Secrets revealed |
1. Quail are most active during the second hour of daylight. If daylight is at 7 am then the peak time to hunt is 8 to 9. If you liesurely get to the field with your dog around 9 am then you have missed the peak period. After the first hour of daylight movement gradually slows until midday since the birds are starting hole up. Quail usually start feeding around 3 pm. The second most active period of the day is the hour preceeding dark. 2. Do not waste time getting to position when the dog points. Many Quail will leave from a point and the dog may not be able to reaquire them. 3. Quail activity is slowed by rain, heat or high winds. Quail move better when it is cold and studies have shown that the best time to hunt is during cold, cloudy and humid weather. 4. Quail don't always stick around. Birds will relocate many miles to escape hunting pressure. 5. Optimum covery size is 11 birds. Conveys that have lost members will mix with another small group to get their numbers back up. 6. In a wide open area be ready to shoot. Quail have been clocked to fly 36 mph when the security of cover is not around. With bushes, trees and thickets Quail have been clocked at 18 mph. 7. If an area has been passed with no results and you are returning to that area, always be ready to shoot. Quail have been known to stay put and refuse to be flushed by hunter or dog. |