Time To Get Your Gear Ready For Quail

Because quail hunters tend to follow their dogs to the ends of the earth in search of a covey, modern bird hunters have opted for smaller, lighter guns. The 20-gauge has become very popular with most serious quail chasers. The over-under models are lighter and more comfortable to carry all day than the pumps or semi-autos.

All three types remain fairly popular and have their own advantages. The pump guns and the semi-automatic shotguns offer the third shot. Though not often effective, this lends some amount of security to the less than proficient wingshot.

Hunting most often in places where quail and pheasant co-habitate, I prefer to stick with a 12-gauge. Even though 20-gauge, 3-inch magnum shells are extremely adequate for pheasant, the heavier shot loads of the 12-gauge gives me a denser pattern. For me, more pellets in the target equates to a cleaner harvest.

Early in the season, I tend to shoot lighter loads with smaller shot at both quail and pheasant. For quail, I start with 1-ounce loads of #8 shot and, as the season progresses and the birds become wiser, I switch to 1-1/8 ounces of #7½-shot.

The denser patterns and heavier shot combine to give me more punch at greater distances, for wildly flushing birds.

For pheasant, I follow pretty much the same procedure. I begin with 2¾-inch magnum loads of #6-shot. Pheasant educate rapidly and longer shots by midseason are a guarantee. I will increase shot size to #4 and then move to 3-inch magnums if need be. Weather can also play an important role in potential target distance. Birds will generally hold better in cold weather. This is especially true if a recent front is severe and has created a drastic temperature change. All of these factors should be considered as you prepare for a specific hunt.

Chokes also become of concern as the season lengthens and the weather conditions deteriorate. Improved cylinder and even skeet chokes are very beneficial early in the season or when the weather forces birds to stick tight. Late in the season or on bluebird days, modified chokes could improve success for quail hunters and even full chokes are recommended for track star pheasant that run the 40-yard dash before they flush.

The absolute optimum choke system lies in the over-under shotgun with screw-in choke tubes. Having one barrel with an open choke and one with a tighter choke can be perfect at the flush. Most over-under guns that do not have choke tubes are designed this way, but you do not have the advantage to change chokes. With choke tubes, you can go from improved/modified to modified/full or even full/full in a matter of seconds. This versatility can pay off for you on those unpredictable days.