How do people manage to hit quail?

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Jason_W

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My wife and I went for a little walk/hike in the Sierra Nevada foothills today and at one point we scared up a bunch of some kind of quail (not bobwhite).

How do people manage to connect with those things. They're tiny and incredible fast. I'm used to hunting ruffed grouse in Vermont and Maine which are only hard to hit because they're adept at getting the maximum amount of brush between them and the hunter in a hurry.
 
Probably scaled quail. The trick is to not get all excited when the covey breaks and start blasting at the covey. Pick out one bird and shoot it going away. If you have time, pick out another bird and shoot it going away.

First timers always think "OMG birds everywhere I can't miss". Well, you can miss and WILL if you blast away at the entire covey. :)
 
Yep...with experience you'll get less surprised...which will help you focus on one bird rather than all the birds. Practice practice practice.

I recall that flustered feeling pretty well. Fun ain't it?:D
 
I have seen some people that make it look easy, I wish I could give you good information, but I cant even hit the grouse or a clay, unless it is on the ground.

I have tried, but no success.
 
The Blues down in my desert area are far more likely to take off running than to immediately fly. So, either a running shot or an aerial shot at 40 or 50 yards. They darned sure won't hold for a dog.

And, wow, do they ever look just like rocks when they hit the ground. "Metamorphosis in Death", I call it. Hard to find the little critters, sometimes, so I don't try for doubles.

I've done okay with an old Model 12, 30" full choke, Winchester high-brass 7-1/2.
 
I do believe the quail you kicked up were probably Valley, or Mountain quail. The Mountain quail are a bit larger, but just as fast. We have quite a few valley quail out here in S. Nevada as well as gambels quail. I use a close quartering Labrador, out here and when he gets rather anxious, I get ready.

Generally I use a .410 during the first few weeks of the season then, I switch to one of my 20ga. So far I've had pretty good luck except this year there doesn't seem to be as many quail as in years past in my usual hunting haunts. BTW I haven't had much problem hitting them as it usually only takes a pellet or two to bring them down. Makes for tastier meat if they aren't all shot up.
 
I would guess they are either gambles, California quail, scaled. They could sldo be mearns, which I think are sometimes referred to as mountain quail as they generally live at elevations above 5,000'.

It's a lot easier to hit them when you hunt with a good german short hair, it's like a fish in a barrel thing.

GS
 
good bird dog helps a lot once they go on point you know to be ready without a dog your not very likely to get a shot.
 
We have "mountain" and "California" quail here in NE Oregon. I think they call em different things in other places. They both have little tassles sticking off the front of their heads. the "mountain" variety is a little bigger and not as common around here.

We usually find them in wooded draws at lower elevations. I come accross them when I'm hunting for chukkars and huns. One thing I've noticed is that they don't seem to flush as a flock quite as much as chukkars and huns do. They kinda go all over and not all at the same time. I think I flushed four coveys last year. I bagged one :eek:.

I struggle with ruffed grouse, and quail because of the heavy cover makes it hard to get a good shot. I struggle with doves because of the speed and agility. I do well with blue grouse because they are kind of stupid. I do well with huns and chukkars because they tend to flush en masse and I aim at the lead bird and usually get two shots off. Twice I've dropped more than one bird per shot because they fly so close together.

They all make great soup
 
I am way better at quail and other upland risers than I am at pass shooting anything..
 
Doves on opening day and bobwhites are pretty easy but those Gambels we tried in west Texas didn't play fair. The scaled quail were easier for me than the Gambels but both of them cheat.
 
Last time I hunted quail was in 1969 in the Trinity Mountains, California. Trail mix was a new thing at the time and I was at a friends property camping. They had an old weathered picnic table that I spilled some of the trail mix on.
When I woke up there was a covey on the table. Head shot with a 5mm Sheridan blue streak and I had breakfast. Coming back after getting skunked trout fishing and they were on the table again, dinner. Great big mountain quail, one was a meal. Cleaned, wrapped with a bacon strip and toasted over an open campfire.

blindhari
 
Having lived in the northern NV area for 20 years, they were most likely California or mountain quail. A nice 28 and either open chokes over dogs or tighter ones without a dog will work nicely. At least they don't run uphill like chukar do!
Quail are great to hunt and tasty to eat.
 
As stated, much bettrr ofds with a good pointing dog. Keep it simple and pick one and do not think too much. Be safe and practice.
 
I do well with blue grouse because they are kind of stupid.
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Blue grouse are great sport with a Ruger 22lr auto pistol. Legal here, too. I take my time and try to hit them in the head or neck.

When I hunted quail here, it was usually out on the plains where there's lots of tree cactus. After we broke up a couple of coveys of thirty or so birds each, we would have to go after the two or three birds that would hole up in each of the cactus clumps. An average day for me would be 7-8 birds.
 
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