Quail hunting rules
Quail hunting is one of the most common types of hunting with a pointing dog. It is ranked among the universal ones, because, having certain natural data, the quail moves more on the ground than it flies. This bird is the smallest member of the chicken family. On average, the mass of one representative of this winged species reaches 120 g, only in the autumn season, when the birds are a little fattened, increases by 70 g.
Quail hunting
General description of the bird species
In order for the quail hunt to be successful, the hunter must study all the features of these birds. There are about 20 different breeds known around the world. Some are wild representatives, while others have been bred by scientists for home keeping. Eurasian quail is widespread on the territory of the Russian Federation, while others can appear here occasionally, during migration to warmer regions.
Quail settles in open areas, meadows or in the steppes, not far from river floodplains. The bird prefers areas that border on crops of various grain crops, for example, buckwheat, rye, millet. The diet is mainly composed of cereals, seeds of various plants, midges and worms. Females place their nests on the ground. The house is a recess in the ground, lined with dry grass, thin twigs and feathers. Females often lay 10 to 15 testicles. Eggs are rather large, grayish with dark patches.
The quail arrives in May and nests and lays eggs in June. Already in mid-August, the quails look like adults. Quail hunting is a very popular activity, and they are often bred as poultry for meat and eggs.
Help dog
Quail hunting is well suited for training a pointing dog. In many habitats of this species of birds, quail hunting is a real sport. In the southern regions, the quail chooses corn fields for nesting sites. Due to the fact that the bird flies rather low, hunting is difficult. In this case, it is advisable to go fishing with a pointing dog. Most often, hunters choose the Spaniel or Drathhaar breed.
Quail hunting with Drathhaar allows you to explore large areas in a short period of time. During the examination, the pointing dog uses interesting hunting tactics. The dog walks around the bird and, taking by the wing, carries it to the owner. Also, the dog helps to find the wounded. Hunting with a Pointing Dog should be started early in the morning.
You should look for areas where quails can get themselves a lot of food: clovers, wheat fields, timothy thickets. When it gets hot, the birds fly into the shade, and then hunting becomes ineffective. In the evening, you can try again.
Darthaar dogs are able to help a person in catching game in any weather. They are very hardy, loyal, energetic.The dog does not stop if it is necessary to run into the swamp and catch game there, is able to quickly switch from one victim to another, undemanding to food. Such a dog understands the hunter perfectly, every hunt makes him more experienced and smarter.
Rope method
Quail hunting without a dog is also quite fun. In this case, you should look for meadows and fields with low grass. The rope method involves hunting together.
To do this, you need to take a long cord and tie its edges to the hunters' boots, which are moved in parallel, and a weight is hung in the middle. It turns out that a rope with a load combes the grass and scares the birds. When the quails take off, the hunter has the opportunity to shoot his own game.
Second method of fishing without a dog
Hunting for quail with semolina without a dog has been popular since the days of Old Russia. In order to lure quails, a net was laid out on the grass, making luring sounds. A decoy is needed to locate the location of the male or to lure him. Hunting for quails with the help of a decoy allows you to lure the birds only if the hunter is at a distance of no more than 50-70 m.
To hunt quail with semolina was successful, you need to master the tactics of using it and study its structure. Decoy design:
- whistle tube;
- air blower.
Often, the tube is 5-7 cm long and 7-10 mm in diameter. Previously, bones of large birds were used to make them. At a later time, they began to use durable plastic or metal. Decoys are of two types:
- wind instruments;
- electronic.
To use a wind instrument to lure game, you must have a good ear and learn how to use it correctly. To hunt with an electrician, you don't need to put in any special effort. Do-it-yourself electric girls. This is very easy to achieve by looking on the Internet how the professionals carry out the quail hunt on video.
Fishing with a hawk
Hunters are eagerly awaiting the start of the migratory season to hunt with the hawk. For this, the bird of prey is tamed, following a certain scheme. A special bell is attached to the hawk's tail, which will ring at the moment when the feathered one grabs prey, which will allow the hunter to quickly find his pet in the thickets.
