Bird Hunting

David Martin

David Martin

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Anyone else bird hunt?
Quail season is still in here and it being a nice sunny winter day I took advantage of it. Me and my dog were out getting some exercise. Then she pointed some Gambel quail. DM

 
Very nice David. I miss shooting bob whites over our Brittany and German shorthairs. Miss eating them too.
 
Thanks hammer. There is something timeless about a sunny day, a man, his dog, shotgun and favorite Buck knife. No politics or deadlines to meet. You watch that dog freeze up and a flush happens. I get a lot of kinks out of my rope this way. DM
 
I remember hearing Bob White everywhere when I was young. They've been all but eradicated here in Northern KY. 2 or 3 years ago I heard one calling and couldn't believe it. I have a photo somewhere of the big fella standing in my yard not 30 feet from the house. I've not seen or heard one since. I have high hopes though. Our DFW is one of the best in the Country. Look at what they did with elk! Until then though; it's dove for me.
 
Don't have quail in my parts but would love to get south to try it. They seem much sportier then my partridge(ruffled grouse) and ptarmigan.
 
Pokt, farming practices and cold winters took a toll on Bobwhites all over the South as well. I think they are coming back but it will take time.
Sharp, thanks for visiting us. Quail hunting is very sporty. A fast handling gun on flushes are the order of the day. Watching smart dogs work will cause you to shake your head
and utter,-- no response. Our Gambel are much larger but behave in the same manner.
Jbm, indeed it was a good day. I am thankful to have days like this. My girl's got them soaking and a package of brown rice out of the cupboard. A work day tomorrow and I'll make an effort to be home for supper. DM
 
David Martin said:
Thanks hammer. There is something timeless about a sunny day, a man, his dog, shotgun and favorite Buck knife. No politics or deadlines to meet. You watch that dog freeze up and a flush happens. I get a lot of kinks out of my rope this way. DM
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How true. I wish I still had my old Monkey Wards SxS 16ga. I can still remember the feel of its Rinite stock and those purple paper hulls. Hopefully I'll get back to Nebraska where I grew up for one last hunt one of these years. Guess I need to make a bucket list.
 
I love to bird hunt. I hunted grouse and ptarmigan in AK, dove and quail in the deep south. I dearly love the smell of burnt shotgun powder, the feel of the sun and wind, and smell of autumn leaves. I used a 12 or 20 ga. double with 18 and 20 inch barrels. I also used a Remington 1100 Special Field 12 ga. All fast handling and I would not turn down a rabbit if the chance arose, either.

As a child, I remember going with my father and he hunted quail and dove with a .22 rifle. Of course, my father was one of those old time sharpshooters who did trick shots, so I cannot compare his shooting and mine.
 
David, I grew up bird hunting (Bobwhite quail) here in eastern NC and still love to go a time or two each season. Clear-cut farming, the return of the hawks (post-DDT world) and the infestation of coyotes and fire ants (not here in my youth) have combined to cut the quail way back. There are a few wild coveys in my area and plenty of preserves which release birds. I've gotten out twice in the last two weeks; once in Bladen County (in the coastal plain) and this past Monday in Anson County (south central NC). Should make one more hunt the last Monday in February. I always have a Buck 110 on my belt (of course you can't see it in these hunting pictures) and this Buck 321 or a Case 6318 in my pocket - not to mention a 16 GA shotgun. OH

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I personally think bird hunting is one of the best things you can do with your pants on, the quail hunting has suffered the last few years around here due to the drought we've been experiencing the last couple of years but the dove hunting has been good.
 
David, which model number is your Buck there in the pic? IIRC, you mentioned before it's one of your favorites, but I can't recall the model off hand.
 
David
Thanks for the memories. Use to hunt in NY for pheasant and partridge in the fall to bring to deer camp. Great times and love the 334, mine gets more use than I thought it would.
 
Sunday was the last day of pheasant here in the state. We didn't expect much in the way of success, however, we did see a fair number and I got one.

Dutch made the flush, I made the shot and he did the retrieve. It would have been a good day just with the dogs, seeing the number of birds and getting one made it a great day.

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The B & C Buck 118 was with me and will be used to take care of this beautiful bird. Preston

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Tony, thanks. In East Texas farming began changing in 1970 more toward growing hay in pastures and field crops were replaced with Coastal Bermuda grass. The practices for these crops destroyed quail nests. Fence rows were burned off and it was grown right up to the fence row. Timber and brush cut to make room for pasture. No more milo, peas and clover were seen in cultivation.Then I began seeing more coyotes, hawks, feral cats and fire ants invaded. By 1981 there were not many quail. Then some hard winters followed. By 1983 all farmers were asking each other, where are the quail? Because they saw it happening. Not many were hunting them, nobody had any dogs. By 1990 Game officials were restocking Bobwhites in areas that were once plentiful. We saw the birds were fragile and that their depleted numbers were not from hunting. Now, it's good to see them again. DM
 
Doc, yes, so true. My wife's father has hunted dove in India and Perdece in Bolivia. Great adventures.
Hunter, I was hoping you'd give us a photo of you and your early A5. Glad to see your out kicking up some Bobwhites. Good exercise for the body and mind.
Merrill, glad your finding plenty of doves.
Joe, it's a 334 Millennium Trapper. DM
 
gsea, glad your using the Trapper. I really like mine.
Pj, Thank you for these photos. Yes, a day out with a man and his dog are fine memories. If you get to bring some birds back I write it down in my journal. You've got a Browning and a smart looking dog and a 118. Thanks, DM
 
Here's a rooster Gambel quail. I thought I had hit it but a live oak obscured the affair. Finding him was no problem for my dog when she puts that nose of her's to work. A joy to watch her find them. So, smart. DM
 
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