Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch (RPQRR)

Pointing Dog Survey

October 22-23, 2007

Dale Rollins Texas Agricultural Experiment Station

Eric J. Redeker

Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute

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Table of Contents

Topic Page Project Objectives ......................................................................................2 Equipment Used .........................................................................................2 Methods and Materials ...............................................................................3 Results .......................................................................................................3 Results Table..............................................................................................4 Recommendations for Improving Next Effort.............................................5 Acknowledgments......................................................................................5 Overview Map of RPQRR..........................................................................7 Map of All Dog and Hunter Tracklogs Collected with Astro Collars ..........8 Map of Annie North and Annie SW ...........................................................9 Map of Annie North ...................................................................................10 Map of Babe and Drew Trap ......................................................................11 Map of Babe...............................................................................................12 Map of Chittam ..........................................................................................13 Map of Deuce East and West......................................................................14 Map of Doc South and Deuce West ............................................................15 Map of Doc North and South......................................................................16 Map of Drew Trap and Tex West ...............................................................17 Map of Ellie NE .........................................................................................18 Map of Ellie SE..........................................................................................19 Map of Ellie SW.........................................................................................20 Map of James South and Ellie SW..............................................................21 Map of Meg East and West.........................................................................22 Map of South CRP and Lucy......................................................................23 Map of Suzie ..............................................................................................24 Map of Tex and Oscar ................................................................................25 Photos ........................................................................................................26 Contributor Logos ......................................................................................30

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Project Objectives

1. To evaluate the use of GPS-equipped dogs as a technique for estimating quail density; these estimates will be compared to ongoing helicopter counts, walk transects, and whistle counts. We hope to repeat this in March and October of each year.

� Begin assembling information on point-to-flush distance as an important

metric in using line transect methodology for estimating quail density with bird dogs.

� Provide a minimum estimate of quail densities at RPQRR.

2. To maintain a bond between quail research and quail hunters at the RPQRR.

Equipment Used

Garmin International, Inc. graciously donated the use of 20 Garmin Astro dog tracking systems, which were used to track pointing dogs, map covey locations, record the number of birds in each covey and record point-flush distances. More information on the Garmin Astro dog tracking system can be found online by going to this link � http://www8.garmin.com/astro/

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Methods and Materials Twenty-four volunteers assembled with their complement of ATVs, horses, and bird dogs to participate in this first coordinated effort to map quail populations at the RPQRR. Each team of handlers was provided a Garmin Astro GPS dog collar, and after an initial orientation session in its use, were assigned pastures ranging from 200 to 400 acres in size. Most handlers were asked to traverse their assigned unit in East-to-West transects spaced about 200 yards apart. For smaller, irregularly-shaped pastures, handlers were allowed to “just hunt it as they normally would”. Handlers were asked to hunt only one dog at a time. Each hunt was about 2.5 hours in duration. Participants were asked to record a waypoint for each covey flushed, and a “point-to-flush distance” (PFD) defined as the distance from the dog’s initial point to the center of where the covey was flushed. Participants estimated PFD by pacing.

Results A total of 13 hunting teams participated on Day 1; 7 teams hunted from ATVs, 2 from horseback, and 4 walked. The number of teams for the morning hunt (23 Oct) dropped to 10; 6 teams hunted from ATVs, 2 from horseback, and 2 walked. Nineteen of the 25 sampling units were censused on Day 1 and 16 on Day 2. Across both days, a total of 44 coveys were recorded and a total of 481 quail were counted (Table 1). Covey size averaged 10.9 birds. Two coveys of blue quail were observed. 232 miles were surveyed by both hunters and dogs (107 and 125 respectively) based on the tracklogs recorded by Garmin Astros. Point to flush distances (PFD) were recorded inconsistently by participants; average PFD for 16 covey flushes was 7.9 yards. Weather conditions were not conducive to good scenting; northerly winds at 15 to 25 mph on the afternoon of 22 Oct and accompanying low relative humidity (estimated to be <15%) afforded poor conditions for scenting dogs. The next morning (23 Oct) had less wind, cool temperatures (about 45 F) at 9 a.m. starting time, with winds increasing to 15 mph as the morning progressed. Soil conditions were dry and dusty. Cover conditions in October were as lush as anyone can remember in this portion of west Texas because of abundant precipitation through the growing season. There had been no killing frost to date. Broomweed and ragweeds (western and field) were abundant and may have affected scenting abilities of dogs. Prickly pear and sandburs were abundant over much of the ranch and stifled dogs in some instances.

