Return to The Southern Plains

Scaled Quail Tracks -New Mexico
Scaled Quail Tracks -New Mexico

It’s Been a while since I have waded thru the Grasslands  of The Southern Plains,having spent 5 seasons guiding Bobwhite Quail Hunts  in Oklahoma I admit I miss it.On a whim my friend Randy Babb and I decided that we would blow of of Arizona and finish off our bird Hunting Season in Texas and New Mexico…a return to Comancheria for me,for Randy  it was a great  introduction.

Texas Bobwhites
Texas Bobwhites

Off we went spending a day in Texas chasing Bobwhites,despite the heat and wind our dogs who for the most part never hunted Bobwhites did well.Of course the  Bobwhite “Happy Hour” happened towards evening when the birds moved out to feed we scored some great points over all the dogs and managed to knock a few birds down.It was time well spent.

Josie Goes in for the Flush while Chica and Idaho Bill Point a covey of Bobwhites
Josie Goes in for the Flush while Chica and Idaho Bill Point a covey of Bobwhites

For the next few days we spent out time in New Mexico hunting Scaled or Blue Quail on public lands which there is plenty of.Although we where “sharing” the land with a very active Oil Field Industry we did not see another hunter … we had the place to ourselves.

Kate backs Squeaky
Kate backs Squeaky
LouLou and Crush point a covey of Scaled Quail
LouLou and Crush point a covey of Scaled Quail

There where plenty of coveys to mess with,or they messed with us ! As Scaled Quail are notourius runners.Making for some interesting  dog work which I call  “bits and pieces”.The dogs would point but the birds where running ahead,then after anywhere form 20-100 yards a bird or birds would jump wild,sometimes you would get some singles work but mostly we where in hot pursuit of running birds.

Scaled Quail and a SxS
Scaled Quail and a SxS

Despite the challenges my young dogs preformed well racking up some great points.The trip was a great success,Randy and I will be back next season .

Spot Points a Scaled Quail Covey
Spot Points a Scaled Quail Covey
Daisy on Point
Daisy on Point -New Mexico 
Sometimes I just have to shoot a lot
Sometimes I just have to shoot a lot