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Post by genesis273 on Nov 18, 2020 7:41:45 GMT -5
I'm headed out on my first actual quail hunt. I'm really an upland bird hunter per se. I'm usually too distracted by chasing whitetails. But, since I jumped a good covey (20 or so) 2 out of the 4 times I hunted this particular part of the farm I figured I would give it a go. I'm going by myself. No dog. Just walking the brush. I don't know anything about quail hunting. I'm not sure what to expect after the shot. I'm anticipating having to look through the grass and briars for any that I might shoot. But, I don't know if I should give the covey a few minutes to settle back down or if I should try and just follow were it goes right away. It'll be a learning process that's for sure. I was going to take my turkey gun. It's a Mossberg 935 auto loader. I did buy an improved cylinder choke for it just for quail hunting. However, I'm feeling a nostalgic this morning and may take the hand me down single shot 20 gauge instead.
I'll let you all know how I fair.
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Post by greghopper on Nov 18, 2020 7:59:44 GMT -5
What’s the limit per day where your at?
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Post by genesis273 on Nov 18, 2020 8:12:21 GMT -5
I believe it is 4.
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Post by BOBinIN on Nov 18, 2020 8:23:08 GMT -5
Might want to take a paper bag or two, you could run into some snipe while you are out there.
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Post by genesis273 on Nov 18, 2020 11:18:08 GMT -5
I ended up with two birds out of three flushes. I didn't have a shot on my first flush. Tickled to death with these two birds with my grandpa's old single shot 20ga. They can sure be hard to find in the briars and canary grass.   |
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Post by BOBinIN on Nov 18, 2020 11:48:28 GMT -5
I'm impressed... you did good.
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Post by featherduster on Nov 18, 2020 12:48:15 GMT -5
I'm impressed... you did good.  |
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Post by ccavacini on Nov 18, 2020 13:58:10 GMT -5
That's a good job without a dog. With a dog, your chances of locating a covey, singles, and downed birds really increase.
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Post by featherduster on Nov 18, 2020 15:09:54 GMT -5
That's a good job without a dog. With a dog, your chances of locating a covey, singles, and downed birds really increase. Even better yet he did it with a single shot! |
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Post by schall53 on Nov 18, 2020 15:13:09 GMT -5
You are a lucky man, the last time I saw a quail around here was 49 years ago. Congratulations.
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Post by genesis273 on Nov 18, 2020 15:13:34 GMT -5
That's a good job without a dog. With a dog, your chances of locating a covey, singles, and downed birds really increase. I shot the first bird, I knew I hit him so I turned my attention to the covey to see where they landed. Almost a costly mistake. It took me awhile, about 15 minutes I guess, to find that first bird. I was wishing I had a dog about that time. The second bird I shot was a different story. I stayed looked on him and retrieved him immediately. Fun times that's for sure. But, I flushed that covey 3 times so figured that was enough harassment for one day. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2020 19:02:57 GMT -5
I ended up with two birds out of three flushes. I didn't have a shot on my first flush. Tickled to death with these two birds with my grandpa's old single shot 20ga. They can sure be hard to find in the briars and canary grass. Great pictures! Wow how cool to find a wild covey. My buddy is raising quail he hatched from eggs and keeping them in a flight pen until they`re ready to introduce into the wild. I`ve only hunted put-n-take birds, but it`s a real rush to have pheasant or quail come up under your feet and get to knock a few down. Congratulations, you`re living the dream! |
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Post by bullseye69 on Nov 18, 2020 19:18:23 GMT -5
Thats a grand day for sure.
I guess maybe 20 years ago when I worked at La Porte county landscaping. I was digging trees on one of their tree farms and when I first got there I heard quail and seen 2. Other than that I haven't seen quail in the wild before.
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Post by HighCotton on Nov 18, 2020 21:31:16 GMT -5
That's a good job without a dog. With a dog, your chances of locating a covey, singles, and downed birds really increase. Even better yet he did it with a single shot! I couldn't agree more! genesis...I'm not sure if you realize what kind of day you had there. For Indiana, not on a preserve, believe me...a rarity indeed!!! You'll cherish this day as long as you live! |
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Post by genesis273 on Nov 18, 2020 21:50:02 GMT -5
Not being an upland bird hunter and not having the understanding the lack of quail around, I suppose I don't truly realize how blessed I was in that aspect. But, believe you me, I will cherish that hunt forever! Absolute beautiful morning. Even a little spiritual lesson out there as well. I'll save that for the spiritual support form.
I'm going to leave them alone for a bit then make one more attempt at them.
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Post by featherduster on Nov 19, 2020 4:26:48 GMT -5
Find a unique recipe and cook them with care because that will be the most unique meal you will ever eat.
TIP: they are a dark meat bird DO NOT OVER COOK THEM leave them pink inside.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2020 4:31:46 GMT -5
Not being an upland bird hunter and not having the understanding the lack of quail around, I suppose I don't truly realize how blessed I was in that aspect. But, believe you me, I will cherish that hunt forever! Absolute beautiful morning. Even a little spiritual lesson out there as well. I'll save that for the spiritual support form. I'm going to leave them alone for a bit then make one more attempt at them. Too many people would hunt that covey out of existence, good on you for understanding how fragile that covey actually is and respecting that. |
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Post by ccavacini on Nov 19, 2020 13:36:23 GMT -5
Rule of thumb....try to leave at least 8 birds in a covey so they'll last through the winter...that is if it's the only covey. If there are more than one covey, they'll join up with the others.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2020 9:37:06 GMT -5
My brothers place has a field about 15 acres of mostly sumac. Good number of covey are in that field and along the edges. Now there are coveys around the farm. Started about 10 years ago and numbers have been growing each year. Good to see. We aren't hunting them yet. Maybe in a year or two.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2020 9:41:52 GMT -5
Hopefully the ruffed grouse comes back, but it doesn't look good. I haven't heard or seen one in 20 years hunting. Hearing then drum was one of my favorite woods sounds. Something about that drum echoing through the woods.
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