I had a group of guys planning on going on a quail hunt in the Zapata area next week. We spoke with the guide the first week of January and he said there were so many quail he was trying not to step on them. We touched base with him yesterday to confirm everything and he said the quail had all but disappeared.

Have any of you that might have been down close to that area seen something similar? What gives here? Was there a significant weather even that could've wiped out large numbers of birds?

They may have moved off the road and into heavy brush. Deer hunters probably done feeding the roads, so birds hit the brush looking for feed and protection fro raptors. Or the late season die off has started. It’s my understanding that only 20% survive til the next year.

Numbers don't lie but I would hate to shoot a late season hen that could have the one that double clutched the next year.

One land owner down there told me that late last week, the birds got pushed into the brush by the cold snap and 60mph winds that blew for a day. That his normal 3 house coveys disappeared for four days, and the smallest one was finally around last Sat. That could hold water, not sure

Thanks for the responses! We're going to go ahead and go and see what happens. I'll let you all know how it turns out. Even if we strike out, a day in the field is always better than a day in the office!

We are a bit north of you---our birds pretty much disappear in cold wet weather and don't come out much until the sun shines. Basically they appear to be going from roost to loafing spots in the morning with little or no feeding. If it is really cold and wet they may not move until 4 - 5 pm. If it is a fairly open lease you may be able to spot loafing spots. If it is brushy it is almost like one huge loafing station and they are really hard to find.

U been had

Curious to hear what happened.

One thing, just from getting burned a couple of times in the past when you are trying to day lease in S Texas, is you really have to probe on how much acreage is effectively huntable with dogs. Talking anywhere south of Beeville through La Pryor areas. If they have drone footage or pics, that is the best. Google earth imagery can be a little misleading because it can be 4+ years old down there, but is helpful if you can get cross roads or markers to find it on Earth. Asking how much acreage can you drive a mule or ranger through is another way to sort it, as that takes the relativity out of what is dog country vs what is not.

The challenge down there is brushy stuff wants to grow a lot and everywhere, and if they aren't mechanically clearing every four years or have sprayed in the past etc its going to be in-penetrable brush.

Just some tips coming from the school of hard knocks

Only one successful day hunt out of several trips.

Sounds like a variation of the standard guide answer, "You shoulda been here yesterday."

Or shoulda stayed another day.

Yeah I had that one a couple of seasons ago in West Texas...let out a couple of young pups in the afternoon after y'all left, and we found 7 coveys in the afternoon. Yeah right

Had about as good a day hunt as a man could want a few years ago with DWQ. Think it was down around Ballinger

That was epic, might even be video proof of the epicness floating around out there in the innerweb somewhere even. About half of the video that is on Phantom Kennels home page is from one day of that two day hunt, and the other half was a few weeks later north of Big Spring. Those were the days when those areas had a huntable bird crop.

When ever I need a boost to go mess with a pup I take a look at that video. It will make you want to oil the scatter gun.

Still waiting to hear what happened.

31 coveys yesterday in Jim Hogg/Duval Co.
Birds are still around.

I was going hunting with my good friend Ron Paschal on his grandmothers ranch. She told Ron that he should just get his own ranch if he liked hunting so much.

Now that’s funny Bill!
I could hear my granny spouting off something like that. She always spoke her mind.

We went to McMullen County last week and found around 40+- covies in 3 days. The place we hunt has strips of buffa grass for grazing and then strips of the TX brush/briars. I have never done this before in my life, We found 7 covies between 11am and 12:30 the first day. No rain since last July.

Did you hunt from a truck, or have to walk only?

Both. The 7covies were walked. I usually have decent dogs, but the birds with the no rain, did not get pointed. We found 14 covies the first day. When they go to the brush, you are not getting them out. I am thinking of getting an English cocker to go along with the pointers.

68Rustbucket, Check your pm's