Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk AL Wingshooters Jumped a covey of quail today!

Since its been 7 or 8 years since I've seen that. I thought it be notable. The last covey I jumped I double up on and that seems like an injustice now...

Very cool.

I did the same thing on my property in Lowndes county about 3 years ago. Of all the deer, turkey, bobcats, yotes,ect. we see on that place, walking up that covey of wild birds was a highlight. Probably had 10-12 birds in it. Wish there was more of them but I haven't heard a bob white whistle in forever. Used to hear them when I turkey hunted but not anymore.

I saw where they want to lower the daily bag limit to 8 from 12. If you could show me a place where you could kill 12 wild birds in Alabama in a day's hunt, I'd love to try that.

Dr. B

Exactly how far did you jump when the covey took flight?

Coveys should be pairing up soon.

There was only about 6 of them. They jumped at about 35 yards or so, killing one might have been possible, maybe. Not with a cylinder choke tho. Got a ltltle regroup music from them when I was listening for the big birds.
I don't understand why they had such a rapid decline, it just doesn't add up to me, there has always been predation and other factors. Seems like logging would help them. Logging and mining rules here where I hunt, why isn't there more birds?

Hulapopper, I'm from SE Ga. We had a ton of birds in the early 80's then they greatly decreased. I was told fire ants, coyotes, armadillos, and raccoons were too blame. Then in the mid 90's we found out that the most probable culprit was insecticide. The bugs on the soybeans died and fell to the ground then the quail ate the dead bugs and it killed the quail. The insecticide thing made sense. The numbers have been slowly but surely recovering since my uncle changed his insecticide practice.

I killed 5 out of the only covey I've ever seen wish I hadn't done that

I can tell you that I have been trapping raccoon and fox heavily the last few years and have seen a very noticeable increase of quail on my place. At least double.

I jumped another covey today! How bout that? 6 miles or so from that other, at least 10 to 12 birds
Maybe I'm just not spending enuff time in the woods? Lol

There are still a few places that have a reasonable population of wild birds. I have been hearing "bob-white"ing for about 2 weeks but the coveys aren't totally broken up yet. There is a large area of wild bird plantations around Union Springs with some places carrying around a bird per acre as well as places in south Autauga county and Dallas county. We have developed a few places from quail being virtually non-existent to close to a bird per acre. Its primarily about habitat but predator control and feeding is also very important. BTW, lowering the bag limit would do NOTHING for quail in Alabama. Lots of good info here (I used to work here for about 10 years):

http://talltimbers.org/gamebird.html

Hey Gobbler,

I noticed your location as South Alabama, how far south?

Montgomery

I remember hunting in Wayne County, Tn one season in the late 80s. The worst day we had we found 13 coveys.

I was raised on it walking the power lines and strip pits of Walker Co. Miss it terribly, we could always get into some birds. Such good days...

I jumped a covey or two this January in south alabama deer hunting while walking around. I was glad to see them and hope they multiply.

i remember jumping a covey squirrel hunting with my grandfater when i was 8 or 9. he got off 2 shots with a double barrel stevens 410. we cleaned a vest full of squirrels and 2 quail that morning

was the last time i remember jumping a covey although i hear the bobwhite calls from time to time.