Nice day today except

[MollyandMe]

I like milo then beans for ranking on a food source. Just remember quail are "edge" birds primarily. Although I do think late season quail do become more timber oriented.

You won't find many just hanging out in a CRP field like a pheasant. They will be close or in overhead cover. Your pointer instinctively knows where they will be. It is pre programmed into the pointer. Lol. Follow him to the birds.

There are others who are much more informed on quail hunting than I and are way more qualified to answer that question.

Duckn is correct, hunt the edges. I find they really like the strips of grass and weeds growing down a fence row or around the edges that border two plowed or cut fields. Grasses that are shorter, not the tall stuff that you lose your dog in, tracking a pheasant. WHen its cold and blowing they will sit in a little taller grass to get out of the wind, but nonetheless...stick to the edges if its quail you are after. I have also found they seem to like the bases of evergreen bushes especially when the wind is blowing.

They will also covey up around water. The large covey I found on Sunday was sitting in a big pile of cut timber that the farmers had cut down and piled up on the edge of a milo field. Right next to the pile was a small pond, like within a few hundred feet. In fact Ive always had my best luck when water is close by. Seeing that many quail this weekend will definitely have me checking more timber piles especially those around water.

The thing about quail is that they will hide in the smallest patches of grass that you wouldnt even think to look in. Its amazing how many can hunker down in such a small area. The two covey my dog missed this year were both in patches of grass about 3 inches tall and as big around as a pancake. Both were on edges of plowed dirt fields and unfortunately for me my dogs ran right past them both. Caught me off gaurd and I only took 1 bird out of both coveys.

Also the colder it is the better. They will hold longer and the coveys will generally be bigger as they are trying to buddy up to stay warm. Not to mention, a lot of the weekend warriors will stay home when its zero and snowing out which means more open WIHA opportunites!

The conservationist in me wants to remind you not to hunt quail too late in the evening when its going to be super cold. They wont have time to covey back up before dark and can freeze to death without having someone to curl up next to for heat. Got to make sure the youngsters make it through the winter!

 

[ksduckhntr]

Duckn is correct, hunt the edges. I find they really like the strips of grass and weeds growing down a fence row or around the edges that border two plowed or cut fields. Grasses that are shorter, not the tall stuff that you lose your dog in, tracking a pheasant. WHen its cold and blowing they will sit in a little taller grass to get out of the wind, but nonetheless...stick to the edges if its quail you are after. I have also found they seem to like the bases of evergreen bushes especially when the wind is blowing.

They will also covey up around water. The large covey I found on Sunday was sitting in a big pile of cut timber that the farmers had cut down and piled up on the edge of a milo field. Right next to the pile was a small pond, like within a few hundred feet. In fact Ive always had my best luck when water is close by. Seeing that many quail this weekend will definitely have me checking more timber piles especially those around water.

The thing about quail is that they will hide in the smallest patches of grass that you wouldnt even think to look in. Its amazing how many can hunker down in such a small area. The two covey my dog missed this year were both in patches of grass about 3 inches tall and as big around as a pancake. Both were on edges of plowed dirt fields and unfortunately for me my dogs ran right past them both. Caught me off gaurd and I only took 1 bird out of both coveys.

Also the colder it is the better. They will hold longer and the coveys will generally be bigger as they are trying to buddy up to stay warm. Not to mention, a lot of the weekend warriors will stay home when its zero and snowing out which means more open WIHA opportunites!

The conservationist in me wants to remind you not to hunt quail too late in the evening when its going to be super cold. They wont have time to covey back up before dark and can freeze to death without having someone to curl up next to for heat. Got to make sure the youngsters make it through the winter!

Thanks for the informative reply. I do appreciate it. Now it's time to burn some gas and find places like this.