Chukar vs. quail

I quite often get asked why I don't hunt quail more? The simple answer is the dog work. All of my dogs have handled quail a lot different than chukar/hun. Although quail will hold well at times they quite often don't vacate the area and create as much flushing as they do pointing. It's hard for a dog to hold point on a bird that is moving through the brush chattering and jumping from limb to limb.

Here is Jake on a pair of huns. Once I flush the birds he makes a short chase hoping I might get one and then is off looking for the next covey. He may make a short check from where the birds flushed from to make sure there are no stragglers but soon is off in the distance.

Jake will also point quail but once they flush he realizes they haven't gone that far and loves pursuing them into the brush or wherever they fly to. In this short clip you'll notice he points a few different times but also flushes birds as much as he points. It is a lot of fun action but just not what I want.

Quail hunting can be a ton of fun and is especially great for introducing young people to bird hunting. There is very little time to get bored. You just have to makes sure you educated them as to where their shooting lanes are. Quail are random flyers and will often fly right at you or close to the dog. While chukar hunting I will often shoot at a pointed quail but won't pursue the covey. Another reason I don't shoot many quail is because I don't carry enough shells. Those little buggers are hard to hit. Every shell spent on a shot at a quail might leave me with too few for chukars.

Lastly, there is no place like those places chukar inhabit. Yes, quail hunting may be easier on the legs but something about the chukar mountain pulls me in like a magnet.