They say you learn something everyday and today is one of those. I have never heard of eye worms in quail until reading your post Stanton. That sounds like as good a reason as any for the decline of wild quail. I hunted wild quail out on the west mesa here in Albuquerque when I moved here 32 years ago. That last for a very few seasons until the "settlers" and their countless houses came to the mesa. Now the only quail around this west side of Albuquerque seems to be in the yards of residents, especially those who put out seeds for them and the other birds. I did have a covey in my back yard until a demonic little boy with a BB gun demolished the entire covey. I have only been able to shoot released birds at a location south of here since then. I did, in a fit of weakness once, go to Kellers Farm Store and buy a couple of packages of dressed quail for a special dinner for my wife's birthday!! Oh well. It is what it is. I will have to be content to continue with early release birds. Of course, at 76 I can not walk as far anyway in search of wild ones.
