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
1
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
2
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/
3
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.
Rolli
ng P
lain
s Q
uail
Rese
arch
Ran
ch B
ird
Dog
Cen
sus
Expe
rim
ent
- Oct
ober
, 200
7
TO
TALS
30
2
99
14
1
82
D
ay 1
(pm
) D
ay 2
(am
)
Pa
stur
e Te
am
mem
bers
M
ode
of
trav
el
Cove
ys
obse
rved
To
tal
quai
l
PFD
Team
m
embe
rs
Mod
e of
tr
avel
Co
veys
ob
serv
ed
Tota
l qu
ail
PF
D
Ann
ie N
RH
/NG
Wal
k 0
0
Ann
ie S
E D
R/ER
A
TV
0 0
AH
/CR
ATV
0
0
Ann
ie S
W
DR/
ER
ATV
1
14
9
Ba
be
AH
/CR/
BA
ATV
0
0
Chit
tam
SP
/RM
W
alk
0 0
D
euce
E
JH/A
VJ
ATV
5
34
JH/B
B A
TV
0 0
D
euce
W
S
K/BB
A
TV
DM
/FB
ATV
0
0
Doc
N
SP/R
M
Wal
k 1
7 4
EB
/DC
ATV
3
37
0,0,
5 D
oc S
BB
/SK
ATV
0
0
D
M/F
B A
TV
0 0
D
rew
Trap
BB
/SK
ATV
2
13
CM
Hor
se
0 0
Ellie
NE
CM
Hor
se
5 21
CM
H
orse
5
86
El
lie N
W
El
lie S
E RH
/NG
Wal
k 5
52
El
lie S
W
JH/B
B A
TV
0 0
PM/J
S H
orse
1
11
20
Jam
es N
D
R/ER
A
TV
0 0
Ja
mes
S
DR/
ER
ATV
0
0
Lucy
SS
/JS
Wal
k 1
12
10
Meg
E
M
eg W
D
M/F
B A
TV
1 (b
lues
) 10
15
O
scar
D
C/EB
A
TV
0 0
SP/R
M
Wal
k 1
13
4 S.
CRP
SS
/JS
ATV
0
0
Suzi
e PM
/JS
Wal
k 7
80
11,1
3,4,
920
,2
BA
W
alk
2 22
Tex
E-N
D
C/EB
A
TV
2 40
SP
/RM
W
alk
0 0
Te
x E-
S D
C/EB
A
TV
1 30
SP
/RM
W
alk
1 5
1 Te
x W
SK
/BB
ATV
4
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
5
� 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
25
26
27
28
29
Contributors
Rolling�Plains�Quail�Research�Foundation