I spent a decent amount of time today traversing the hunting area I frequent each season. I was able to secure permission to hunt at 9 out of 10 locations. The only spot I couldn't was because no one was home.
Each landowner said they have seen and heard birds. Some more than others. One said he thinks there is more than last year, and last year was my best season since 2018.
Also, one landowner said he saw a covey of Hungarian partridge. I was shocked by this. I have literally never seen a wild hun in nearly 25 years of upland hunting.