Steve Snell’s Gundog Blog

We just wrapped up the 2009 – 2010 Texas Quail Season.  I still have to post all my notes from the year.  I’ll get that done in the next week or so.

It was my longest bird season ever.  I started it in August in South Dakota and ran until the end of February.

We hunted South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Nebraska, Georgia, Mississippi and Texas.

That covered Sharptail Grouse, Huns, Pheasants, Bobwhite Quail, Blue Quail and too many species of ducks and geese to name.

It was a mediocre year at best.  We had good bird numbers up north, but the weather and the late corn harvest made getting to them tough.

Our Quail numbers were better than most of Texas based on folks that I talked to throughout the year, but they were pretty bad.  It was one of those years that makes us appreciate the good years.

The good news is that the parts of Texas that I hunt have gotten winter rains.  This year we had mud in Texas.  That’s pretty rare.  All the stock tanks are full and there should be plenty of greens and cover.

Quail can bounce back at a staggering rate when everything lines up right.  If we ever get a repeat of the 2007 – 2008 season, I might just spend the whole season in Texas.

I was real pleased with the progress of my main dogs.  Click, Stud and Sage had a good year.

Stud really found his groove. He understands now how I hunt and what I want from him.  It took a little longer than it should have, but most of that was my fault.

I have a hard time believing Click is only 3.  This was his fourth hunting season and he really took off this year.

What I like about down years is that it really shows you the talent level of your dogs.  Any dog can find birds in a boom year.  It’s the bust years that tell you want you want to know.

Em held up better then I expected after her TPLO surgery but she may have made her last trip.  12 is pretty old for an English Pointer.  Keep in mind I said the same thing about her last year….and the year before.  She will get to go as long as she wants.

Now, it’s puppy time.  I have 6 dogs under 1 1/2 years old.  Cash and Brandy are behind where I want them but I can fix that pretty quick.  Mac is way ahead of where he should be.  Izzy, Apple and Axl are right on target.

Steve Snell