21 December Upland BirdsFor those that have not yet been to Kiowa/Edwards Counties for primarily pheasant, the pictures below were from this past week.
Grass quality is good on the older lease land to include this secluded draw (above) not visible from the road. This farm does not see much pressure as indicated by the lack of vehicle tracks over to the side of the road and deer present within it. Just a glimmer of the grass cover is visible from the road.
One of the larger prior year lease tall grass fields in Kiowa.
A secondary effect of this spring's tornado hitting Greensburg in Kiowa County along with a wet spring resulted in late plantings of winter wheat rather than early planting required of corn and milo. Locals along with some hunters have a belief that fields with wheat produce far less pheasants than when those fields are in corn or milo. If that is true, a continuing effect of this year's primary crop being wheat in this region will be less carry over birds for spring breeding.
Not all of the new Kiowa lease land is huntable habitat as it, like most of our better hunting land, is within the agricultural region. The picture below of the 1/2 mile post on a 320 acre farm is such an example of land to drive by. Had the wet, wind driven snow not blown down the weed corners (pivot irrigation) it would have been a hunt spot as it was before the snow and probably will be next season.
Among the new leases it is the pivot irrigation corners in tall grass that provide cover habitat regardless of winter weather. Be prepared to walk as this spot shown below is 1/2 mile in on the short side. A 1/4 mile crop gap then another set of corners.
|
|
|
|
