I've owned ranches in Big Lake since 2004. In the last 13 years I've seen populations go up and down. For whatever reasons, even when the rest of the nation is suffering through quail "droughts", Big Lake still has huntable populations.

This isn't the best year, but the quail are still around. While others are seeing fewer quail this year than last, there is no discernable difference in our populations.

Is that a mix or just scaled quail??

Mostly blues.

Skillet shot

Saw lots of Blues around Gail a couple of weeks ago.

There used to be tons of blues up on Rocker B and ATA.

I'm on a place up SW of Sterling City and the place is covered up with Blues and Bobs.

Those blues sure are pretty.

Shot this with my Nikon a few weeks ago. Gorgeous birds.

Nice pic.

nice pic, thanks for sharing

They look twice the size of bobwhites until they are skinned.

Yep. After cleaned you can’t tell the difference

This is a good time to repeat this.


[quote=bill oxner]I start by cutting off the wings and lower legs. It's important to leave the head attached.


There you have a whole skinned quail.

Next, you pull the leg over the back, and pull the legs off one at a time. It's best to pull from the front to the back.



Here you have a whole quail with the legs and thighs removed and in the pan.




You could see that I had the quail by the head with my right hand. Just pull the head and neck off and the intestines come with it.. You can see that I have the breast in one hand and the head with the backbone and guts in the other hand. Notice that my hands are still clean




I've done them every other way that's known, but this has always worked best for me. I can do them as fast as a helper can clip the wings and feet.

Thanks Bill if I ever find anymore quail I will have to give that a try

Will put dogs on the ground on my lease east of big lake next week. Hoping to find some birds !

Post up some pictures.

Got back from Big Lake last night. It was cold and wet, Catchdog and myself braved the ice and frigid temps Wednesday afternoon through yesterday afternoon. We didn't find any coveys Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning til after the ice melted. Catchdog brought 3 young up and comers and 1 veteran. I brought my veteran Britt and the 2 yo pointer. We ended up finding 11 coveys and took 6 birds. Thought I'd share some pics.

Good pics, tough trip.

My annual trip to SE New Mexico was The same way. Last year we found a covey every 10 minutes, this year we found a covey every hour. Last year the blues were stacked up 40-50 in a covey. This year they were 20 bird per covey when we got on one. I love hunting blues, but they aren’t much fun unless there are a lot of them.

sorry about sideways pics. They were all straight when taken and saved on computer. Cant load straight from device anymore for some reason.

This time of year always reminds me of the best hunt I’ve ever been on. When I wa a senior in high school a buddy and I had some fine pointers. Christmas morning, we Took our two best dogs. We hunted 2 sections south of ODESSA that morning, another buddy of ours lived on. We killed 108 blues by 10:00 AM, and ran out of beer. That was a good hunt. I’m afraid we’ll never see that good of hunting again.

68Rustbucket, Thank you again for the invite. Watching them pups coming along is what its all about, of course the birds in the freezer were icing on the cake. As a young man still wet behind the ears to bird dogs, I really appreciate the conversation and knowledge that you shared and that is something I will always keep with me.... Oh yea, when ice covers everything, stay at camp, its too damn cold!