How was it?

We found 7 coveys by around 10:30. The one crop we opened was loaded with goat weed seed. I think they were done feeding by 9:00.

Similar experience... large coveys holding large birds.

they have been hitting the dove/goat weed hard.

Gonna give it a go tomorrow evening and see what we can put together

Any reports from the rolling plains?

86 degrees is too hot for me and my pups!

We passed on the opener because of temps.

We're headed to Cottle County next weekend.
Supposed to have lows in the low 40s and a high around 70.

I will post something afterwards.

I have a head cold from hell, so I didn't chase any birds.

Our season doesn't start till Nov. 8th (Oklahoma) we aren't going for our first hunt till the second weekend.

When we.killed 5 rattlers in camp during dove season 3 weeks ago, I determined that it needed to get a lot colder before I show up with a truck load of dogs. And I mean a lot colder!

I refuse to hunt in shorts.

Got this from a friend with some great pictures.

"Huge coveys but it was hot and the seasoned dogs wore out quick. Ran the 4 pups just for experience but only one really clicked. If our shooting had been better we'd have had a good meal lol."

Did not get to go out at all this weekend. Gonna go to some public hunting lands I scouted on Thursday and to a private ranch on Friday.

me too, never again.

It was real hot @ 90deg. Saturday afternoon, my dogs found 4 coveys around 15-20 birds each, but I only managed 4 birds in the bag. Sunday morning was much better; cooler and a little dew on the ground. Clyde and Evie pointed out 4 coveys and I managed to shoot a little better getting six.

What general area did you hunt? I hunted in Wharton county.

A few miles north of Burr, TX

Have a friend that hunted rolling plans north of rotan sat, sun, mon, tues. 2 1/2 hours each morning 5 coveys total 9 birds or less. No shooting. good dog work.

We arrived at our spot in Wheeler County Saturday morning just before sun up. Temp was 34 degrees, light southerly wind.
This was a completely new field to us but in the first two and a half hours we pushed six coveys, the smallest contained about 12 birds the largest well over 20.
Every covey was roosting under a small shin oak tree and they were located near a small creek that ran through the property. We also found numerous roosts in open areas of blue stem, but no birds in any of those areas.

The action slowed as conditions turned more windy and the little moisture we had began to dry off.

After lunch we hit another spot for a couple of passes but by then winds were in the 20 mph range and scenting was dicey at best.

I cannot express how thrilling it was to once again be on wild birds in the great Lone Star state.
As Bill said "there is a God".

Great, I have heard other good reports for area east of Amarillo and down to Childress.

Did my normal early season "I know its too hot and green but cant stand it trip to Young County" (throw in steady 16mph winds on Sunday for this years hunt). Hunted 8am to 10:45 and had three coveys pointed. Two were over 15 birds, one about 8 birds. Few pics for you Chet of Sadie. Cover was thicker out there than it has been in 5 or 6 years. Saw a lot more roosts than in the past, but thick green cover and wind might have held us back. Had Mrs. danceswithquail with me and she said walking sucks compared to riding on mule after she got knicked with a prickly pear hidden in the grass

Your backgrounds would make a beautiful painting without the great picture of your bird dog. I'd love to see what Cowan could have done with a composite of your pictures. Thanks for posting.

Well she looks good and apparently hasn't forgot how to use the wind.


In that first pic is someone back in the brush (upper left) backing her? or are my old eyes making stuff up again.

No, my wife videoed that first covey rise and my older male pointer came in when they relocated and backed her at the end when she locked up the second time right before they took off (didnt know it until I saw the video). Trying to get them in shape for KS Pheasant hunt the weekend before Thanksgiving - first time to chase ditch parrots in three years, pumped about that trip. Our group has gotten pretty dog lean, we have 3 pointers, 2 GSPs and one lab total and two of the pointing dogs have some health issues. The big logistics hurdle five years ago was how to carry all 10 dogs up, not anymore.

#Our group has gotten pretty dog lean, we have 3 pointers, 2 GSPs and one lab total and two of the pointing dogs have some health issues. The big logistics hurdle five years ago was how to carry all 10 dogs up, not anymore."
I know the feeling as I have gone from 7 dogs to 3 dogs in the last 2 years.

Found more birds this morning in an area south west of Corpus Christi, than we have by hunting for several days at a time, the past three years in a row. Timely rainfall has truly made a difference.

Here is hoping all of you are looking at full game bags this season!

As my ole Daddy used to say, "It's been a long dry spell!"

Looking for advise, I have not hunted TX in 4 years because of the quail crash due to the drought, all my contacts and hunts have been in the rolling plains, well sadly one of my friends died of a heart attack last year and another has COPD very bad and can no longer scout and outfit. So I'm looking around for new ground, my wife has relatives in Edna, and Victoria, and Yoakum a couple of cousins are deer hunters and might do a little scouting for quail for me. Can anyone suggest which of these 3 areas might have huntable numbers.I'm 1000 miles away and need all the advise I can get. Thanks in advance!!

South of Victoria is pretty good this year.

Thanks Bill!! My wife was born there.

We found 14 coveys this morning. Not all of them were pointed.

You smoked us, Bill. Hunted west of Kingsville. This morning was cool and way WET. Dogs found 2 coveys and a single. Another covey flushed as hunters were coming back to the truck. Pick-up dogs were still having trouble finding downed birds...Cmon killing frost! It is way green down here.

Disappointing.