12 Pro Quail Hunting Tips

Quail is a bird famed for its delicious meat. In some communities, it is believed quail eggs and meat have medicinal value. As a consequence, more people seem to be obsessed with the desire to hunt the animal. It is critical to understand that with the passage of time, quails have become “wiser” hence harder to kill. One needs a lot of preparation for them to surmount the challenge involved in hunting quails. In fact, a hunter needs enough firepower and brain power to able to hunt down the quails from the woods where they are hiding. Without adequate preparation, any hunter is bound to fail. In this article, we enumerate some tips that make the hunting process easier and successful. We revisit hunting tips and how they affect hunting outcomes.

Hunting tips

Quails are found in almost every habitat that we live in. Circumstances in different parts of the world may be different but at least quails will find a place to inhabit. Therefore, no standard practices apply to all situations and areas. In spite of the fact that animals and birds have a specific way of behavior, the environment equally plays a significant role in determining how they behave. For success, it is advisable that aspiring hunters consult experienced hunters regarding their conduct of quail hunting. It goes without saying that for a hunter to be successful, they have to keep in mind that information is power and would make the hunting process easier and faster.

To learn more information, you should keep closer and possibly get mentoring from experienced quail hunters within your locality. It is not a must that they accompany you to your hunting expeditions, but their experience in the fields would be a great asset for you as a hunter. This is a concept that applies to every facet of life and not only in hunting. With a proper network, you will be able to understand where to go hunting, appropriate weapons to use, when to go hunting, etc. We should be inquisitive in our preparatory stages so as to accumulate all the desired knowledge necessary for the activity. Below are some tips that would make it easy to track and capture quails.

1. Weapons to use for hunting quails

There is an array of weapons that a hunter can use when hunting quails. However, one of the most prominent weapons is a shotgun known for its precision to shoot and kill quails. Not only is this rifle used for hunting quails, but it is also equally important in hunting other animals too. There are different types of the shotgun; however, a 12-20 gauge shotgun would be ideal for the job. This shotgun has a 26-inch barrel and would shoot prey from a long range and would be effective for quails. Smaller guns would shoot but may not necessarily kill. They may fall off to the ground and later fly off. This is not the intended goal. Therefore, the hunter should ensure that his/her shotgun is functional and well serviced to undertake the task efficiently.

2. Where to find quails

Before setting out on a hunting expedition, it is important to ask fundamental questions. Some of the issues may be regarding what quails eat, and their overall habits. Over time, quail population has steadily reduced. However, this should not dampen a hunter’s spirit. With proper preparation, it is possible that he is able to hunt quails successfully. Skill and professionalism become handy at this stage. A hunter is expected to think outside the box to develop proactive ideas.
Quails enjoy feeding on worms and bugs. This notwithstanding, quails are famous for being difficult to be found; they are difficult to track. One moment quails are in one place but next minute they disappear. They burrow quickly beneath bushes and shrubs and disappear without a trace. With this scenario, it may sound frustrating hunting quails. The hunter is advised to be patient, remain quiet and give them time to come out of their hideouts before they can swing into action.
As mentioned above, quails love worms and bugs. Therefore, this may give us an idea on where we can find them. It is important that a hunter understands when the worms come to the ground. Naturally, worms and bugs appear when the ground is wet, rainy and muddy. This is already enough information for us to make a decision. We had also said that they inhabit the semi-wooded area. Hunters are advised to clear grass in such zones to make them visible. Quail hunting should be done especially during the rainy season. In the United States, for example, particular states are known to have quails. The states include Illinois, Texas, and Georgia among others. When a hunter is determined to hunt down the quails, they will find them in their locality.

3. Hunting dog

During the process, a hunting dog is an essential item that cannot be left out. For a long time, dogs have been man’s partners in the hunting game. There are cases when a hunter ventures out to the woods to hunt but in the process becomes lonely. At this time, it may become necessary to turn to his dog. A good hunting dog would need to be trained to be effective. Most of the dog training on hunting quails is on the job. The hunter often guides the dog on what to do or not do.
The training of the hunting dog is a considerable investment that needs to be undertaken by the hunter. Therefore, commitment by the hunter is required in order to invest in training the dog. Else, you do not need to waste money in the process. You may only need to take time and raise a great dog if you make hunting passion. A great dog will ensure that your hunting expeditions will be successful, and you will enjoy and looking forward to conducting the process.

4. Patience is a great virtue

To be a revered hunter, one needs to be patient. They continuously need to make fast and decisive actions. Most importantly, patience is a virtue for any hunter in the fields. Patience makes the difference between being successful or failing as a hunter. When things seem not to be working out, a hunter is expected to remain calm and collected rather than firing in frustration. Lack of composure may affect hunters not experienced in the hunting game. Any shot taken should be aimed at a target and is expected to be successful. Waste of bullets is unprofessional. In circumstances where you are missing shots, it is important to evaluate the cause of the problem. You need to keep your eyes on the target and don’t waiver. This ensures that a shot taken would mean a quail down. Persistence and focus are critical the success of the hunter.

5. Role of weather

Weather plays a fundamental role in determining when to go out hunting for quails. If you venture out during inclement weather, you risk spending time in the bushes and coming out without killing any quail. For example, if you go out during a hot and dry period, chances are high that there are few birds in the fields. This is because there are no worms and bugs to be fed on in this season. Therefore, the best time to hunt quails is during a wet and muddy season. Worms are easily found, and quails will come out of their hiding places to feed.

