We have a teenager in the house. Our wonderful girl Tasha turned 13 today. Happy Birthday Tasha

The role of predators in quail management

The role of predators in quail management is always a hot topic. In this study in south Texas on a 19,000 acre property, they collected 246 coyote scats during the 2022 year. This is a un-hunted coyote population, therefore they believe it has a higher percentage of mature coyotes, who are more effective big game hunters versus young coyotes that may depend on easy prey items such as insects. They found no evidence of livestock in the diet even though cattle were present on the property. Here's a breakdown of what they found in the scat, the percentages won't add up to 100% because multiple food items were found in scat samples:

% occurrence in scat -

White-tailed deer: 74.4%

Wild pig: 21.5%

Rodents: 17.9%

Raccoon: 7.3%

Mesquite beans: 7.3%

Prickly pear: 6.9%

Cottontail: 6.9%

Unidentified plants: 4.9%

Armadillo: 3.7%

Javelina: 3.2%

Insect: 1.2%

Bobwhite Quail: 0.4%

Skunk: 0.4%

 

RWFM doctoral student Anna Racey’s new publication in the Canadian Journal of Zoology provides unique perspective into the diets of coyotes on a landscape where no native wildlife is managed by harvesting, trapping or supplemental feeding.

“Understanding coyote diet in a system with a lack of human intervention can provide insight into their natural ecological role, a perspective muddled in the context of extrinsic influences,” Racey said.

The research took place at the East Foundation's San Antonio Viejo Ranch in 2022. By analyzing coyote fecal samples collected each month, researchers identified 23 unique prey species, with white-tailed deer and feral hogs as the most common prey item.

“Without an understanding of the diet of coyotes in a natural system, conservationists and livestock ranchers alike cannot anticipate the changes in predator-prey dynamics and ecosystem function that may result from shifts in natural resource management methods,” she said.

Access the study’s full text at https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/cjz-2024-0120

Texas Wildlife Association | TAMU Chapter of The Wildlife Society | Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society | John M. Tomeček

Ideal Number of Hunting Dogs = N + 1

 

10 Overlooked Upland Hunting Destinations

Nathan Ratchford 

Here is an innate curiosity in us all, hunters especially. We are driven by the same question that drove early settlers deeper into the wilderness, just beyond that next ridgeline, to carve out their own place on the land. But having room to roam is increasingly challenging these days, as cities overfill and the hills that were once unspoiled succumb to blaze orange. However, if you have the grit to face a challenge, the boot leather to burn, and a little bit of luck, you can still find plenty of paths untouched. Here is a short list of ten often overlooked upland destinations.

1) Northeast Maine

Hunters journeying to Northeast Maine have public hunting access to vast privately-owned lands, mainly commercial timberlands. Known for its low hunting pressure and challenging terrain, Northeast Maine provides a rewarding experience for those seeking a bit of quiet beyond the more pressured and more accessible areas of central and western Maine. Utilizing onX can help identify productive areas by providing aerial forestry and habitat data. Make sure everything is available offline. Also, 10-ply tires and a good spare are recommended.

2) Northwest Montana

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Department provides detailed maps and regulations for the area, including large tracts of public land like the Kootenai National Forest. For those seeking a challenging mixed forest grouse hunt amid some of Montana’s most iconic, mysterious wilderness, Northwest Montana is a lesser-known but rewarding destination. Make sure to pack your bear spray.

3) White Mountains, New Hampshire

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department provides resources and maps for hunters to explore these areas. With the region’s mix of hardwoods, alder stands, and river corridors, the White Mountains offer upland hunters a unique experience, blending the thrill of pursuing wild birds with the beauty of some of New England’s most rugged terrain. Bring a good pair of boots.

4) Texas Panhandle

The Texas Panhandle is an excellent destination for bobwhite and scaled quail, thanks to its combination of grasslands, agricultural fields, and brush habitats. This region offers both public and private hunting opportunities. Through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Annual Public Hunting Permit program, hunters can gain access to wildlife management areas and leased private lands.

The Panhandle’s mild winters support more consistent quail populations, while lower hunting pressure gives hunters more breathing room under a big Texas sky. Hunting quail here often means working with dogs in big, open terrain, where both large covey explosions are found just about as often as rattlesnakes. If you want a real Texas adventure, this is one region worth exploring.

5) Big Horn Basin, Wyoming

The Big Horn Basin in Wyoming is an underrated upland destination for Hungarian partridge and chukar. With arid, rocky terrain and rolling sagebrush hills, the Basin’s habitat is ideal for these birds, which are commonly found near steep hillsides and ridges. Public lands, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), provide ample hunting areas for those willing to work for it in remote stretches of open country.

See all 10 destinations and the complete MeatEater article

Cold Weather Dog Walk

 

It was around zero Fahrenheit when I was going to take Tasha ( my 12 yr old Setter ) for her walk.  It wasn’t too windy and it was sunny so it didn’t feel too bad.  I did end up using dog boots for her though.  Initially we only made it two blocks before her feet were bothering her.  I think a big part of it is that the city puts down salt and other chemicals to treat the ice and when that melts and gets on her feet and then refreezes as we walk that it bothers her.  After coming back and adding booties she was fine for the 45 minute walk.  The coat is one that we had gotten in Ely, MN from a dog sledding store.  It is warm enough to keep her comfortable but not so much that she overheats.  I went with lined jeans just to stay comfy.

Looks like a few warmer days before another cold snap starting Sunday.

Sharp-tailed grouse lunch tacos

 

Yesterday I grilled a a couple of Sharp-tail breasts from our hunt in Mid-Sept so today I had some leftovers to eat.  

I didn't do anything fancy, just 2 types of cheese ( I like mine melted ) Mexican rice and the meat.  It was pretty tasty.

Pheasant Hunt Hutchinson MN Dec 8th 2024

Tasha and I met with our buddy, Tony, and his two shorthairs.  For early December it was a balmy 45 degrees and a decent breeze.  Tasha and I started by working the east edge of the field.  She got a little birdie in a couple of spots but we didn’t move anything so we decided to head for the thicker cover.  The wet sections including the pond are now frozen so we have access to the thickest cover on the property.  I saw a fair amount of pheasant drippings in the cattails but all of the tracks looked a few days old but we kept moving from thick to thin cover hoping to move a bird to an area that we could get a good point.  As we went to the North side of the thick cover I heard Tony take a couple of shots but saw the rooster flying onto the neighbors half of the property.

After pushing the thick stuff a bit longer we went back to the grass.  My thinking is that with the warmer temps that we would see the birds in the thinner cover.  We were rewarded a short time later with a nice point but it ended up being a hen.  We worked the grass area for a bit longer but didn’t move anything.  Back into the thick stuff we went.

Moving back into the thick stuff paid off as we moved six more birds, all hens.  All of the birds were along the edge of the thick cover and not in the middle.  I’m not sure if we were too early ( 2 pm ) to catch them moving to the food sources or if they had moved off of our side of the property.

Even though we didn’t see any roosters it was still nice to get out in the 40+ degree weather and it was fun for Tasha to get a good amount of bird stink in her nose.  Tony and his dogs did and the one rooster and a number of hens also.

It was a good hunt considering that we were only in the filed for 90 minutes.

Gear Used.
Danner Sharptail boots
Final Rise Vest
15+ year old Columbia hunting pants.
Garmin Alpha 300
Dogtra t&b collars