Release Bird Hunt Offers Different Challenge Before Quail Season
November 8, 2007
By Jim Darnell
San Marcos Daily Record
The Texas quail season opened statewide about 10 days ago on Oct. 27. But I, along with several Texas outdoor writers, got a few days early jump on the opener. And we weren’t hunting illegally. We were guests on the beautiful San Miguel Ranch near Uvalde. Hundreds of pen-raised bobwhites, chukars and pheasants were released into the lush grass for us to hunt.
Release upland bird hunting is a brand new venture for the San Miguel Ranch personnel. Since Mike and Holly Gardner incorporated San Miguel in 1998 the ranch has become famous for quality white-tailed deer hunts, exotic game safaris and great wild dove and quail hunts. To offer their deer hunters who harvest trophies early another outdoor option the ranch is adding the release upland bird hunts. And we were invited to be the first guests to test the new program. It was awesome.
Each morning we followed pointing dogs and guides through the long strips of heavy cover. Some pastures held bobwhites while the chukars and pheasants were released on other areas. To our surprise we saw as many wild quail as we did release birds. It’s not difficult to tell the difference. The flight of a wild bird compared to a pen-raised bird is like comparing a jet to a Cessna. We purposely avoided shooting the wild birds since the season wasn’t open but what we saw was a forecast of what is ahead for quail hunters this fall and winter.
Heavy spring and summer rains in South Texas have caused nature to rebound after years of drought. Grasses and weeds are thick, providing good protection for quail from predators. And quail numbers are coming back after last year’s dismal season. Texas Parks and Wildlife annual quail surveys for South Texas showed seven birds per 20-mile survey route. This is well below the 20 bird average but up significantly form last year’s count of three birds per route. The shortage of adult brood birds going into the spring kept population numbers for really exploding. If we can put two wet years back to back then we could see another 1987, the banner bobwhite quail year by which subsequent Texas quail seasons are measured.
After the morning hunts we were treated to a brunch, or should I say feast, prepared by San Miguel Chef Andrew. Bacon, sausage, biscuits, French toast, scrambled eggs, migas and fresh fruit were piled on the table. The walking and the feasting mandated an afternoon rest. The last morning was a good one for me. On the previous morning I was never in the right place when a pheasant burst from the tall grass. I shot only one. Ray Sasser, outdoor editor of the Dallas Morning News, nailed several with his little .410 gauge over and under gun. San Antonio Express News outdoor journalist, Ron Henry Strait, also got some good pheasant action. But the last day was my day. After dropping many quail and chukars with my sweet sixteen Browning I switched to the .410 Remington Model 1100 automatic for the pheasants. Seven of the big colorful birds folded when the little shot column from the .410 hit them.
The last three birds were classic. Austin outdoor photographer, John Jefferson, was having a difficult time hitting birds. The shotgun he was using didn’t fit him. “John, take my Browning 16. I know you can hit with it,” I said. John quickly shot two pheasants with the Browning and laid them out in the grass beside the old Browning to take pictures that will probably end up in some outdoor magazine. I was standing right beside the photographer watching him apply his photography skills to the subject. Suddenly, a pheasant got nervous and exploded into the South Texas sky. The little .410 came up like an extension of my arm. The bird folded at the report of the tiny gun. As he fell two more roosters took flight. Only two shells were in the shotgun chamber and magazine but that was enough. Both birds died instantly. John hardly looked up from his artistic endeavor. Photographers are a different breed.
After another special San Miguel brunch it was time to go home. We hated to leave. I have visited many ranches and lodges but have never been treated better. The San Miguel staff are seasoned outdoorsmen with great people skills. They truly made us feel special. We can hardly wait for a return visit to the new lodge in February.
For a great whitetail, exotic or bird hunt it would be hard to beat San Miguel. Call at 512-891-7787 or check www.smoutdoors.com.