West Kansas Quail Numbers

whitewater

New member
Any of ya'll in the west been hearing or seeing good quail numbers as compared to last season at this time? When typically do ya'll have your annual bird counts?
 
Northeast kansas quail numbers look to be way down! I had one of the best starts to a season as far as quail go in northeast kansas this past season but after that brutal winter I found nothing at the end of the season and aren't seeing any quail around like usual! pheasant numbers were way up in northeast kansas as well and it looks like numbers will be down for next season! bumber :(

dont know what out west looks like though
 
i am about 3 hours from the colorado border and we have spotty qual meaning that if you find some its here and there i did come across 4 coveys last year around the homestead but we didnt shoot very many just enough to scatter them good and thin the covey then we left them alone for a couple weeks as to not run them off to bad we dont have more they are nice to hunt even if you dont shoot any its nice to get a covey up
 
We have hunted the CedarBluff / Collyer / Hill City area for the last 3 seasons all on public land. We have typically flushed 1 or 2 coveys a day on our 6 day hunt. We don't target them. We just come across them as we look for phez. Last trip we shot 12. I think we might try reversing our strategy. If we target quail, we would likely shoot more and probably come across just as many phez. What ya think?
 
Any of ya'll in the west been hearing or seeing good quail numbers as compared to last season at this time? When typically do ya'll have your annual bird counts?

I can tell you that I'm not hearing as many as I usually do this time of year here in Wabaunsee county. I've been seeing more roosters than ever though, which basically echoes what KScowboy is saying. I've seen 4 roosters this spring (I know that's not much in pheasant country, but it's pretty good for this area). I've only seen one small covey (4 or 5) this spring and I can't hear a SINGLE bird from my yard and haven't heard any when I've been out fishing. I've heard them in the spring my entire life, but they're not making any noise for me this year. One thing to consider is that the wind has been blowing like crazy all but 1 day I was out fishing. This may have something to with not hearing them.

There were some great numbers of quail out west this past season, but I have no idea how they faired.
 
I am seeing a few paired up now. Decent pheasant numbers. Seeing a few lesser prairie chicken and getting some pretty good reports from ranchers with sizable numbers on their leks.
 
Had a retriever trial on the area this weekend and heard several quail, pheasant and turkey. I've been seeing several pairs on the area, wish them the best! Glad you're in the birds Maynard! You've been getting some of this rain haven't you?
 
We had good winter and early spring moisture, but at the ranch we have missed some of the last showers and could sure use some rain. Pastures are greening up nicely. Pretty good flush of alfalfa in the CRP. Will be watching to see if there are some new plants in the CRP we overseeded last year. Thanks again.
 
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