I know what you're going through. My oldest dog just turned 9 and during his first 2-3 years I had some fabulous quail spots on my Grandparents' farm. I never over hunted the covey's (never took more than 3-4 birds out of each covery) and each covey was at least 18 birds. One tree line that was about 800 yards long that zig-zagged contained 2 coveys of at least 20 birds and another with about 15 (no joke...got into all 3 on the same hunt a few times). Anyways, we got into a slump where we could not find many, if any wild birds on their place and we were the only ones that quail hunt out there. Last year (New Year's Day 2004) was the first time I had gotten into a covey out there in 2 years! Shot one bird and quit b/c I did not want to take anymore. Got into 1 other covey this year but for the most part I've been trying to stay away in hopes of building up the pop. again. I've mostly been hunting on controlled DNR hunts and preserves (which good ones are far and few between anymore).