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Quail
You may have noticed in recent years that the number of quail have declined. This is especially evident in the northern regains of Texas. Many theories exist on why we are experiencing this decline. Of course there are always the usual culprits like drought and predators, maybe even over hunting. But the rapid decline of quail numbers over the entire state of Texas as well as its' surrounding states have experts wondering.
The question that plagues ranch owners is obvious – why is the quail population on the decline? The wildlife biologists at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department have said that the severe droughts of precipitation in these last few years has impaired the breeding of these gaming birds, and caused this decline. There is also talk of decease and parasites that my also be to blame. Texas Tech University is one of the leaders in finding the answer to this question. The students there are working together with the Rolling Plains Research facility in Roby Texas to sniff out the problem. They have asked that if you do kill a quail and notice that it may be infected with something they would like you to immediately freeze the bird and express mail it to Texas Tech.
What to look for in a sick bird. One thing to keep an eye out for is parasites in either the breast or the eye. If you go to clean a bird and find that there are small imperfections all over the breast that is a god sign that the bird is infected. If the eye of the bird is abnormal please take note of this as well. Quail on a ranch can be a major plus when trying to sell it can be the difference of $100 extra per acre in some cases. Texas needs our quail to survive, quail hunting is a great way to spend time with the family as well as provide a tasty treat for a meal.
If you are thinking of buying a quail-hunting ranch, there is hope. Wildlife biologists are of the opinion that adequate precipitation in the last few months makes it suitable for improvement in breeding prospects. This implies that the bird populace would rebound this year as well as the next one.
Therefore, if you were planning to buy a hunting ranch in Texas, be sure to ask when the last quail sighting was and how many there were. All you need to do is make sure to get a property that offers the right breeding and shelter opportunities for these birds. It is also be beneficial to find a property where the quail population is being cared for and a rebound has already started.
