This month’s guest is Gene T. Miller of Amarillo. Gene’s career was largely with TPWD as a Technical Guidance Biologist. We’ll discuss the “form and function” of shelterbelts as true wildlife oases on the Great Plains.
Episode 44: Roy Wilson- 40 Years of Outfitting Quail Hunts in West Texas by Dr. Dale Rollins
Carter Smith has served as Executive Director for TPWD for the past 15 years and retires at the end of this year. He is one of the most engaging guests you’ll ever encounter. See for yourself as he joins me on November 20 to address the future of quail hunting in Texas. Smith earned wildlife degrees from Texas Tech and Yale. If you missed the podcast he did with Steve Rinella of MeatEater a couple of years ago you need to look it up and listen to it—he was as nimble navigating the questioning as...
How do quail and quail management affect rural land values? Is the “bird dog’s tail” wagging the “livestock dog” relative to land prices? These will be the topics of Dr. Rollins and his guest Sam Middleton for the October podcast. Middleton has likely handled more “quail-land” transactions than any realtor in the state. His “trophy wall” of recent sales include the W. T. Waggoner, the Four Sixes, the Matador, and Mesa Vista ranches. He’ll share his perspectives on what’s hot and what’s not.
Odds are if you have a hunting dog (defined broadly), you’ve done business with Gun Dog Supply’s Steve Snell. I first met Snell in 2008 and have shared quail leases with him several times since then. Believe me, there’s no one you’d rather have on your lease than Steve as he can troubleshoot your e-collar or GPS collar! Steve has served as a director for RPQRF since 2017. Join Dr. Dale, Dr. Brad Kubecka, and Steve as they discuss technologies useful in the bird dog world.
Last February outdoor TV mogul Chris Dorsey visited the RPQRR. I’d heard Dorsey’s name but hadn’t kept up with his accomplishments—this dog will hunt! Labeled as “The Brandfather” of outdoor TV, Dorsey has launched a total of 45 outdoor series in addition to his prowess in the print media. Less than a week after his visit, there was an article in Forbes magazine (see the article at: https://www.forbes.com/covering (in detail) his visit to RPQRR and his quail hunting experience the day after on t...
Dr. Brad Kubecka succeeded Dr. Rollins as Executive Director in June 2021. Join us this month as Drs. Rollins and Kubecka elaborate on new research projects and outreach efforts at RPQRF. Kubecka did his doctoral research at Tall Timbers Research Station and the Martin Game Bird Lab at the University of Georgia. His experiences and research at TTRS influenced his strategies on supplemental feeding, chick ecology, and predator management. Will these practices be as effective here on the western r...
Training is usually a prerequisite for good bird dogs. This month’s special guest is Mr. Ronnie Smith, Jr. with Ronnie Smith Kennels in Pawhuska, OK. The name “Smith” is synonymous with well-trained birddogs ala Delmar, Rick, and Ronnie Smith. Ronnie (Delmar’s nephew) has been training pointing dogs since 1982. Here Smith addresses common behaviors that can (and should) be corrected with proper training. You’re going to enjoy this one!
Most of the quail hunting opportunities in Texas are found on privately-owned lands. But several TPWD Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) are popular destinations too. This month's guest is Mr. Chip Ruthven who oversees several WMAs in the Panhandle of Texas. Chip and I discuss the status of quail management efforts at the Matador WMA (probably the most popular WMA in Texas for both resident and non-resident quail hunters). Ruthven earned his B.S. at Texas Tech University and his M.S. at Texas A&am...
My guest this month is Dr. Scott Henke with the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Henke has been involved with much of the research done on the risks to wildlife from aflatoxins in deer corn over the past 20 years. Join us for a fact-filled discussion on the controversy.
This month’s podcast features a “rags to riches” story about RPQRF Director Russell Gordy of Houston. Russell’s love of shotguns has transported him from the Sears & Roebuck catalog of his youth to the pinnacle of a “gun shop” at Gordy & Sons of Houston—it’s a fascinating odyssey that I know you’ll enjoy. If you’re a connoisseur of fine guns, you’ll appreciate Gordy’s description of his gun collection as “functional art.” And we thank Gordy and Sons for their sponsorship of the Dr. Dale ...
