Texas quail hunt

[Bodcau boy]

I got invited to go on a quail hunt near Olney Texas. Just got back Sunday. The fellow who took me had 5 good dogs and we found about 20 coveys. We picked up plenty of birds. It was my first good quail hunt in over 25 years and if I ever had a better time hunting, I don't remember it. I know there are others who miss the bobwhite as I do. It was like being a kid again. If you ever get the chance to hunt out there, don't pass it up. It is rough country but quail aplenty. I also saw more turkey, cottontails, and jackrabbits than I ever saw and coyotes were everywhere. We must have seen a couple of dozen and they howled from 5PM till 9AM. Very few deer though.

[cpeuban]

Bod,
Where's Olney?

[MountainBuck]

It's about half way between Ft. Worth and Lubbock. Guess you could call it in north central Texas.

[Bodcau boy]

Chris, Olney is due south of Wichita Falls, 40 or 50 miles. Sorry about the late reply, I've been working.

[Cutter]

i have been out thay way to bird hunt myself. We were around the Rotan (sp?), Memphis and Turkey areas south of Witchita Falls. Sure is some desolate, wide open, ugly country. What I remember the most about it is the silence. Quietest place I have ever been. Quail sure do like it though. Always had good hunts.

[Bodcau boy]

Another thing that jumps out at you besides the quietness and desolation is the number of predators. More hawks, coyotes, coons, and rattlesnakes than I ever saw anywhere. Yet birds that nest on the ground are extremely abundant. God really does know what he is doing. I did not know such a place still existed. I am going to look at some pointing dogs tomorrow!

[CDay]

We did have alot of quail here around the house. There was 80 arces that had been allowed to grow up in weeds for three years. This allowed a good nesting area. Last fall they mowed it all down and tilled it under to plant wheat. Since they did that there was not enough cover to go to I think the coyotes have wiped them out.

[AltheimerCastaway]

We used to have a kennel full of bird dogs. There's nothing like a covey rise. We had a lease out at Dickens, Texas and another at Haskell. In the general area that you're talking about. I haven't been quail hunting in about 8 years but I would have to say that it is my favorite type of hunting. My dad, brother, and I have spent many hours afield working big-running pointers and chasing singles and coveys across the horizon. If you've never been, you're missing out. Even though the quail isn't up in numbers, it's one of the funnest hunts you can go on.

[Bodcau boy]

I doubt many can remember it but not that many years ago the bobwhite quail was more widely hunted than was the whitetail deer in the state of Arkansas. It is sad to think the generation coming on may never even hear a quail whistle. Maybe someday the AG&FC will attempt to identify the true reason of the little birds decline and in some way attempt to reestablish quail in parts of Arkansas that are suitable. In my lifetime I have witnessed two "near miracles" performed with the AG&FC leading the way, that being the restoration of the whitetail deer and the turkey, to virtually all of Arkansas. We now have both where people thought they could not survive in times past. Nothing is impossible when resources and attitudes get together. If given the chance, many land owners, large and small, would dedicate their property as quail management land. If such a program ever were to exist, I would be among the first to sign up. I would much rather see my tax money spent on quail restoration than elk restoration. I think a vast majority of Arkansans would agree with me. All we need is a governor who is/was a bird hunter! I love to deer hunt, but I can remember a classy point and covey rise of many years past more vividly than last years deer kills.

[deerhunter]

Try rabbit hunting and have a covey of quail explode out from under you,your heart will all but jump out of your chest. :eek:

[Rattle-m-up™]

i'll second you on that one!!! :eek:

[CDay]

I have two large coveys on a ditch i hunt and I have left them alone hoping they would populate more and expand into different areas. I noticed last season deerhunting I seen several quail up in Indiana. I still enjoy the rush when a covey busts out.

[cpeuban]

I thought that place was fairly close to Wichita Falls. My brother lives just south of Wichita Falls and his father-in-law has several thousand acres. They had several good quail hunts last season. Lot of birds around that region.