Logical
Member
One would think we would have had colder weather by now! However, I was in Yuma County today, and it was not cold enough for the birds to be predictable.
We met at a walk-in so the dogs could run off some steam. It was 9? when we started, but within half an hour, it was mid-20s. The dogs didn't run, much, but they did stay out ahead so far that they flushed a few birds, all out of gun range (I don't have a dog, so they came with my hunting guests).
Found more birds in a milo field, so that was good. Then went to good grass, and only flushed one bird in a mile. Odd, especially since the shelterbelt was empty, as expected (with the warm weather).
Hit a different milo field, and only got 5 hens up, in a mile.
Then walked a mile in a corn field with lots of grass cover, and saw only hens. About 5 singles at the west end of the field, then about 12 in a group at the east end. Not a single rooster in two fields!
Walked some other great-looking grass next to corn, and only flushed one rooster. Nothing in two wheat-stubble corners. Where the heck are all the roosters??? Pressure is on me, as I am the host, and they have not hunted my area before.
Finally, got into some super-heavy weeds that are shoulder-height, and we jumped about 15 birds, of which about 10 were roosters. They dropped a couple, but their dogs couldn't find one. From there, we walked a quarter-section of grass, with them not following my instructions on how to cover it. So, when I got to the end of the fencerow I told them to walk with me, about 15 roosters got up, most well out of range. But, I got one straggler.
They said they had flushed many at the end of the field while I was watching all the birds bail-out to the west, and they all went north. So, we then walked the north grass quarter. I got one, and the guy that finally stayed near me got 2, while the other two guys lost a cripple. I don't think their dogs helped much, if any, all day.
Anyhow, my point is, keep looking if you don't find them where you think they will be. One grassy field yielded nothing, and two others showed over 30 birds between them. One mile field showed about 20, while another showed 5. You just never know where they may turn up!
Happy Hunting!
We met at a walk-in so the dogs could run off some steam. It was 9? when we started, but within half an hour, it was mid-20s. The dogs didn't run, much, but they did stay out ahead so far that they flushed a few birds, all out of gun range (I don't have a dog, so they came with my hunting guests).
Found more birds in a milo field, so that was good. Then went to good grass, and only flushed one bird in a mile. Odd, especially since the shelterbelt was empty, as expected (with the warm weather).
Hit a different milo field, and only got 5 hens up, in a mile.
Then walked a mile in a corn field with lots of grass cover, and saw only hens. About 5 singles at the west end of the field, then about 12 in a group at the east end. Not a single rooster in two fields!
Walked some other great-looking grass next to corn, and only flushed one rooster. Nothing in two wheat-stubble corners. Where the heck are all the roosters??? Pressure is on me, as I am the host, and they have not hunted my area before.
Finally, got into some super-heavy weeds that are shoulder-height, and we jumped about 15 birds, of which about 10 were roosters. They dropped a couple, but their dogs couldn't find one. From there, we walked a quarter-section of grass, with them not following my instructions on how to cover it. So, when I got to the end of the fencerow I told them to walk with me, about 15 roosters got up, most well out of range. But, I got one straggler.
They said they had flushed many at the end of the field while I was watching all the birds bail-out to the west, and they all went north. So, we then walked the north grass quarter. I got one, and the guy that finally stayed near me got 2, while the other two guys lost a cripple. I don't think their dogs helped much, if any, all day.
Anyhow, my point is, keep looking if you don't find them where you think they will be. One grassy field yielded nothing, and two others showed over 30 birds between them. One mile field showed about 20, while another showed 5. You just never know where they may turn up!
Happy Hunting!