The most “photographed photograph” at RPQRR is one of my four “Betters” sitting atop the high seat in a Lannom Ranch Buggy. This month’s guest is John Lannom who designs and custom-builds the buggies in Ft. Stockton. If you’ve spent much time hunting in the Permian Basin or Trans-Pecos ecoregions, chances are you’ve seen (or hunted from) a Lannom Ranch Buggy. I was introduced to them in 1994 on a mule deer hunt in Culberson County, but got really intrigued by them after some quail hunts in Pecos...
Pete Delkus has been the Chief Meteorologist at WFAA-TV in Dallas, Texas since 2005. He has over two and half decades of meteorology experience which includes extensive work in severe weather, hurricane forecasting, wind analysis and winter storm prediction. Pete has won 16 Emmy Awards for weather anchoring and special show hosting. Delkus holds a Bachelor’s of Science from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIUE) and is board certified by the American Meteorological Society and the N...
This month’s guest is Mr. Clay Sisson from Albany, GA. Clay’s name is often quoted in quail management circles via his work with the Albany Quail Project and more recently with Tall Timbers Research Station. I first met Clay at a Quail Unlimited convention in Houston way back in 1989, and have grown to appreciate his contributions to practical, meaningful management strategies for quail-folk. Since that time I've had the opportunity to hunt quail with Clay in west Texas and have found we seem to...
This month’s guest is Mr. Rob Hailey from Abilene. The Hailey Ranch, located about 10 miles north of Abilene is a one-man show, and Rob is the one man! The Hailey Ranch has been a frequent stop for QuailMasters and related programming; his ranch is always a fan-favorite among the many ranches that QuailMasters have the privilege of visiting. Rob uses “ax, plow, cow, and fire” as well as anyone to promote habitat for bobwhites, mourning doves, and a variety of nongame species. Most of the time he...
If you're a golfer, a reference to the Augusta National means it just can't get much better. If you're a quail hunter, the same holds true for the Snipes Ranch in Stonewall County. Join us this month as Rick Snipes shares his quail odyssey on a deep sand site near Aspermont. The ingredients for this special property include a foundation on Nobscot soils which was then cultured by Snipes with ecology and innovation. Snipes also served ten years as the President of the Rolling Plains Quail Researc...
Quail Research Update from Oklahoma State University Dr. Rollins' guest this month is his colleague Dr. Dwayne Elmore from Oklahoma State University. Join them as they discuss quail happenings north of the Red River. Dr. Elmore is a Professor, Wildlife Extension Specialist, and Bollenbach Chair in Wildlife Biology in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management at Oklahoma State University. He earned degrees in wildlife biology from the University of Tennessee-Martin, Mississippi St...
“If I have seen further than others it is because I was standing on the shoulders of giants.” - Sir Isaac Newton Some giants are metaphorical while others fit the physical expectations. A rare few fulfill both dimensions. Ricky Linex is the latter, a giant in every sense of the word, but a “gentle giant” in every situation. I’ve known Ricky since 1982 when we were classmates at Texas Tech. Over that span of years, I have worked with him on numerous tours, workshops, QuailMasters classes, and Bob...
This month’s guest is Mr. Pen DeVries, a native of Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia). DeVries spent his formative years on a 30,000-acre game reserve in Rhodesia but recently moved to southwestern Oklahoma where he’s managing a ranch for bobwhites. Dr. Rollins met up with him during a private consulting venture and was impressed with his commitment towards our beloved bobwhite. DeVries has adapted to his new environment and shares some tips that will benefit any Student of Quail.
In the court of popular opinion red imported fire ants (RIFA) are a major player in the decline of quail across the southeastern half of Texas. But the scientific community typically hasn’t endorsed the thought. This month’s guest is Dr. Brad Dabbert from Texas Tech University. Dabbert has been involved with much of the RIFA X Bobwhite research over the past 20 years in Texas. He will share his expertise and research findings to help the rest of us sort the wheat from the chaff on this controver...
