Young birds

[TXShooter]

I quail hunted on a friends place about 40 miles west of Houston, TX last week and several of the birds I shot appeared to be only half grown. I know from past experience that certain years will have late hatches, but usually it is weather related. Any ideas why these birds were hatched late this year?

[Duane M]

We hunted at Burkburnett the opener and it was normal, lots of young birds. Texas flat opens the season too early cause even when you don't lose the first hatch you will have birds nesting late in the year. Sucks when ya shoot a bird so young, what a waste.

[romeo212000]

I shot two birds out of the first covey we flushed Saturday morning and both of them looked like sparrows. The others were good sized but these were definately late hatches.