Wet and muddy season may make it difficult for the hunter to navigate the woods. However, the hunter has to ensure he puts on good boots. Good foot wear ensures they do not fall or hurt their feet in the process. As a hunter, you should take advantage of the rainy season to make a great kill of quails. A few days of rain may be ideal for venturing out.

6. Proper communication is paramount

There are cases when you will go hunting with a partner. You need to communicate effectively to ensure that you are working in unison rather than everyone pulling his/her direction. You may need to find out if your partner is nearer or far away. Can he take better shots from where he is? While hunting, the greatest priority is to hunt down a high number of quails as possible and enjoy the experience. Statistics may not be relevant for rather, output. You need always to be communication to attain the common goal.
Communication does not mean going out and shouting loudly for everyone to hear you. Partners in the forest need to come up with a modality and strategy on how they would communicate without arousing the attention of quails. They should not make their presence visible. With planned communication, chances of disrupting the entire exercise are small. You would need to plan to use signals and gestures for communicating. Together with your partner, you should agree on what exactly each signal means. Use of signals make the communication quiet and is less disruptive. In fact, good communication is responsible for setting up good communication.

7. Prepare for more quails than anticipated

While in the field, it is possible that quails available in larger numbers than expected. In fact, a hunter should know that the birds would be more than (s) he expects them. When they shoot at one bird, it is then that they realize that they are more than one. Most of them will scatter for safety. Therefore, after seeing one quail, prepare for a possibility that some more quails are in the vicinity. You and your partner should work more strategically to ensure you capture more than one quail. A high number of quails hunted down imply that the hunter has steadily improved his skills. A hunter should master essential skills to enable them to navigate the woods, spot the quails and take them down with ease.

8. Shoot up

When you spot quails and you have your shotgun at hand, you do not just shoot at them aimlessly. You are expected to move closer to them and only take a shot when the birds are flying away. Proximity increases chances of shooting down as many quails as possible.

Your safety in the hunting field is paramount. Anything you do you should ensure you life and that of your partner are safe. It would make little sense killing many quails and going back home nursing serious injuries. You should be particular about your safety before shooting at the quails.

In fact, before taking a shot, ensure that your hunting dog and partner are in your vicinity. You may not want to aim at a target only to miss it and shoot your partner. It is a safety measure to ensure you do not loose or injure your partner. As part of your training, you should consider better ways of maintaining security in the field.

9. Check regulations regarding hunting in your area

Every state has its laws governing hunting activities in their jurisdiction. It may be prudent that before calling up your hunting buddy and going to the field, take the time to consult your local office on regulations which may apply to quail hunting. This is because quail hunting varies from one state to another. The control may also differ from one season to another. Adequate information is important in ensuring you do not get on the wrong side with the law. This is one indicator that you are a responsible hunter. This will go a long way in ensuring you conduct your activities without any challenges.

10. Do not be afraid to venture into new territories

When hunting, do not restrict yourself to a particular place. Experienced hunters understand that quails are usually all over the place. In fact, if they (quails) notice that you frequent one particular location, they change their location to areas that are less prone to hunters’ visit. This is in their quest for safety. Therefore, you should ensure you follow paths that are “less traveled.” Chances are high you will get quails in their large numbers. It should be fun venturing into new hunting grounds and the rewards in most cases are high. Therefore, plan carefully with your partner how you can best venture to these new sites and find a practical way of deriving maximum benefits from the fields.

11. Wear protective clothing while in the field

When preparing to go hunt for quails, it is advisable to prepare well. Experienced hunters will tell you that quails hide in the most inconvenient places in the fields. It might demand that you may have to go through thorny areas to access them. Conventionally, hunting is done in the woods; there are times when you are forced to go deeper into the forest.

Therefore, it is prudent to wear protective gear before going out. Protective gear guards you against thorns and other sharp objects in the field. In some cases, you may run into thick bushes. In such situations, it is safer to be armed with wire cutters and pruning equipment. There should be no impediments stopping you from attaining your goal; not even the thick bushes you would still work. This prior preparation is essential in ensuring that you do not run into a challenge and find it virtually impossible to operate. It also helps reduce uncertainty and frustration that come with unpreparedness. Ensure that both you and your partner are well dressed for the task.

12. Avoid wind

To stay accurate when hunting quails, it is important that you do it on less windy day. For example, when the wind is blowing hard, it becomes hard to aim at your target. Quails would keep flying from one place to another. If you have five days in a week to go hunting, ensure you chose a day that will offer better chances of hunting quails down. Decide on a day when the winds are calm because you increase your likelihood of success. You may consider visiting the local meteorological department for guidance on weather patterns and possible weather of the day. Knowledge of the weather is of great importance to you as a hunter. You will save a lot of time when visiting the field rather than failing every time and not making progress.

Conclusion

Armed with the above tips, it is almost guaranteed a hunter will be successful in his hunting expeditions. Anyone aspiring to be a hunter must follow the tips above diligently. However, the tips do not guarantee 100% success, but if well executed, chances of success increase. For potential hunters, persistence is critical for success. On the other part, quails are making it difficult for hunters to get shoot them. For many reasons, quail hunting requires patience. They have developed a mechanism to hide from human beings and avoid being killed. With the tips provided above, it is a guide for any hunter regardless of their geographical location.