My guest this month is John McLaughlin, TPWD’s Quail Program coordinator for west Texas. Join us as we discuss TPWD’s role and philosophy on quail management and hunting regulations. We’ll also discuss supplemental feeding—a topic that McLaughlin studied for his Master’s degree at Texas Tech University.
My guest this month is Darcy Turner of Turner Seed Co. in Breckenridge. Darcy holds a B.S. in Agronomy from Texas A&M University. He subsequently returned to the family-owned business in 1982. While Turner Seed markets a variety of seeds for different needs, I suspect they sell more wildlife-targeted species and blends than anyone else. Darcy is my “go to” man when I have a question about food plots for quail. Join us as we discuss Food Plots 101.
My guest this month is Brian Treadwell with Conservation Fire Team of Christoval. Brian is a 5th generation Menard Co Rancher and has won TPWD’s Statewide Lone Star Land Steward award and TSCRA’s Environmental Stewardship award where the Treadwells’ repeat use of prescribed fire was a key factor in being recognized. Brian is a licensed and insured Commercial Burn Manager who has operated Conservation Fire Team since 2006, providing a commercial prescribed fire service to every ecoregion, statewi...
My guest this month is Paul Melton, a rancher from Roby. I’ve known Paul since 1995 and have come to regard him as the smartest person I know. You name the subject and he can address it adroitly. He’s also the finest wingshooter with whom I’ve ever hunted. He was instrumental in finding/securing the RPQRR back in 2006 and chairs the ranch’s Advisory Committee. You'll enjoy his philosophies as they relate to quail hunting and habitat management.
Consult your crystal ball as we delve into some new directions in quail research. Join Dr. Dale as he interviews one of his former graduate students on "what's new on the research front?" Brad Kubecka is now completing his Ph.D. at the University of Georgia where he has used "barcoding" (a type of DNA fingerprinting) to analyze the diets of bobwhite chicks. Bradi s no stranger to RPQRR; he worked here as a student intern and then went onto conduct his Ms research at RPQRR. He is one of the "youn...
What kind of value do you place on your trips afield with good friends and good dogs? Ever wondered how much you spend in pursuit of your passion? In this month's podcast, Dr. Dale visits with his colleague, Dr. Jason Johns, Extension economist for Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service. The good doctors discuss research they did several years ago to compute costs and returns from quail hunting in Texas. (You may not want your spouse to listen to this one!). Dr. Johnson also discusses economic...
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we are thankful for opportunities to help wild quail. We utilize every possible option to restore quails to their former ranges, including the science of translocation, which we have been studying since 2013. Now, translocation of wild quail is a hot topic nationally, and increasingly so in Texas. To learn more about translocation, this month’s episode of our Dr. Dale on Quail podcast features Becky Ruzicka, a doctoral student at Colorado State Universit...
Warm weather and opening weekend increase the odds of encountering a rattlesnake while afield. Nothing can ruin a quail hunt like a trip to the vet clinic with a snakebit bird dog. This month’s episode of our Dr. Dale on Quail podcast features an interview with Dr. Bud E. Alldredge, Jr. DVM of Sweetwater. Given his tenure (51 years of practicing) and his location (Sweetwater, long-time home of the world’s largest rattlesnake round-up), Dr. Alldredge has treated hundreds of snakebitten dogs. Clic...
With dove season underway, quail hunters are looking ahead on the calendar and wondering: what kind of quail season can we look forward to come November? This month’s episode of our Dr. Dale on Quail podcast answers this question. Join Dr. Dale and Gary Joiner as they discuss Dale’s “quail trap line” of reports from landowners and managers across Texas. Dale also covers our quail hunting forecast and outlook.
This month’s episode of our Dr. Dale on Quail Podcast concludes our exploration of Aldo Leopold’s classic treatise, “Game Management.” Join Dr. Dale and Gary Joiner as they discuss Leopold’s final (and less conventional) “tool” for restoring wildlife populations – the gun. Dale and Gary also share a great conversation with Joe Crafton, President and Co-Founder of Quail Coalition, on the impact of hunters on conservation and the incredible work by QC to save wild quail over the last 14 years.