Hunting with a Sparrowhawk is a very interesting activity. To learn more about this, you can watch how the quail hunt is done on video. Due to its small size, quick adaptation to any conditions, accuracy and speed, the sparrowhawk is one of the most popular hunting species of hawk. In the wild, this beauty feeds on its small relatives, catching them on the fly.
Useful Tips
The quail does not fly very fast and never rises high, so it is not difficult even for a novice hunter to shoot it. It is most convenient to use a well-trained dog in hunting, who knows how to serve prey, because it is not at all easy to find wounded animals on your own, especially in tall grass.
Those caught should not be carried in a bag, it is better to tie them by the cervical region to your belt, so you can keep its attractive appearance. For a successful hunt, you need to find a dog that naturally has an excellent instinct. Hunting for quails without a dog is possible only if the hunter knows perfectly well the lands in which the quails live.
In August-September, when the whole crop has already been harvested and small areas of unmown grass remain in the fields, there is a very high probability. that all the quail population is hiding in these thickets. Knowing all the features of behavior, a hunter can do well without the help of a dog.
Ammunition
Before you go hunting for quails, you need to prepare all the accessories and put on the appropriate equipment. First of all, these are special clothes for hunting.Most often, fishing takes place in forests, tall grass on swampy soil, which requires special attention to shoes. Sturdy, waterproof footwear must be selected.
Outerwear is selected to your taste, the most important thing is the presence of a headgear, because during the hunting season you have to spend a lot of time in an open area under the sun. Weapons are selected, depending on personal preferences, but there are still some rules: for more productive hunting, it is better to use sports cartridges, shot 8,9,10 caliber.
Quail fishing with the dog today
More recently, quail fishing was a very popular activity, but today it is less and less common to see quails in our territories. Their numbers declined sharply due to uncontrolled shooting. Catching birds is quite difficult even with a dog, because they do not have a characteristic smell like other birds. It is difficult to find them in the thickets of grass, especially when they, sensing danger, nestle on the ground.
This breed of birds practically does not fly out when there is dew on the grass and in rainy weather.
Darthaar is able to track game very well even if it is massively concentrated in one place. Often, the bird crawls into places where it is difficult for a dog to get through. The birds hide in the thickets of cultivated plants, which grow very densely and it is rather difficult for a dog to walk between them.
Weather conditions are also very important for successful fishing. The wind will constantly knock the dog off the track. In order to be able to track down game in any weather, you need to train your dog according to a special program: you need to develop his ability to work through the upper and lower instincts.
The dog is the hunter's most important helper and friend. In cold weather, you should often wipe the dog with hay and do not forget to generously feed. Another breed that is widely used for catching quail is the spaniel. One has only to give the command "search!" - and the dog will find the game in the tall grass.
Final part
Quail fishing begins in autumn, when the birds are already well fed and are going to migrate to warmer regions. They hunt quail in several ways:
- with a dog;
- with the help of semolina;
- with a bird of prey from the order of hawks;
- by the rope method.
To find prey without the help of a dog, you need to walk along the outer zones of the fields and not wander far, because birds most often sit near the borders of the field. They go fishing in the morning or in the evening, when the sun is no longer so beating. At lunchtime, the quail hides in shaded areas.
Taking off into the air, the bird makes a specific noise with its wings. There is no need to rush to shoot, the quail does not fly so fast, so you have time to take good aim. Bullets of 9, 10 caliber are recommended. Prey should not be put in bags; it is better to attach birds by their necks to your belt and wear them on your belt.
You cannot shoot many birds. Some people shoot a hundred or even more birds at a time, in a hurry to sell them as soon as possible for a good price. The quail population is getting smaller every year. To make it easier for yourself to catch birds, you need to get a pointing dog.
You need to be able to properly handle the killed birds. The quail has a delicate structure. Feathers should be plucked with extreme caution so as not to damage the delicate skin.
Quail meat is prized for its excellent taste and balanced composition, which is why many people prefer hunting with or without a dog.