When the ranch was purchased in 1995 it suffered, like much of Texas, from overpopulation and over-grazing by cattle, sheep, and goats. This, naturally, took it's toll on the ranch habitat. More seriously the years of overgrazing by cattle, sheep, and goats has also taken its toll on the ranch habitat. Our primary ranch goal has always been aimed at improving the health of the wildlife populations as well as reestablishing the native habitat. We have been working to accomplish this by reducing wildlife numbers, prescribed burns, creating food plots, providing year around supplemental protein, and improving watering sources by reverting surface runoff. In addition we have planted thousands of pounds of native grasses and wildflower seeds as well as over 500 native trees and shrubs.

By increasing the harvest of does and allowing bucks to reach their full potential, we have transformed what was once an mediocre hunting environment into a one of a kind world class trophy Whitetail ranch. Though improving wildlife populations is a never-ending project, we feel that we are well on our way to reaching our game management goals. Currently we are striving to re-establish a viable shooting quail population on the ranch. We also annually plant for both waterfowl and doves.

We are anticipating starting our Quail Restoration Project in the late spring of 2007. Our ranch is not prime quail habitat in that it is rougher topography, more heavily grassed and has more brush and woodland than a quail might desire --- in other words all the physical characteristics that make our ranch an ideal 'deer country' somewhat reduces it's desirability to quail. In spite of this, our resident quail have maintained a tenuous hold here against the 'varmints, fire ants, and the proliferation of tall grasses' since cattle are not part of the ranch's animal population. We love to hear our Bobwhite neighbors calling in the morning when we are having our coffee and the heart stopping rush that occurs when one of our coveys burst into flight is something that we refuse to lose.

Predator control along with habitat improvement is a large portion of our quail restoration program.

We are going to use the Surragoator System from Jason Johnson of Quail Restoration in combination with his feeder/watering stations as our major tool in this quail restoration project. We will combine the Surragator System with the Covey Base Camp's Recall Bird to increase our chances of bonding these birds to the best habitat we can provide for them. Hopefully, Ken Schortmann will be able to supply us with some of his excellent birds.

We know our long term results are almost totally dependant on habitat improvement and have already been preparing the ground for our new quail with intensive 'varmint control' and will continue with our prescribed burning programs, selective plantings (e.g. Ragweed, etc.) and other steps to maximize our chance of succeeding at this labor of love.

Continue on with the Ranch Hunting Photographic Tour

Take the Ranch Whitetail Hunting Photographic Tour

Take the Ranch Axis Hunting Photographic Tour

Take the Ranch Blackbuck Hunting Photographic Tour

Take the Ranch Aoudad Hunting Photographic Tour

Take the Ranch Turkey Hunting Photographic Tour

Take the Ranch Varmint Hunting Photographic Tour

Take a photographic tour of our habitat renewal program.

View a table of habitat renewal planting results