Remote and a long drive for most but it sure sound good for APH Hunts. Love some Rag Top Hunts.

Doesn't seem like a 23k acre spot would be able to sustain a bird population for all that many hunters.

Has anyone hunted Black Gap before. I'm willing to drive down and run the dogs for a couple of days, but 100K+ acres...where do you start looking?

I’d get a map and find the water holes.make a round when you get to the water with the dogs. Other than that Drive the roads and look for bird, when you see a covey shoot them on the ground and bust them up even if they are too far to kill. Watch them down and hope they don’t go down in a group. Throw the dogs out and get up there quick when they go on point. With blues it’s all about killing bird, kill them any way you can.The dogs are just there to help. You’ll get good dog work if you can bust a covey in an area with enough cover for bird to hold. Keep your ears open in the morning, stop and listen in spots with good cover. If you hear bird throw the dogs out and point them in the right direction. Don’t be afraid to run. It’s not a leisurely hunt. You will do much better if you take a couple of buddy’s with you that can run.

Solid advice. I will add on hitting the guzzlers, don't drive right up to them. You will not be the first to have pressured those birds. The birds will start running the moment they see/hear your truck, so instead stop short and walk in with the dogs on each one. Your dogs will need boots and take a couple extra sets. It's all rock and cactus. Vault toilet at the river camp will be FULL of black widows. Take a full can of bug spray to fog that thing if you camp there.

thanks

We're trying to get a trip together

I've hiked all over Big Bend NP in the area just west of Black Gap and haven't ever seen any quail. I keep reading that there are quail in the WMA though. Maybe the condition are better there than in Big Bend NP.

It's a beautiful area though and a hunt there sounds like a lot of fun. I usually go to Big Bend in January or February. Bring your own shade and don't plan to run the dogs too long. Even in the winter the afternoons get very hot in lower areas.

Cass

Seeing some in Mitchell county. Waiting for the snakes to den up. Was there deer hunting this weekend, seen 1 rattlesnake. Buddy seen it crossing road a camp at dark. He wasnt able to kill it. To fast for him i guess. B Careful out there.

Check your pm. I sent you a gift.

Wish it was open Black Friday weekend. Really has limited openings to hunt...

Might consider this in February. We spend lots of time in both parks every year and I have never seen single quail so I have my doubts.

My boys got drawn for a youth javalina hunt at Black Gap years ago. We had a ball down there and I've always wanted to go back. Love that country. As soon as i get a deer in the freezer, prob head there, New Mexico or AZ. Or all the above! Theres got to be some birds somewhere.

If theres any green up birds dont need water. Look for good cover in rolling hills

Yep. I've seen bobwhite quail survive without drinking water.

I've spent time in Big Bend and didn't see a single animal larger than a jackrabbit save for 1 pack of Javelina near the river. I didn't spend any time up in the Chisos mountains but I would assume thats where the animals would be


The rest of the park was devoid of any life. Didn't see a Quail bird one

I’d still love to hike that park

Black Gap also has a fair amount of doves.

I actually think this may be quail's competitive advantage over many predators. So setting up watering sites may actually reduce quail numbers.