Hunting Hunters

The quail is a truly interesting little board, and it has become popular for many hunters as a game bird. The numbers of quail have dwindled in recent years because their habitats have changed and the number of predators has increased. Quail are continuing to hold on, though, and when they can be found they are quite amusing to watch. Here is a guide to the quail as a game bird.

Terminology

The mail quail is called the cock, and the female quail is called the hen. Baby quail are known as chicks. Quail have both plumes and crests, where crests are feathers growing in a series along the top and the back of the head, and the plume is a small feather growing right out of the top of the male quail’s head.

Description

Quail are capable of varying both in size and in color, but they all generally run between 6 oz and 8 oz in weight. Both the males and females are generally the same size in relation to one another. The males are typically easily identifiable because they have prettier colors than the female and they also have a plume, a single feather that sticks up from the top of their head. The length of a quail can easily reach as long as 11 inches. The average quail has a mottled mix of colors, allowing them to blend in well with their natural surroundings.

Habitat

Quail tend to prefer areas that are brushy, especially areas that have areas of new growth that is relatively low, and where they can find cover as well as food. Many sources call the area that quail call their home early successional, which basically means that they like weedy areas. Quail typically live in different areas at different times, and they generally prefer to nest in areas that are not as thick, choosing areas where the vegetation has been around for a couple of years. Quail are constantly hunting for areas where they can find plenty of insects to feed on, especially areas that have low canopies without a lot of underbrush.

Traits

Quail are relatively social in nature, and they live in groups that are called covies. Quails know that there is safety in numbers, and quails know that they can achieve this safety for the most part by sticking to large groups, which they travel in and live in. When they roost in the evenings, they usually use a close packed circle, and all of the quail face outward which means if a predator comes from any side, they will have a chance of protecting themselves or saving themselves.

Feeding Habits

Quail tend to feed during the morning hours and the evening hours, and during the hours in between they tend to loaf around. They may feed during the day as well, however, depending on the needs of the group. Quail mostly eat seeds as well as insects.

Photo Credits: John-Morgan

Originally posted 2009-08-03 05:57:59. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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For a coyote hunter to be successful, he needs to learn a few techniques that are pretty common in coyote hunting. The time spent learning these techniques is well worth it. The coyote hunter thinks of himself as a bit differently than other hunters, and rightfully so. Coyotes are known as clever and sly. These are animals that are aware of their environment in a very intense way. Unlike a deer that simply tries to avoid predators and freezes for a moment when threatened, a coyote is a predator and used to hunting prey. So the coyote hunter has to outsmart the predator which can give a hunter a challenge and a feeling of satisfaction, as well as respect for the animal.

Coyote calling is one of the techniques that ever coyote hunter should take the time to learn. Coyotes are one of the most vocal animals on the planet. So learning the technique of coyote calling can make the difference between a successful or unsuccessful hunt. Just like other animals, coyotes have different calls for different situations. Males and females sound different and the calls have a different pitch and cadence to them when they’re used for different things. A certain type of call is used to alert others in the pack of danger, one call is a mating call and another call may be one male challenging the others in the pack or looking for another coyote. Sometimes the call can even vary from year to year.

While some calls are meant to mimic things like mating calls and location calls, distress calls are probably the most effective. This call isn’t a natural coyote call at all. It’s the sound of coyote’s prey might make as it’s frightened or dying. That attracts other coyotes who come looking for share of the meal. Depending on what the coyotes are hunting at the time, you’ll need to adjust that to match the sounds.

Another technique coyote hunters should learn is called baiting. Coyotes aren’t picky when it comes to food. And their willingness to eat almost anything can give a coyote hunter a definite advantage. Baiting is simply putting food out for the coyote to attract them. The bait which is usually some type of meat is placed in a relatively open area so that the coyote hunter can watch it and see if any coyotes come. It’s one way to determine there are even coyotes in the area worth waiting for.

Camouflage and unscented clothes are a necessity for the coyote hunter. You must remember that the coyote is a predator and it understands how to hunt. That makes coyote hunting one of the most challenging types of hunting. Just as the coyote understands how to catch up with the rabbit and corner it, it will understand when it’s being watched and cornered. That’s why learning different calls and proper baiting are so important. Using these techniques properly can make you a much more successful coyote hunter and not someone who’s disappointed on a trip.

Photo Credits: justinjohnsen

Originally posted 2010-03-24 09:26:26. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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