Quail Hunting

Quail hunting is a game sport, enjoyed primarily by those who wish to serve the delicious plump quail breasts at their tables. Quail are plump terrestrial birds that feed on seeds and small prey. They are ground nesters and are capable of short bursts of flight. The Japanese (or coturnix quail) and Common Quail migrate flying long distances. Quail is a collective name that covers many species such as the two mentioned above plus Bobwhite Quail, Gambel Quail, Stubble Quail, New Zealand Quail, Rain Quail, Harlequin Quail, Brown Quail, Blue Quail, Asian Blue-quail, Snow Mountain Quail, Jungle Bush-quail, Rock Bush-quail, Painted Bush-quail, Manipur Bush-quail and Himalayan Quail. You can readily see that quail hunting can be enjoyed most anywhere in the world that has a friendly habitat that fits their needs.

Quail hunting dogs flush the birds into flight so that the hunter can make a great shot using a shotgun. A hiker can walk right by a covey of quail without them bursting into flight, never realizing the birds were hiding in the bushes nearby. During hunting season, when a hunting dog sniffs them out from a hiding place in the bushes, the hunter can get a great shot.

In the southern part of North America, a type of quail called the Bobwhite is known for its call that sounds like “bob-white, bob white”. Folks living in quail country may have fond memories of their first quail hunting escapades as youngsters, trying to shoot these birds with BB-Guns and Twenty Rifles. Needless to say, most of the birds got away until these folks graduated to a single or double-barreled shotgun with their scatter spray shots that could easily bag their game birds.

Quail hunting can be rewarding. After a long day of trekking with their dogs, hunters enjoy the delicate meat which can be prepared utilizing old fashion salt and peppered, rolled in flour and pan fried cooking or a fancy French recipe.

In the U.S., quail hunting has become more difficult in certain areas due to habitat loss as commercial farming has decreased much of their habitat. The answer to this problem could lie partly in the large farms and ranches where quail have the opportunity to nest, live and multiply. Many farmers and ranchers are now working to increase habitat and raise quail from fertile eggs they can purchase, thus turning their land into hunting preserves, which becomes a profitable business that would not disturb their farming and ranching enterprise except during quail season, which usually starts in October and ends in February in most states. Crops have been gathered by this time, thus hunters allowed on the land with strict rules and regulations should not interfere with farming or ranching activities. Quail Unlimited has be very active and successful in promoting and developing additional quail habitat throughout the US.