First quail...ever

[Bronkorob]

My deer season was a mess and I just didn’t have the time with work and family stuff to get a full weekend out.

But I was able to sneak out to a local area to try my hand at quail. Last weekend scoped it out and saw there were actually quail in the area. Today I got a few hours and snuck out.

I learned a few things on my first attempt. First, I USED to be decent a shooting clays, used to be being the key word. Definitely a skill that fades.
Second, I totally get why mass movement confuses predators. Like zebras or herds of deer scattering from a predator. When I flushed that first covey I totally couldn’t focus on a single bird and I’m pretty sure I shot at a blur of a few of them. Took a few attempts on being able to single out a bird and track it before I knocked my first one down. Lastly, I totally get why some people really get into upland birds.

was a blast and hope to get in some more trips this season. Now to hunt down all those new recipes.

 

[Deleted member 27310]

Congrats… cook that baby up, it'll taste great.

 

[WaterDawg]

Yep, everything you said. Glad you found a new hobby!

 

[Nuevo]

The best part is when you flush a cubby and you don’t expect it. That’s been a charmin moment for me a few times.

 

[MarceloF]

Good stuff man...quail hunting in my opinion is supper fun and addicting!

 

[GUNDOGLOVER]

Good stuff there. You learn a little more every time out. Sounds like you learned not to flock shoot, seldom if ever works.

 

[TheGDog]

When I was out for deer on the upland opener date, wouldn't you know it... sure enough 15ft from my sit, I get to watch a massive covey cross by me one at a time. Must have been 20-25 or so birds! First comes the lead guy, takes his roost on something a little higher. He calls, then they start filing out one-by-one from the brush. Then he flies over to where they are going to and perches up high again for a few. Takes watch while they forage. Even got to see them return back to where they came from in the brush. It was cool to see that many of them fly on back!

And yeah, Nuevo talks about "charmin moments". For me that's when hiking back out of their under headlamp in the middle of the night and it's either Quail or something similar... but whatever bird it is... it holds until you're like right damn next to it then all of a sudden they all break from cover in the bushes on the side of the trail like 5ft from your head all at the same time and startle ya a bit.

P.S. Loves me some "Desert Chicken"

 

[HATCHET1]

Thats a really big quail .

 

[GUNDOGLOVER]

Some friends just got back the crit. They said all the birds they got were mature birds. 13 total. Going it two weeks.

 

[Bronkorob]

thanks guys. Cooked up delicious. Wife and kiddo loved it=more time to get out there.