We've hunted our group on the same spot near Llano/Mason forever and we decided to change it up looking for better birds.

Anyone hunted Taylor/Runnels counties for opening weekend? Are the birds generally pretty good?

The ranch we are considering has several stock tanks and milo/wheat/sunflowers.

We switched the trip to Mexico last year, and, of course, they had a 100 years rain when we arrived. Needless to say birds weren't as great as we expected. If I don't pick a good spot this year, the group may fire me!

Thanks!

Our lease last year was in NE Coke County, 6 miles from the Runnels and Taylor county lines. We had very few dove but the nearest grain fields were many miles away - nothing but heavy brush in our area. I'd think you would see a fair number of birds if you're near food sources though.

We did have a fair quail crop though (better eatin' anyway).

MA

Thanks, MowdyAg.

What are lease rates going for out there? Do you have deer and quail or just quail? I'm in need of a quail lease this year...

Thanks!

It's been several years since I hunted out there but we used to have a year-round lease in Maverick off of 158 between Ballinger and Bronte and there were always a lot of birds.

edit: and I wish the old fella we leased it from hadn't up & died because we had a fair sized place for really cheap.

[This message has been edited by Finn Maccumhail (edited 7/7/2009 7:26a).]

There are plenty of birds in that area, both resident and migrants. The key to fast shooting is pretty much the same as it is everywhere else....proximity to food and water.

Our family ranch straddles the Taylor / Runnels county line. The hunting last year was good, but you need some water and some planted fields. Sunflowers were good last year. My problem was I was hunting 10 acre fields by myself on some occassions. The mojo helped focus birds towards me. Birds were there, but you will need some feeding spots to hunt.

i hunted in Rowena(runnels county) last year on my grandpa's place...we all limited out in an hour...there were 9 of us...and then we went after the eurasian dove because there is no bad limit or season....my dad, bro, and two others went back about 2 weeks later and shot over 150 in two hours...we were in the middle of grain fields with a couple of tanks nearby

[This message has been edited by HirschfeldAg (edited 7/7/2009 11:42a).]

quote:

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What are lease rates going for out there? Do you have deer and quail or just quail?

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Second question first: Unfortunately we don't have the lease any more... ...seems there is a nice tall windy mesa running east-west across the north side. The landowners leased it out for wind turbines and we got the boot three years into a five year lease. Kinda crappy but what do you do... It was a year 'round lease for everything. Deer numbers were very good. Quality was fair, maxing out around 140'ish... ...but I'm sure it could be improved over time with disciplined management and a good feeding program - we were getting there. We had quite a few quail but didn't hunt them - the combination of heavy brush and senderos wouldn't give you much time to get off a shot and finding dead birds in whitebrush isn't my idea of a great time. There were turkeys in the area but they didn't hang out on our lease much. No hogs at all (a good thing as far as I'm concerned) although we checked out a similar place in Taylor county and there were obviously a lot of 'em there.


First question second: All things considered it was cheap - let's just say under $1500 / gun (guess it wasn't to difficult for the windmill guys to top our deal). Rates seem to generally range from $1200 to about twice that in the area depending on amenities.

Good luck.

MA

[This message has been edited by Mowdy Ag (edited 7/7/2009 9:45p).]

Well, not exactly what you are looking for, but I hunt Tom Green County, and Haskell County, South and North Of the counties in question. Opening weekend was unbelievable good in Haskell county, any and every spot had birds galore. Tom Green was good for the next couple of weeks over Milo and stock tanks. The flyway was good last year, but the previous year opening weekend was not very good. I think you are right to move a little further West, but nothing is guaranteed...

I've had good luck in Runnels County, but as others have said food/water is key.