We didn't take much advantage of our opportunities, work again interfering with life. This was a surprisingly decent quail year and, if it will just rain or snow a bit in the next couple of months and we get a normal monsoon in the summer, next year might be pretty good. That said, my folks and sister came out for an early 76th weekend for Dad and only bumped three coveys in two days and a whole lot of miles. The first of those was gratifyingly large, well over 20 birds, but took off down a thirty mile an hour tailwind and flew way, way out there. We pursued nonetheless but never found them.
The second day of our hunt, the weather went from 70 degrees with a thirty mile an hour wind to 28 degrees and overcast, all day long. One of the coveys we ran into flushed at 200 yards and flew another six, then flushed wild a second time and just about went out of sight. Late season, tough hunting.
A month ago, back around the end of duck season, A and I headed north up to our old stomping grounds on the Rio Bravo and got together with friend Matt for a weekend of duck hunting. The first day didn't go real well, as we hadn't been out scouting. We found a spot in the dark where a half dozen mallards were roosting in a nook of the current, but ducks passing over once light came were few and not interested in our spot. The flood last September took out a lot of sediment and the river isn't as spread out as it has been in other years, making it a little harder to find a setup. Our second day, we had a much better place and had ducks trying to land as we were putting out the decoys.
It wasn't perfect, though, and several big bunches of mallards gave us hard looks and circled, but wouldn't commit. A pair of widgeon tried to land in the dekes- those we just flat missed. At the end of the day, we had a few birds and quite a bit of fun.
So, now the big game proclamation is out and the deadline to apply for next fall's hunts is fast approaching. Time to sit down with a calendar, a map, and the odds from last year's draw to try to figure out how to get the best out of a little time afield and maybe put some meat in the freezer.
6 comments:
Still almost frighteningly few here, but few "seed" and looking...
Long time till fall. Nasty winter up here. I am looking forward to spring at this point. Lots of time for cooking though.
Glad you got out a few times
Steve,
As dry as this winter is turning out, I really have to work to maintain an optimistic outlook for next year.
Dan,
Send some of that cold and moisture down here. 80 F and sunny today.
We had a surprisingly good quail year here locally, and if we can just get a little rain this spring and not have oven temps this summer, I will be very excited about next fall. I went out the last day of the season and did my part to insure that we'll have a lot of carryover birds next year.
Unfortunately, though, it's been a really dry late winter, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed...
Thank you sir and may I have another....season of chasing the horizon!
Chad,
Hope you get all get enough wet to have that carry over. It's been a while since there's been a good quail year.
Gary,
May we all- good to see you back!
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