Report From Snyder Texas and Kent County

Hey Guys. I wanted to give an honest report from the Scurry County/Kent County area. I stayed in Snyder.

I am from Georgia and just got back from a week long trip out there. We hunted the same 3,500 acre ranch in Kent County that we did last year. We were averaging 20 coveys per day last year. We hunted the same place very hard and found between 2 and 3 coveys per day. Now, the place was over-grazed because they had a lot of cattle and did not get the rain.

We switched to different places west of Snyder. The best day we had was 5 to 6 coveys per day. These were places that looked really good.

I hope I am not putting a damper on anyone's quail hunting this year. I still had a great time with the dog work and finding 5 to 6 coveys per day. In Georgia, I will be lucking to find 1 or 2 per day.

I just wanted to give ya'll an honest account of what happened on my trip. I am interested in anyone else's comments.

I hope everyone that hunted in this area had better luck than our group.

Thanks, I think we all knew the bird count was down but watching the dog work is half the fun to me. My place is in Kent Co. also and I have only been opening weekend and the cover was really thick.

Thank you. I agree. I had great dog work on the coveys we found.

I hope you have better luck than I did.

Beats the snot out of staying at home.

We stayed and hunted my place in Tom Green county this past two weekends. This last weekend had 1 covey pointed and 3 moved Saturday morning in an hour or so. Hunted Sunday morning for about an hour or little over and had each dog point two coveys each. My daughter fell in cactus Saturday and was wearing thin pants. She took her pants off at that point and hunted in her panties. When you can hunt in December in your underwear before 8:00 am it is to dang hot. We need rain and cold weather and I bet your places that looked real good will end up surprising you or atleast I hope so. I have not hunted hardly any this year more than an hour or two at a time. My dogs are getting better and should be fun as soon as the weather cooperates. My Annie dog finially had the light really turn on this weekend. Up until this weekend we have had three porcupine episodes and two coon killings while quail hunting. She has been hard headed at the first the last two years, but when the light turns on she is a different dog and a quail finding machine. Oh I forgot to mention I think scenting conditions are about as bad as it gets here lately.

I agree Bill, and I hope cattle69 is right. Maybe cold weather and better conditions will help. I am still planning on coming back in February.

I had my 7 month old puppy point and almost attach a porcupine. Luckily, I was right there with here and pulled her off.

I have been hunting that area for over 20 years and have had 3 dogs get into porcupines. It is not a good day when that happens. I always carry a good pair of needle nose pliers and a first aid kit for my dogs because of that.

Most of the time when they point a porcupine, their tail wags instead of locking down. When that happens, I get real suspicious and run right to them.

I hunted a couple counties east of Kent Co Sunday morning. Found 4 covies the first hour, but only one was over 12 birds (last year, they all would have been >12 birds), but still feeling good. Found 1 covey the next hour. Got to around 70 degrees and about 20% humidity and nothing the third hour and we called it quits and decide to go fishing. Cover looked good, about the same as last year. Mule created mini dust storms going down the road, very dry and cruddy scenting conditions. Will be better after Xmas, but still thinking that lease is going to be down 40-50% from last year.

Here is one for Chet

A few of mine. Hard to see at a distance.

I love it our there and will be back in February. Good luck to you all!

I've hunted 10 days in Kent Co. and guide for a living and am finding 10 to 15 coveys a day without rehunting the same coveys. If I went back to places I know birds are I could do more but the ranch I hunt on is big and I'm not trying to wear out the coveys. Coveys are averaging 10 to 14 birds. Same place I was doing 30 to 40 coveys if need be (cause of poor shooters) a day last year. It's tough in that area but their are still enough birds to want to go hunt it.

Sadie still looking great, love that little gyp.

I am glad to hear that! Awesome!

jmoss454. Please contact me if you will guide in February. I have 2 guys interested in going again for 2 or 3 days. I want to hunt again for a week out there.

How do I PM you?

Call or text me 940-867-6743

Jmoss454. I just figured it out and sent you a PM. Thanks

Best of luck when you come back!