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Recommendations for improving next effort This was the first in what we hope to make a semiannual event (proposed dates of March and October). Accordingly, we discovered several items that could be enhanced to improve the efficiency of future efforts.

1) Need about 20 hunt teams to best census RPQRR. 2) Need better check-in and check-out process to ensure return of all results and

equipment. 3) Have hunting units assigned for 2nd day on first evening in order to expedite

start times. 4) Have grad student knowledgeable in Astro collars assigned to each hunt team. 5) Have personnel assemble earlier on Day 1 to permit longer orientation

session. 6) Improve maps and data cards for use afield during hunts. 7) Download the data from the Astro collars after each survey, to enable

researchers to accurately analyze the differences between survey methods (walking, ATV and horseback) with regard to speed, area covered and rate of encounter (i.e. coveys per hour). Daily downloads will also enable researchers to analyze each day’s effort separately and identify differences between the performance of different dogs with regard to breed and age.

Acknowledgments T. Gartner with Garmin donated use of the Astro GPS collars and Rino 2-way radios. M. Schnupp, J. Sands, and N. Gruber, CKWRI, and R. Linex, NRCS, provided valuable logistical support. M. Cortez with Hunting & Fishing Texas outdoors television program videotaped Monday’s outing for use in a future episode. Special thanks to J. V. Martin and the cooking team of First National Bank Sweetwater for a delicious fajita dinner on Monday evening and to S. Estes, Fisher County Extension Agent, for a hamburger lunch on Tuesday. We thank the following individuals (and their canine companions) who participated as the hunt teams:

� B. D. Atkinson, Sweetwater � B. Baldridge, Clairmont � B. Barnard, Wichita Falls � J. Barnard, Wichita Falls � F. Bell, Roby � E. Birdwell, Henrietta � D. Clark, Henrietta � J. Hamilton, Round Rock � A. Heirman, Albany � Rod Hench, Hermleigh

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� J. Herrera, Abilene � A. V. Jones, Albany � D. A. Kimbell, Wichita Falls � S. Kimbell, Wichita Falls � C. Martin, Anson � C. R. McCallum, Cross Plains � P. Melton, Sylvester � R. Moss, Iowa Park � S. Price, Iowa Park � C. Ribelin, Dallas � E. Scheid, McCaulley � S. Sherrod, San Angelo � J. Sorelle, San Angelo � J. Southern, Sylvester

Suzie

Babe

Oscar

Doc South

Doc North

Annie SE

Annie North

Ellie SE

Deuce West

Meg WestTT

Annie SW

Ellie SW

Deuce East

Ellie NE

Ellie NW

Chittam

Meg East

LucyJames South

Tex SE

James North

South CRP

Tex NEPavilion

Tex West

North 180 Trap

Northwest Trap

Headquarters

Drew Trap

Rolling Plains Quail Research RanchPointing Dog Quail Survey (October 22 - 23, 2007)

0 0.5 10.25Miles 8Map Produced by Landitude, Inc. (www.landitude.com)

PASTURES

SURVEY UNITS

h

hh

h hhh

h

h

h

hh

h

h

h

h

h

h

h

h

hh

hh

hh hh

h h

hhh

h

h

h

h

h

h

h

Rolling Plains Quail Research RanchPointing Dog Quail Survey (October 22 - 23, 2007)

0 0.5 10.25Miles 8Map Produced by Landitude, Inc. (www.landitude.com)

h COVEYS

HUNTER

DOG

PASTURES

SURVEY UNITS

Annie SW

Annie North

Deuce East

Doc South

Oscar

Rolling Plains Quail Research RanchPointing Dog Quail Survey (October 22 - 23, 2007)

