The Quail Are Back in SW Kansas!
2007 Fall Newsletter by Cal Robinson

Plenty of Moisture during the winter and early spring that combined with mild weather during June produced an excellent hatch this Spring. The birds are doing well and large coveys are being seen on all the dirt roads surrounding the Goodnight Ranch. Greg Goodnight was able to plant all the feed plots that he had turned over last season, and on many of them the Milo is over six feet tall. This feed will turn into great holding cover during the late season.

I am very excited. Besides my own two young dogs I will be handling four derby age dogs owned by John Stoker from Michigan. What a great year to get a young dog going on the prairie.

Those of you that hunted with me last year know that we have great cover. This year that cover is carrying almost as many Quail as we saw in the 2005/06 season. There is just nothing like the scent of about fifteen wild birds coveyed up on a cold, frosty, early morning to stand a young dog up and bring out the pointing instinct in a hurry. Another benefit of bringing a young dog to the prairie is the combination of low open cover and multiple objectives that get a dog to handle almost naturally.

There are many places in our great country to hunt Pheasant, Chukar, Chickens, Woodcock and Grouse, however for the foot-hunting Quail Hunter, the amount of both cover and birds on the Goodnight Ranch is going to be tough to beat this year.

September is here and it’s time to go through the dog gear, break in those new boots, start throwing up the little 20 gauge double and get the “Feel” back. It’s also time to start exercising both ourselves and the dogs because the “Golden Time” is just around the corner; those few short months in the Fall when our entire existence becomes intertwined with the dogs, birds, guns and cover that creates the tapestry of the upland experience that enriches and fuels our lives. Those of you whom I’ve hunted with know both the feelings and excitement that are starting to take over me as Fall draws near.

It looks like the conditions are going to be ideal to make some great memories this season.

LODGING

The area that we hunt is very rural. Ashland has two good bed and breakfast lodges, a motel and a hotel.

The lodging in Meade and Minneola is also very limited. Dodge City has a good selection, however it is 40 miles from the Ranch. The lodging shortage is compounded by the amount of deer hunters in our area (that season closes Dec. 8th).

We have a mobile home on the ranch that will take two hunters. We can furnish a list of the accommodations on request.

Please reserve your rooms as soon as you make arrangements with us. In our area finding a place to stay can be a challenge.

SPRING TRAINING

When I returned to Maine from Kansas last February, the winter that was late in arriving was in full force. I wasn’t able to get into the woods until April first, however I had the Best Spring Training Season in Years. The snow pack North of us kept the birds in our area for the entire month. Each dog had daily multiple opportunities on the migrating Woodcock and resident Grouse. I was able to get my young pointer, Dan, steady to wing and shot and my little setter, Grace, almost there. I always wonder why more dog men don’t make the trip to Maine or other areas on the woodcock flight routes to take advantage of this great training opportunity.

Those of us who own cover dogs understand that the key to getting a dog to handle in the woods without excessive communication from the handler is spending a lot of hours with the dog in the bush. Spring is the ideal time as the cover is pretty sparse, the birds are plentiful and we don’t have to fight our own “hunting instincts” and can focus on the dog, especially when we’re flushing the bird.

Those of you that may be interested in Spring training in Maine can call me and I can direct you to some productive areas.

THIS YEAR IN MAINE

We had a very good hatch of grouse this Spring. The best in the last three seasons. The Woodcock nesting conditions were also favorable and we should have good shooting this Fall.
I am booked the entire Woodcock/Grouse Season but if you’re interested in coming up to Maine to hunt, please give me a call and I can get you dialed in to the best areas and places to stay.
This would be a good year to bring your dogs up to the Big Country to hunt these challenging and unique birds.

THE KANSAS QUAIL SEASON

The Kansas Quail Season opens on November 10, 2007 and runs until January 19th 2008. We presently have openings for self guided hunts for most of the season however our guided hunts are filling up fast.
If you are thinking of coming out to the Goodnight ranch this season, you should call and reserve a spot, Now. A one hundred dollar per gun deposit is required.

- Cal

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