Quail Season

[Chazz Layne]

It starts soon.

I got to enjoy bite-sized, bacon-wrapped goodness from a friend's hunt last season and it wasn't enough, so I'm planning to go out myself as often as time allows this season. The only thing I'm stuck on now is what shotgun to use. I'm torn between picking up an autoloader vs. using a boomstick (double-barrel). It rarely gets cold here in the desert so I'm not too worried about the auto freezing up. The obvious benefit in the auto is I'd have 4 quick followup shots if I need them, but that sounds like it would take the fun out of the hunt (and I've always wanted a side-by-side). Any other pros/cons for either option I should be considering?

Also, the wife will be joining me on these trips and will need a shotty of her own. She is small, and has complained in the past about the recoil from a 12-ga. (Mossy 500) and it's effect on her shoulder. I have heard that dropping her down to a 20-ga. will not do her much good, which leaves .410. I have never even held one, is there enough shot in a .410 shell to really be effective on a family of quail? Any other thoughts short of making her wear a recoil pad (we have one, she hates it)?

[BorregoWrangler]

I always use a short barreled coach gun (side-by-side) for quail hunting. It handles well in the thick brush and rough terrain where I hunt. When I'm locked and loaded I'll have two extra shells in my hand, so if need be I can just break the barrel and pop 'em in for another two shots. Makes for a fun hunt. Can't wait!

[OLLIE]

.410's are nice to learn with or hunt squirrel and rabbit but quail is tough. If you have the money to do so, I would recommend buying her a recoil dampening stock for the Mossy 500. They work quite well and are often adjustable for length so it can be set up for a shorter reach. There's a link below to one of the more popular ones...

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?p ... ber=974135

[Chazz Layne]

Ah yes, forgot about those. I get discounts there too...

[DaveK]

It starts soon. The obvious benefit in the auto is I'd have 4 quick followup shots if I need them, but that sounds like it would take the fun out of the hunt (and I've always wanted a side-by-side). Any other pros/cons for either option I should be considering?

In California (and Arizona), best to make it TWO quick follow up shots. Two in the mag and one in the snout is the legal max.

Also, the wife will be joining me on these trips and will need a shotty of her own. She is small, and has complained in the past about the recoil from a 12-ga. (Mossy 500) and it's effect on her shoulder. I have heard that dropping her down to a 20-ga. will not do her much good, which leaves .410. I have never even held one, is there enough shot in a .410 shell to really be effective on a family of quail? Any other thoughts short of making her wear a recoil pad (we have one, she hates it)?

Your best bet is a 20 ga. The recoil is less than a 12 and the ammo is cheap, compared to a 16 ga or even 410. Part of the fun and definitely most of the desire to keep shooting, is the ability to hit what you are aiming for. The 410 is a fine round for a very good shooter who is looking for a challenge - not a gun to start with. IMHO, of course.

On the question of a recoil pads, there are several good ones on the market, from the install it yourself to gunsmithing required. Even many of the pads that come stock are excellent, depending on the gun. I have had good results with the SVO (I think those are the initials) Limbsaver pad. Past makes a pad that can be worn over a shirt but I think that this is more appropriate to bench shooting. Google recoil pads. Hope this helps.

[BlueFJ]

I have a 20 gauge Remington Wingmaster 870. It was my 16th b-day present from my dad. It has a "built-in" recoil pad and a rib vent. Those of you who know me know I'm not exactly a big guy and I find the recoil to be very tolerable.
It's a perfect bird gun and a blast (pun intended) to shoot clays with!

[BorregoWrangler]

So I headed out early to Jacumba this morning for my first quail hunt of the season. Unfortunately, things weren't quite as productive as I had hoped. I had everything loaded and ready to go the night before but was a little low on ammo. Just go to the 24-hour Walmart in Lakeside on your way out! FAIL! They don't even sell ammo, so I had to backtrack to the Santee store.

Anyway, my first stop was a wash just east of Jacumba that usually produces birds. Nadda one. So then I cruise on up around Table Mountain past all the deer hunter's camps to see if the guzzlers have helped out at all. They haven't. Now its back down across the freeway towards the Elliot Mine area. Just as I make the turn past the last camping area, a covey flushes out. I tracked them for maybe 100 yards before the terrain just got too rough and rocky. Well, that's just the way it goes sometimes, and why its called hunting and not getting.

[ssc]

You could sit in my driveway and get your limit with a pellet gun. They are quite numerous around Havasu.

Regards, Steve

[Chazz Layne]

We found a 5-shot Mossy 500 in .410 for about $200 in perfect condition. She liked the weight and feel of it, so I figure for the money why not. As it turned out I liked it so much I went back and bought one for myself too. Kinda hard to beat that light of a setup when the hike itself is just as good a reason to go as the birds...



For the AZ folks: I double-checked and it turns out we do get the whole 5-shots allowed when going after quail (and quite a few others).

[gon2srf]

You could sit in my driveway and get your limit with a pellet gun. They are quite numerous around Havasu.

Regards, Steve

Would that be called hunting or getting?