Fall\Winter Rain - Quail

will all this rain do anything for the quail, or is it more the rain we get in the spring that does it for these birds?

I issued life jackets to the Quail on my place this week.

Yes its will help with the carryover. February is often a pretty grim month food wise--the rain will help produce early forbs and if far enough south maybe even a bug hatch or two.
However, the important rains are spring rains. They stimulate nesting and produce insect hatches that chicks need to mature. Quail chicks typically feed on insects the first weeks of their life--w/o the insect hatch birds don't develop as rapidly and are less likely to survive.

Any pics of them putting them on? LOL

But I know what you mean.

Yep, all this winter moisture will prep the ground for spring shoots. If we can continue with at least 2 inches of rain per month & not get sweltering hot this summer then next year should be OK.

We've had too much rain in my area.

This is a report I got today.



"My first two outings this year, walking and following my dogs for about an hour each time, resulted in (first) no quail pointed but two 10-12 bird coveys and 1 six bird covey spotted, (second hunt), zippo, nada. I confess I have a perverse habit of looking for birds initially where I am pretty sure they will not be, on low and wet ground. I guess it is hoping against expectation.
Today, the third hunt, I hunted the high (3 to 5 feet higher is “high” on the coastal prairie) ground for an hour. My dogs pointed and I flushed four coveys in the first 50 minutes. No animals were harmed. Nothing to brag about but plenty to be grateful about. It has been so wet here I have been afraid I would not find quail at all. Here, wet = bad quail year. So I am grateful for the seven coveys I have seen in 3 hunts."

He included this picture.

Mr. Oxner I’m thinking about getting one of them red setters, you have any suggestions on a kennel/breeder? I’m

I forgot the kennel name. I'll get back to you.

Edit. It just came to me. I love them.

https://texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1994546/Red_setter_pup

Bill

You cheated. You are holding that (blue collar) brace dog's leg with a stick! Ha! Ha! .

Very nice! Honestly, have not seen much use of the setters in years. So good to see someone that uses them. Dad loved pairing a Red with a Llew. The Llew was a lot closer working and the Red was more outwards, so they paired up well, but Jeb (the main Red I remember,....if he went left, you better go left 'cause he knew where the birds were.. heh

R