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The Quail Comeback
By Russell Graves
After a banner year across Texas’ quail lands, spring brought optimism. Each morning in the haunts where wild bobwhite quail are found, male bobwhites incessantly cry their familiar call in search for a mate. It’s a comforting and hopeful sound if you are a quail hunter. The hope is that the male finds a female with which to mate and populate the brush with dozens of new baby quail.
Throughout much of Texas, spring rains have been ample enough to give bloom to a host of seed-producing plants and a hatch of bugs that are essential sources of protein for young chicks. While the volume of rain that’s fallen this spring is paltry compared to 2015, it’s generous when you compare it to the long term drought that plagued the state in the early part of the decade, a drought that decimated bobwhite populations to the point that some die-hard hunters wondered if they’d ever return.
Silas Ragsdale was one of those hunters. “This has always been a good quail place up until a few years ago when the birds started to disappear,” lamented Ragsdale, speaking of his quail hunting spread located near Hedley in the southeastern Texas Panhandle. “They were never really completely gone over the past few years, but their numbers were noticeably scarce.”
On his first day back in the field this past season, Ragsdale already had a renewed optimism in regards to the future of bobwhite quail. The birds, it seemed were back and his worries were assuaged—at least for now.
To read more pick up a copy of the November 2016 NTFR issue or call 940-872-5922 to subscribe.
Having herds on a controlled breeding schedule means that we have a predictable calving schedule, and while it’s only over a couple of months, for us it does fall right after the start of the year. I lobby annually to call ours the “Winter calving season”, but I am outvoted and my husband still refers to it as Spring. Unlike producers in our Northern States, we don’t have to contend with brutally harsh winter weather, and on those rare times we do, thankfully it is not for extended periods. Regardless of whether you have a Spring or a Fall calving schedule, the health of a newborn calf begins with the mother’s health, and the mother’s health is largely dependent on the producer.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
Join us for the Lone Star Open (LSO) Auctioneer Championship, set to take place on Sunday, February 2, alongside the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo (FWSSR).
This exciting event will feature a $20,000 prize for the grand champion auctioneer, as well as insightful presentations on the auction method of marketing and the dynamic auctioneering profession.
To read more, pick up a copy of the January edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Emily Gleason
The outdoor, hunting, and fishing industries have long been perceived traditionally as a male-dominated realm. However, as societal norms shift, the experiences of women in these industries have been increasingly coming to the forefront. Being a woman in the outdoor industry today is a complex blend of passion, perseverance, and community, marked by both challenges and triumphs.
Women who hunt or engage in outdoor activities frequently find themselves confronting preconceived notions about their capabilities and interests. Many of us have experienced skepticism or outright disbelief when we express our enthusiasm for hunting or other outdoor activities.
Despite these stereotypes, women are increasingly challenging and redefining what it means to be involved in these activities. Female hunters and outdoor enthusiasts are not only participating but excelling in such skills. They contribute unique perspectives and insights to the hunting community, showcasing that passion for the outdoors knows no gender.
To read more, pick up a copy of the January edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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