0 0.1 0.20.05Miles 8Map Produced by Landitude, Inc. (www.landitude.com)

h COVEYS

HUNTER

DOG

PASTURES

SURVEY UNITS

Annie North and Annie SW

Suzie

Annie North

Annie SE

Annie SW

Deuce East

Doc South

Oscar

Doc

Nor

th

Rolling Plains Quail Research RanchPointing Dog Quail Survey (October 22 - 23, 2007)

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.50.05Miles 8Map Produced by Landitude, Inc. (www.landitude.com)

h COVEYS

HUNTER

DOG

PASTURES

SURVEY UNITS

Annie North

Babe

Meg East

Deuce East

Meg West

Annie SW

Deuce West

Tex West

Drew Trap

Ellie NE

Oscar

James N

orth

Ellie NW

Rolling Plains Quail Research RanchPointing Dog Quail Survey (October 22 - 23, 2007)

0 0.1 0.2 0.30.05Miles 8Map Produced by Landitude, Inc. (www.landitude.com)

h COVEYS

HUNTER

DOG

PASTURES

SURVEY UNITS

Babe and Drew Trap

h

h

h

h

h

h

Babe

Meg East

Meg West

Deuce East

Deuce West

Annie SW

Ellie NE

Drew

TrapTex W

est

Oscar

Ellie NW

James North

Rolling Plains Quail Research RanchPointing Dog Quail Survey (October 22 - 23, 2007)

0 0.1 0.2 0.30.05Miles 8Map Produced by Landitude, Inc. (www.landitude.com)

h COVEYS

HUNTER

DOG

PASTURES

SURVEY UNITS

Babe

Chittam

Doc North

Doc South

Northwest TrapHeadquarters North 180 Trap

Rolling Plains Quail Research RanchPointing Dog Quail Survey (October 22 - 23, 2007)

0 0.1 0.2 0.30.05Miles 8Map Produced by Landitude, Inc. (www.landitude.com)

h COVEYS

HUNTER

DOG

PASTURES

SURVEY UNITS

Chittam

Babe

Deuce East

Doc South

Deuce West

Annie SW

Annie North

Meg West

Drew

Tr a p

Meg East

Oscar

Rolling Plains Quail Research RanchPointing Dog Quail Survey (October 22 - 23, 2007)

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.40.05Miles 8Map Produced by Landitude, Inc. (www.landitude.com)

h COVEYS

HUNTER

DOG

PASTURES

SURVEY UNITS

Deuce East & West

h

h

hDoc South

Babe

Deuce West

Doc North

Deuce East

Chittam

Suzie

Annie North

Annie SW

Meg West

Meg East

#BIRDS 10 yds.

#BIRDS 30 yds.

#BIRDS 1713 yds.

Rolling Plains Quail Research RanchPointing Dog Quail Survey (October 22 - 23, 2007)

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.50.05Miles 8Map Produced by Landitude, Inc. (www.landitude.com)

h COVEYS

HUNTER

DOG

PASTURES

SURVEY UNITS

Doc South & Deuce West

h

h

h

h

Doc North

Doc South

Suzie

North 180 TrapHeadquarters

Chittam

Annie N

orth

North we st Trap

Deuce East

#BIRDS 74 yds.

#BIRDS 120 yds.

#BIRDS 135 yds.

#BIRDS 120 yds.

Rolling Plains Quail Research RanchPointing Dog Quail Survey (October 22 - 23, 2007)

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.50.05Miles 8Map Produced by Landitude, Inc. (www.landitude.com)

h COVEYS

HUNTER

DOG

PASTURES

SURVEY UNITS

Doc North & South

Tex West

Pavilion

Babe

Oscar

Drew Trap

Meg East

James North

Tex SE

Deuce East

Tex NE

Ellie NE

Annie SW

Rolling Plains Quail Research RanchPointing Dog Quail Survey (October 22 - 23, 2007)

0 0.1 0.20.05Miles 8Map Produced by Landitude, Inc. (www.landitude.com)

h COVEYS

HUNTER

DOG

PASTURES

SURVEY UNITS

Drew Trap & Tex West

h

h#BIRDS 1

5 yds.

#BIRDS 110 yds.

