Bobwhite hunt in Central Texas

[Mike Shepherd]

Hunted with an outfitter / friend in Central Texas. Moved twenty coveys Friday and eight on Saturday. We quit about two on Saturday as it was getting too hot for my dogs and their feet were sore from the rocks. We ran my French Brittanys almost all the time (at my request). Moved twenty coveys on a very cold Friday. My first quail hunt with an outiftter. We rode on a side by side Polaris buggy with big aluminum boxes on the back. When a dog went on point we dismounted and walked up the birds.

Normally the outfitter runs big motored English Pointers and English Setters. My Brittanys weren't bred for hunting from a Polaris but they did very well.

It was cold and wet and cold on Friday so I carried a slinged V. Bernardelli Elio 12 gauge. On Saturday I carried a slinged one frame Parker VH 16 with 28" barrels.

It just so happens that my guide breeds and trials French Brittanys and we ran his along with mine some of the time.

My two year old Buddy dog (didn't get a picture of him) got his feet under him. He turned into real bobwhite dog. Before this trip he was an avid songbird hunter and chaser. But by Saturday morning he wouldn't give a flushing songbird a second look 'cause he was looking for bobwhites! Saturday he pointed one covey at 30 yards. I managed to shoot one for him. He has always been a good retriever. A great sense of relief and gratitude came over me after I watched him turn into a bird dog this trip.

Y'all know how I hate to brag on my bird dogs but I know some of you have a keen interest in them and I try to keep you informed.

First picture is Red pointing a single in a cactus patch.

Second is of Red retrieving that single.

Third is also of Red retrieving the cactus patch single. He came down the road rut as far as he could to avoid cactus.

Fourth is Red on point with the guide's Ella backing

Fifth is of me going in to flush Red's bird.

Best,

Mike

[Bob Jurewicz]

Mike,
Sounds great! Seems like the birds are starting to come back in some areas of the state. Mine are still way down 30 miles west of Sweetwater.
Bob Jurewicz

[Mike Shepherd]

That is what I think, that they are coming back in some areas. How many days did you hunt your lease? I have heard some good reports from that general vicinity.

[Bob Jurewicz]

I've been here for a month. Our Ranch is 2300 acres. Have not hunted or run dogs much because of how bad the quail have been.
My young GSP pointed one covey today and one early in the week.
Bob Jurewicz

[Rich Anderson]

Do you need to put boots on the dogs feet? It's great when you can witness that moment in time when the light comes on for a dog.

[Mike Shepherd]

The outfitter and guide don't boot their dogs for that area. But they have so many dogs that they rotate and rest their dogs the day after the hunt.

I had my Lewis rubber dog boots with me. When I hunt in the Panhandle I almost always put them on because of the sand burrs. But I followed the guide's practice and ran them bootless in that country. The boots would have helped with the rocks. Not so much with the cactus as it easily goes through them.

[charlie cleveland]

bet them cactus are bad on the 4 wheeler tires..a friend of mine uses leather boots for his dog when hunting in texas..lots of trees with big stickers on them too best i remember back in 68 when i was at fort hood..always wanted to go back hunting there but never did... charlie

[Mike Shepherd]

There is a tire sealant called Green Slime. The guide had it in the buggy tires and he ran over cactus now and then.

I have Polaris 4 wheeler. Put Green Slime in the tires and have run over many many cactus (inadvertently) and no flats so far.

I have used innertube boots, Lewis boots, ballistic nylon boots, duct tape boots, and leather boots. The Lewis boots are the ones I hate the least.