Does anyone understand quail hunting?

[Loveguns]

I think this really takes all the fun out of hunting. I mean you trap the bird and let it go and then shoot it? How is that hunting? You might as well shoot it in its cage or shoot clay targets. Maybe I'm alone in this but I feel like the only real kind of hunting is with animals that can move around from the beginning.

[.22guy]

Who does it that way?

[jerry]

Your talking game preserve hunting?

Wild birds are a blast. Don't bother with pen raised.

[mym1a]

My only experience hunting qual was in the AZ desert they were wild birds

[jerry]

i used to LOVE chasing Gambles quail near Tucson. Only bad thing is the little boogers would rather run than fly, unlike bobwhites that explode at your feet 100 MPH.

[troy2000]

Originally Posted by Loveguns

I think this really takes all the fun out of hunting. I mean you trap the bird and let it go and then shoot it? How is that hunting? You might as well shoot it in its cage or shoot clay targets. Maybe I'm alone in this but I feel like the only real kind of hunting is with animals that can move around from the beginning.

That isn't how we hunt them around here...

What you describe sounds like something Cheney would do: target practice on live birds.

[samuel]

That is wrong Troy,Cheney target practices on live lawyers and I approve. sam.

[texnmidwest]

LOL!!!

Does sound like the original poster was talking about game preserve bird hunting. That to me is not hunting, that is harvesting a crop. They do that with pheasants up here. You buy 10 birds and they go out to the field and release them. Then several guys with dogs go chase them down and shoot them.

Hunting is when one persues wild birds. Quail hunting is a hoot. I don't hunt them anymore. I don't have dogs and when a large covey of Bob Whites flushes right at my feet, my heart won't take it anymore. Sure are good eating though. Wild birds just taste better than the pen raised birds.

[Windwalker]

We never hunted them that way either. Doesn't sound much like hunting to me.

[troy2000]

Originally Posted by samuel

That is wrong Troy,Cheney target practices on live lawyers and I approve. sam.

Don't think he needs to practice much on lawyers, Sam. He hit that one fella first try.

[neophyte]

Loveguns: Sir; by the strictest value to hunting; this isn't a problem; nor anything for condemnation.
These bird are set out with the birds head under it wing. Bird will hold until dog either flushes, or the hunter kicks them out. Much like wild; they just don't run. Nor are they as quick.

Pen raised bird give folks something to do.
If "said" gameland owner had 3-6 hunters 4 days a week; wild birds wouldn't have a chance.

The practice fills a niche, supposedly helps keep pressure off the wild birds.
Now; here is my concern; with greater consequence.

Pen bird not shot at shooting
Pen bird by the grace of God doesn't starve or get gobbled up by predators.
They Breed.
Will this degrade the wild bird, much as in-breeding dogs?
Does this degrade the sport?
Does this degrade the hunting dogs?

redundantly; a void is filled

[texnmidwest]

The way I understand it the pen raised bird will be as good as wild in a little while. Actually, the pen raised birds will bring different genetics to the wild population and the rest of the population will get stronger...in theory. Unless, the pen raised birds bring disease it should be no different from stocking fish in our lakes and ponds. Although, the lack of a natural fear of predators should preclude many pen raised birds from surviving long.

However, I am not a wildlife biologist. Would love to hear input from one though.

[ArkansasHunter]

I think the Bob White is fixing to get a helping hand from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commishion.
It was annouced a few months ago.
Where I hunt there is only 1 covey a Quail that I know of, my step father and I jumped it as we were calling it a day.
It looked to be over 20 birds and was a pleaseing site to see...A.H

[Loveguns]

Originally Posted by texnmidwest

LOL!!!

Does sound like the original poster was talking about game preserve bird hunting. That to me is not hunting, that is harvesting a crop. They do that with pheasants up here. You buy 10 birds and they go out to the field and release them. Then several guys with dogs go chase them down and shoot them.

Hunting is when one persues wild birds. Quail hunting is a hoot. I don't hunt them anymore. I don't have dogs and when a large covey of Bob Whites flushes right at my feet, my heart won't take it anymore. Sure are good eating though. Wild birds just taste better than the pen raised birds.

yes, i meant game preserve hunting. didn't know what it was called exactly.

glad i'm not alone in this. i just don't see the point. but hunting wild birds is perfectly fine. pen raised quail would prbly be useless in the wild. any domesticated animal that is fed and doesn't hunt it's own food wouldn't survive a day in the wild

check this out:
Quail Hunting School

[BPierce]

I have hunted wild pheasants in ND since I was old enough to lug a 16 Ga. around and I have to say pen raised pheasants are about like wild birds in the first couple of weekends of the season. That is to say that when worked with a good dog they don't tend to run hard and flush out of range. There are however farms that are not up to the ethical standards that the vast majority hold to.

The advantage of game farms is that they are where you want them. Certainly, if we all had access to good wild birds there would be no need for the farms. Unfortunately states like ND have priced and restricted the non-resident out of the picture.

[stitchclimber]

I've hunted on a game farm before. My uncle took me out so his dogs could get used to working together on birds before the actual season started. It's not near as fun as hunting in the wild, but it's good practice for both you and the dogs.

[Oxford]

I was broken into hunting by using my old 16 ga single shot to attempt shooting quail I scared up along fence rows and "draws" in the flint hills of SE Kansas. To me, that's the way to go quail hunting.

However, for others who don't have that option, I have no problem justifying their hunting quail on game preserves, if they can afford it and have the opportunity.

[nathangdad]

This is not hunting and I would not participate.

[neophyte]

nathangdad: Sir; I couldn't agree with you more.

It does allow the 'wantabee' or the medically challenged a moment.
It allows the 'gameland' refuge, from over use, it protects the game.

Condemnation, placing my values, dictating another's outing, isn't me
Like I started; I agree that this isn't my cup of tea.

[elmer fudd]

if your gunna hunt that way you should just wring their neck then you dont have any buckshot