience by now. As my experienced dog is over the hill at 14, I really need to get my youngster some experience. I have hunted many of the Texas public lands in the Rio Grande Valley and not had much success.

With out revealing your sources, does any body have any suggestions? I cannot even find a source of training birds in the Rio Grande Valley. I am really starting to feel like I am living in an "upland desert". Very different attitudes toward dogs here..........

Any help would be much appreciated!

I gave up on finding a reliable source for training birds, so I built a Pigeon coop. As for where to hunt, cant help you there, maybe check Craigslist for day leases? Or find a preserve nearby that does pen raised hunts. Other than that, you will have to either pony up the cash for a lease, or travel.

Welcome, there are some public lands in So. Tex. You'll need to get a Public Land permit, it's $49 added on to your license. West TX has some huge public lands. Am I right when I guess you have a Spinone Italia dog. Forgive the spelling and I probably got the name wrong also

Welcome to the forum. It's tough in Texas.

Yes, I do have Spinone. I do have the permit and have been "hunting" the las Palomas properties with minor success. I have not looked at the west texas properties. Are you referring to the Big Bend and Alpine areas?

I do appreciate your help!

Matador is where I would go. But it's a bit of a drive from S Texas.

If you want to meet there over the Christmas break, I will meet you and show you the little I know about that place. (Just don't kill me or my dogs.) PM me if you are interested.

You should take him up on this Spinone. Y'all will get into some birds.

Here's how I found a grower:

https://www.mynaga.org/


The guy has turned out to be a good friend too.

Wow! Thank you for the offer. I had to look up where the Matador WMA is; it is a long way from McAllen. While I do have some time over the Christmas holidays, Unfortunately I don't have the time to make a ten hour drive.

I really appreciate the offer!

I can't believe people brought up matador before the chapparal. The chap will be open next weekend actually and I plan on being there. Quail numbers have been good this year.

I did see the Chaparral WMA in the map book. I also noticed the very limited dates for access. How do you get access on the "open" dates? Is it crowded to the point that it is not safe? I don't like getting peppered with shot and I certainly don't want my dogs to be shot.

Not sure about the open dates but am pretty sure you could not shoot any quail on those dates. Maybe run your dog but am not sure.

I was there last year and there were about 150 people. I ran into one person the whole weekend I was there. It's too big at 15000 acres and the cover is thick so I wouldn't worry too much.