Ellie NE

Ellie SE

Meg East

Ellie NW

Ellie SW

James North

Tex West

Meg West

James South

Rolling Plains Quail Research RanchPointing Dog Quail Survey (October 22 - 23, 2007)

0 0.1 0.2 0.30.05Miles 8Map Produced by Landitude, Inc. (www.landitude.com)

h COVEYS

HUNTER

DOG

PASTURES

SURVEY UNITS

Ellie NE

h

h

h

h

h

#BIRDS 53 yds.

#BIRDS 124 yds.

#BIRDS 126 yds.

#BIRDS 134 yds.

#BIRDS 103 yds.

Ellie SE

Ellie NE

Ellie SW

James South

James North

Ellie NW

Rolling Plains Quail Research RanchPointing Dog Quail Survey (October 22 - 23, 2007)

0 0.1 0.2 0.30.05Miles 8Map Produced by Landitude, Inc. (www.landitude.com)

h COVEYS

HUNTER

DOG

PASTURES

SURVEY UNITS

Ellie SE

Ellie SW

Ellie NW

Ellie SE

Ellie NE

Rolling Plains Quail Research RanchPointing Dog Quail Survey (October 22 - 23, 2007)

0 0.1 0.20.05Miles 8Map Produced by Landitude, Inc. (www.landitude.com)

h COVEYS

HUNTER

DOG

PASTURES

SURVEY UNITS

Ellie SW

h James South

Ellie SE

James North

Ellie NE

Lucy

South CRP

TT

#BIRDS 1714 yds.

Rolling Plains Quail Research RanchPointing Dog Quail Survey (October 22 - 23, 2007)

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.40.05Miles 8Map Produced by Landitude, Inc. (www.landitude.com)

h COVEYS

HUNTER

DOG

PASTURES

SURVEY UNITS

James South & Ellie SW

Babe

Meg West

Ellie NE

Meg East

Ellie NW

Deuce West

Deuce East

Annie SW

Drew

Tra p

Ellie SE

Tex We st

Osc

arJames North

Ellie SW

Rolling Plains Quail Research RanchPointing Dog Quail Survey (October 22 - 23, 2007)

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.40.05Miles 8Map Produced by Landitude, Inc. (www.landitude.com)

h COVEYS

HUNTER

DOG

PASTURES

SURVEY UNITS

Meg East & West

h

#BIRDS 1213 yds.

Lucy

South CRP

James South

TT

James North

Rolling Plains Quail Research RanchPointing Dog Quail Survey (October 22 - 23, 2007)

0 0.1 0.2 0.30.05Miles 8Map Produced by Landitude, Inc. (www.landitude.com)

h COVEYS

HUNTER

DOG

PASTURES

SURVEY UNITS

South CRP & Lucy

h

hh

hh

hh

h

h

h

hh

h

#BIRDS 93 yds.

#BIRDS 11 yds.

#BIRDS 10 yds.

#BIRDS 12 yds.

#BIRDS 85 yds.

#BIRDS 108 yds.#BIRDS 16

4 yds.

#BIRDS 713 yds.

#BIRDS 117 yds.

#BIRDS 150 yds.

#BIRDS 152 yds.

#BIRDS 159 yds.

#BIRDS 1120 yds.

Suzie

Annie North

Annie SE

Doc South

Annie SW

Doc

Nor

th

Rolling Plains Quail Research RanchPointing Dog Quail Survey (October 22 - 23, 2007)

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.40.05Miles 8Map Produced by Landitude, Inc. (www.landitude.com)

h COVEYS

HUNTER

DOG

PASTURES

SURVEY UNITS

Suzie

hh

h

h

#BIRDS51 yds.

#BIRDS300 yds. #BIRDS10

0 yds.

#BIRDS300 yds.

Oscar

TT

Tex SE

Annie SE

Tex NE

Pavilion

Tex West

Annie SW

James North

Babe

Drew Trap

South CRP

Meg East

Ellie NE

Deuce East

Rolling Plains Quail Research RanchPointing Dog Quail Survey (October 22 - 23, 2007)

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.50.05Miles 8Map Produced by Landitude, Inc. (www.landitude.com)

h COVEYS

HUNTER

DOG

PASTURES

SURVEY UNITS

Tex & Oscar

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26

27

28

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Contributors

Rolling�Plains�Quail�Research�Foundation