Mutton Creek 10-20

[1xshot]

To Walcrabass,

I understand the urge to find a legislated solution but I can't say I'm in favour of following California's lead in about anything. I think Mo Con has better idea in foraging partnerships with land owners. I don't doubt that habitat plays a roll but I think there is still something else going on with the decline in quail numbers. If you really get out and drive rural roads in southwest Mo there are more fallow fields and acres out of production than I've seen in years. I think our conservation dept does a wonderful job over all but I'm just not sure they've got this problem completely figured out yet. One thing I do know is that the only way the problem will be resolved is for sportsmen to stay engaged and not give up. Engaged sportsmen are the reason we have the hunting and fishing opportunities we have available now.

[Walcrabass]

1Xshot and others,

  I am not advocating the "unused land thing" myself...... just throwing things out there as I always do. Just wanting people understand that there are always alternate ideas that COULD have worked. Just like shutting the season down to 1/3 of the hunting when the decline was evident so early on. Or maybe even cancelling it for a year to get a handle on things. As far as the fallow fields go ..... well.... you need brood stock to populate them.

  I am the kind of guy that wants to begin repair on the toilet when it first starts acting up.... not when it is overflowing all the way down the hall. It's just better to fix things before they get to the point of ruination. Please don't anyone say that I blame the Conservation Department for the Quail decline. That just  isn't so. As I have stated I believe it is directly related the decline of habitat and increase of predators. I will say again that a lot of it goes back to the Chickens. I honestly believe if everyone still had chickens and depended on them for meat and eggs that we would have an entirely different outlook on the "Predator situation".

Walcrabass

[Hammer time]

On the MDC properties that I hunt the season ends December 15 and until 3 years ago 1pm. You can hunt private land till January 15.

Because of the quail emphasis areas have been successful you can hunt all day but stop end December 15th

 Took my dog out today and seen another covey. Have got up birds 4 of last 5 times out. If not for MDC their would be no birds in my opinion.

[Walcrabass]

Hammertime,

   Sounds like you have figured out what a friend of mine has figured out too. He tells me about the same stories. Loves to Bird hunt and is an older guy. Public land can be a place to find some. I believe some of the Public areas stop hunting for them around 1:00 P.m. Good idea in my opinion.

Walcrabass

[waterpossum]

Texas used to have only certain days of the week you could quail hunt. I think Mondays and Thursdays were closed days. Don't think they still do that, but sounded like a reasonable conservation measure. Also I talked with a guy from Kansas the other day, who said he has quail on his property. He said he purchased the land about 20 years ago for hunting purposes. He swore that about every three to four years he eradicates as many predators as possible and will inevitably sees a drastic increase in his bird population. On a side note saw five hogs at the water on Stockton yesterday. 

[Cat Thief]

Hey waterpossum- where were u at when u saw the hogs? I heard a few years ago there were some hogs in the area but we never saw them. We are usually in the areas between Aldrich and cedar ridge though. 

[dan hufferd]

About 12 years about I was doing some work on a guys place north of Bolivar, the quail and turkey were everywhere. He put every odd, low and rocky place, any place that would not farm well, in CRP. It made a huge difference for the wildlife and he got paid a little for it.

[waterpossum]

11 hours ago, Cat Thief said:

Hey waterpossum- where were u at when u saw the hogs? I heard a few years ago there were some hogs in the area but we never saw them. We are usually in the areas between Aldrich and cedar ridge though. 

Sons creek. Cove just past the power lines.

[Cat Thief]

Cool thanks. 

[straw hat]

There is also a bunch of wild hogs that have moved into the area around Springfield Landing (where the docks are north of CC).  As you approach Springfield Landing it turns to gravel and at the same time an olf logging road goes off to the right. Take that logging road to a gravel parking area. They work that area a lot.