Drive about SD East County....6-4-23

[ilovesprig]

I'm baby sitting 4 labs...So, I didn't get a very early start...Really liked what I saw, once I got in the east county...Started off at a friends ranch in Mesa Grande shooting ground squirrels...Pretty warm and the mustard is really high...Only ones I got shots at were on rocks or in the corrals...The CZ .17 is damn deadly...

Every pond of any size still has water, as do the creeks...Great for our ground nesting birds (quail, turkeys), and deer...Saw a number of hens that looked like they had poults following them...Even saw 3 longbeards still strutting for a single hen...

Finally ended up at the "Best 40"...Right off the bat there was a hen with what appeared to be 8- or 9 poults...The grass is so tall, it's really hard to tell...Then I started checking cameras...There were at least 3 different bucks and a few does...Also, El Gato showed up...You got deer, you got cats...

The squirrels are thick on this place too...So, I spent a lot of time waiting for shots...The shots that were in the 50-100 yd range were right on, but shots that were really close (15-25)...I couldn't hit my ass...WITW!

While waiting for the those shots, I had more hens come in...A pair have already teamed up...They had at least 15 poults...Then another single hen came in and she at at least 9...While driving out, I saw 2 more hens with a bunch of poults...It's still early and they're still small, but this is the kind of production we've been waiting for...

 

[sportyg]

Nice read Steve and great photos.

 

[Blkpowder Hunter]

I'm baby sitting 4 labs...So, I didn't get a very early start...Really liked what I saw, once I got in the east county...Started off at a friends ranch in Mesa Grande shooting ground squirrels...Pretty warm and the mustard is really high...Only ones I got shots at were on rocks or in the corrals...The CZ .17 is damn deadly...

Every pond of any size still has water, as do the creeks...Great for our ground nesting birds (quail, turkeys), and deer...Saw a number of hens that looked like they had poults following them...Even saw 3 longbeards still strutting for a single hen...

Finally ended up at the "Best 40"...Right off the bat there was a hen with what appeared to be 8- or 9 poults...The grass is so tall, it's really hard to tell...Then I started checking cameras...There were at least 3 different bucks and a few does...Also, El Gato showed up...You got deer, you got cats...

The squirrels are thick on this place too...So, I spent a lot of time waiting for shots...The shots that were in the 50-100 yd range were right on, but shots that were really close (15-25)...I couldn't hit my ass...WITW!

While waiting for the those shots, I had more hens come in...A pair have already teamed up...They had at least 15 poults...Then another single hen came in and she at at least 9...While driving out, I saw 2 more hens with a bunch of poults...It's still early and they're still small, but this is the kind of production we've been waiting for...

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[Blkpowder Hunter]

Thanks for the update. Love the .17 HMR, I’ve clocked squirrels out to 150, it’s deadly.

 

[msailor]

Great pics and can’t wait to see what the deer herd looks like this fall and the turkeys next spring

 

[180ls1]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing Steve.

 

[Snake Charmer]

The cover is so tall in Mesa Grande that you cannot see either hens, toms and for sure poults. Lots of toms still looking for girls every morning from what I am hearing. Should be good carry over as well as good production this year.

 

[garlicsalt]

That looks to be ballistic tip damage ?

 

[Cast N Blast]

I'm baby sitting 4 labs...So, I didn't get a very early start...Really liked what I saw, once I got in the east county...Started off at a friends ranch in Mesa Grande shooting ground squirrels...Pretty warm and the mustard is really high...Only ones I got shots at were on rocks or in the corrals...The CZ .17 is damn deadly...

Every pond of any size still has water, as do the creeks...Great for our ground nesting birds (quail, turkeys), and deer...Saw a number of hens that looked like they had poults following them...Even saw 3 longbeards still strutting for a single hen...

Finally ended up at the "Best 40"...Right off the bat there was a hen with what appeared to be 8- or 9 poults...The grass is so tall, it's really hard to tell...Then I started checking cameras...There were at least 3 different bucks and a few does...Also, El Gato showed up...You got deer, you got cats...

The squirrels are thick on this place too...So, I spent a lot of time waiting for shots...The shots that were in the 50-100 yd range were right on, but shots that were really close (15-25)...I couldn't hit my ass...WITW!

While waiting for the those shots, I had more hens come in...A pair have already teamed up...They had at least 15 poults...Then another single hen came in and she at at least 9...While driving out, I saw 2 more hens with a bunch of poults...It's still early and they're still small, but this is the kind of production we've been waiting for...

View attachment 58693View attachment 58694View attachment 58695View attachment 58696View attachment 58697View attachment 58698View attachment 58699View attachment 58700View attachment 58701View attachment 58702

Thanks for the update. I trained the dog on BLM land a few weeks ago and saw and much the same. Water everywhere still and quail everywhere making their single note call.

Did you hear many quail of the curved or straight top variety?!

 

[ilovesprig]

Thanks for the update. I trained the dog on BLM land a few weeks ago and saw and much the same. Water everywhere still and quail everywhere making their single note call.

Did you hear many quail of the curved or straight top variety?!

I didn't hear or see any quail...The places I went don't have many any way....Did see some babies a couple of weeks ago in the desert (gambel's)......