Anyone else been quail hunting?
Despite the warm temps during the hunts, we’ve been doing quite well. Hunt times are from when the dogs are released until we pick the last brace up at the end of the hunt.
Hunts last anywhere from 2 - 2.5hrs. The last 2 hunts, yesterday afternoon and this morning, we pushed 13 coveys and 12 coveys respectively. Shot into 8 and 7 respectively. Total of 9 birds killed with 1 cripple. We count feathers or a foot drop as a cripple.
We can’t seem to get the right weather pattern for the weekend hunts. Next weekend will be our first “cold” weather hunt and I’m really hoping numbers climb.
And for the record, this is a private wild bird plantation. This place is 2500ac and extensively managed for quail. I’m lucky enough just to help out whether it’s feeding dogs and cleaning kennels, burning, or helping out on the quail hunts. I take off every Friday the month of January and February just for this purpose. Of course it has its benefits besides extra money, outstanding hunting and fishing opportunities and of course trapping.
Just curious if anyone else is seeing good numbers on the places they trap.

Very few quail here. Have had a covey of about 8 to 12 for several years but have not seen them this year. Will not shoot them. I do make brush piles keep some bare dirt and have plenty of cover. But there is only so much you can do on 96 acres.

No more birds here

Not heard a wild bird here in 25 or 30 years

They seem to be making a comeback around here. Never has been huge numbers, but there are some around.

Jumped a covey last year. Hadn't done that in years.

Same here. 40 years ago, could find 10 or 12 coveys in a morning. Now, I don't think there's 12 wild quail in the county.

Still a few birds in nw Mississippi, see to be up a little this yeat

We had a decent population all through 70's, then they just disappeared...

I just checked the pictures on my phone of when I had seen a pair of quail on my farm it was May 23 this year. That was the first i personally have seen since 2001. In September I jumped 6 in my garden I was pumped to even see that small of a covey. In the 70s this area would have 8 to 12 coveys.

Our quail starting to get a little fat on them!

Almost non existent anymore here

They've definitely made a slight comeback down here in past couple years....even in unmanaged piney woods.

Swamp, I and the landowners I trap for have noticed an increase over the last couple of years. One even went quail hunting on his property last year and got up 8 coveys on 400ac, and not all of that is “quail woods.”
At first they were more interested in coyotes and laughing about all the coons and possums. Now they send me pics of coons and possums and not big critters. They’ve seen the benefit and proof of trapping nest raiders. They all understand you won’t ever catch them all, but catching them before and during nesting season will improve numbers along with good habitat.

Very few in NC that aren’t on managed land. Might be some in the Sandhills.