How to Hunt a Bobtail

A bobtail quail, commonly known as a partridge or bobwhite, is the official game bird of Tennessee. Hunting bobtail quail successfully requires the right clothing, the right gun, a fellow hunter and a pair of good hunting dogs. The allure of quail hunting comes from both the camaraderie of a pair of hunters and the fact that you don't have to venture out in the wee hours of the morning; in fact, if you go quail hunting too early you probably won't bag anything.

Things You'll Need

  • Leather or snake boots
  • Brush pants
  • Front load shirt or vest
  • Blaze orange vest
  • 20- or 28-gauge shotgun with a 26-inch barrel
  • 2 well-trained hunting dogs
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Instructions

    • 1

      Put on your leather boots (snake boots if you are hunting in an area known for rattlesnakes as their habitat often overlaps that of the quail), brush pants (to prevent burs from poking through to your legs as quail are often found near brier patches) and shirt and blaze orange vest.

    • 2

      Survey the area you are planning to hunt. Identify any areas that may contain large flocks of quail. Quail like to stay in border areas between thin grassland and thick woods. Set up your equipment about 45 yards away. Be aware of all other hunters in the area, not just your partner. Crossfire is the most dangerous part of this sport.

    • 3

      Release your dogs to flush the birds into the air. A properly trained set of hunting dogs will initially flush the flock and then wait to point out the fallen birds.

    • 4

      Pick out one bird as a target once the flock is airborne. Bring it into sight on your shotgun. Don't randomly fire into the center of the flock; this will surely result in a miss. Take your time and follow your target. Squeeze the trigger and continue to track the bird while you fire. This will help you immediately identify a hit. Mentally mark where the bird falls even if you are using dogs.

    • 5

      Follow the dogs to retrieve the fallen prey. The first dog will point to the bird while the second dog points to the first dog. This system allows a hunter to zero in on the bird in a timely fashion and then set up for another shot.