texashuntingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Beatixre, MooseSteed, Trappernewt, casyoo
71987 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
dogcatcher 110,788
bill oxner 91,416
SnakeWrangler 65,416
stxranchman 60,296
Gravytrain 46,950
RKHarm24 44,585
rifleman 44,461
Stub 43,769
Forum Statistics
Forums46
Topics537,021
Posts9,719,489
Members86,987
Most Online25,604
Feb 12th, 2024
Print Thread
Scaled quail in West Texas a quality alternative for hunters #8032879 11/01/20 06:20 PM
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 14,768
jeh7mmmag Online Happy OP
gramps
OP Online Happy
gramps
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 14,768
Remote and a long drive for most but it sure sound good for APH Hunts. Love some Rag Top Hunts.

Quote
[video:youtube]https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/15/00/33/20186872/3/920x1240.jpg[/video]


West Texas is calling for quail hunters.

While hunting prospects for bobwhites are somewhat bleak this season across much of Texas, opportunity abounds for scaled quail under the wide-open skies of the state’s Trans-Pecos region.

And that opportunity is available to all who purchase a $48 annual public hunting permit.

The seemingly endless expanse of the 103,127-acre Black Gap wildlife management area and 23,147-acre Elephant Mountain WMA provides plenty of room for hunting blues (or “cottontops” as they are also sometimes referred) on public land.

“It’s a great alternative,” said John McLaughlin, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s West Texas quail program leader.

more:
https://www.lmtonline.com/texas-spo...native-15688589.php?utm_campaign=hptexas


�Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in,
where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.�
~ John Muir
Re: Scaled quail in West Texas a quality alternative for hunters [Re: jeh7mmmag] #8034653 11/02/20 10:47 PM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 216
machine73 Offline
Woodsman
Offline
Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 216
Doesn't seem like a 23k acre spot would be able to sustain a bird population for all that many hunters.

Re: Scaled quail in West Texas a quality alternative for hunters [Re: machine73] #8039719 11/05/20 10:40 PM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,762
nak Online Sleepy
Veteran Tracker
Online Sleepy
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,762
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?


We all need to practice Whoa more.
Re: Scaled quail in West Texas a quality alternative for hunters [Re: nak] #8039784 11/05/20 11:38 PM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,284
S
scalebuster Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
S
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,284
Originally Posted by nak
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.

Re: Scaled quail in West Texas a quality alternative for hunters [Re: scalebuster] #8040127 11/06/20 03:44 AM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,903
Sniper John Online Happy
gumshoe
Online Happy
gumshoe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,903
Originally Posted by scalebuster
Originally Posted by nak
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.

Re: Scaled quail in West Texas a quality alternative for hunters [Re: jeh7mmmag] #8041492 11/07/20 03:26 PM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,762
nak Online Sleepy
Veteran Tracker
Online Sleepy
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,762
thanks

We're trying to get a trip together


We all need to practice Whoa more.
Re: Scaled quail in West Texas a quality alternative for hunters [Re: jeh7mmmag] #8043133 11/09/20 03:14 AM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 596
C
Cass Online Content
Tracker
Online Content
Tracker
C
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 596

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

Re: Scaled quail in West Texas a quality alternative for hunters [Re: jeh7mmmag] #8046490 11/11/20 03:28 PM
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 100
M
My Time to Hunt Offline
Woodsman
Offline
Woodsman
M
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 100
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.

Re: Scaled quail in West Texas a quality alternative for hunters [Re: nak] #8048977 11/13/20 03:23 AM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,903
Sniper John Online Happy
gumshoe
Online Happy
gumshoe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,903
Originally Posted by nak
thanks

We're trying to get a trip together


Check your pm. I sent you a gift.

Re: Scaled quail in West Texas a quality alternative for hunters [Re: jeh7mmmag] #8050824 11/14/20 10:46 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 251
H
huntinraider Offline
Bird Dog
Offline
Bird Dog
H
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 251
Wish it was open Black Friday weekend. Really has limited openings to hunt...

Re: Scaled quail in West Texas a quality alternative for hunters [Re: jeh7mmmag] #8057322 11/20/20 04:56 AM
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 171
T
Tex68w Offline
Woodsman
Offline
Woodsman
T
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 171
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.

Re: Scaled quail in West Texas a quality alternative for hunters [Re: jeh7mmmag] #8057409 11/20/20 12:59 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 46
A
Alloutdoors Offline
Light Foot
Offline
Light Foot
A
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 46
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.

Re: Scaled quail in West Texas a quality alternative for hunters [Re: jeh7mmmag] #8064832 11/26/20 01:23 AM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,864
B
blanked Offline
Pro Tracker
Offline
Pro Tracker
B
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,864
If theres any green up birds dont need water. Look for good cover in rolling hills

Re: Scaled quail in West Texas a quality alternative for hunters [Re: blanked] #8064866 11/26/20 01:58 AM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
bill oxner Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
Originally Posted by blanked
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.


Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill


[Linked Image]




Re: Scaled quail in West Texas a quality alternative for hunters [Re: Cass] #8065463 11/26/20 04:41 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,780
T
txtrophy85 Online Content
THF Celebrity
Online Content
THF Celebrity
T
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,780
Originally Posted by Cass

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



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


For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
Re: Scaled quail in West Texas a quality alternative for hunters [Re: jeh7mmmag] #8065499 11/26/20 04:57 PM
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,129
B
Biscuit Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
B
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,129
I’d still love to hike that park

Re: Scaled quail in West Texas a quality alternative for hunters [Re: jeh7mmmag] #8106716 12/29/20 03:55 PM
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,331
D
Dave Scott Offline
Pro Tracker
Offline
Pro Tracker
D
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,331
Black Gap also has a fair amount of doves.

Re: Scaled quail in West Texas a quality alternative for hunters [Re: bill oxner] #8107204 12/29/20 11:35 PM
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 240
W
Whiptail Online Content
Woodsman
Online Content
Woodsman
W
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 240
Originally Posted by bill oxner
Originally Posted by blanked
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 actually think this may be quail's competitive advantage over many predators. So setting up watering sites may actually reduce quail numbers.

Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 2004-2024 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3