Summer season is on its final phase and without a doubt quails (Coturnix coturnix) are the top hunt for Spanish hunters.
Much has been written and said about the change of habits of this species, becoming abundant where it hasn't been traditionally found and scarce where it used to be common. In my opinion, quails are like the rest of the species: give them food, tranquility and shelter and they'll feel at home.
Once you've found a spot where you suspect conditions are good, the next step is obvious but rarely done: hunt with good dogs!
I'll explain myself:
The common sentences used since modern life away from the fields has become the rule are "There are no quails any more", "These animals don't migrate any more" and others pointing that way. Yes, habits might have changed a bit, but the one thing that has changed for sure is dogs and the amount of hours spent whith them working.
Another beautyful moment.
Years ago dogs were hunting many hours but nowadays the modern hunters want top dogs which stay in kennels for eight months and hunt like crazy the first day. Well... that doesn't work specially with quails.
Quails can trick our dogs quite easily without even flying. They keep still perfectly camouflaged with the environment and combine this attitude with what they do best: running very quickly through grass without being detected out of the dog and hunters reach. If quails have decided that the spot where you are hunting suits them, you'll be inside the epithomy of hunting with pointers. This vid shows exactly how important well trained dogs are and why pointers are so special:
These dogs are owned by my friend Javier Moya, English Setter breeder and trainer. Good trainer and good shooter!!
He never shoots a quail that has't been pointed by the dogs, no matter how good the bag has been. Now that is respect!
Nice bag of quails.
The thrill and suspense of the moment combined with the plasticity of the English Setter speaks for itself.
Here's another one:
The first dog to point is a 8 month old bitch after her first quails. A quick translation of the vid: Javier does not even name the succesful double shoot, he greets one dog for the retrieve and job done but he is extremely happy for the young bitch.
These small phasianidae family members are a wonder of nature. Small and heavy for their size, they make a very long trip from Africa to Europe to breed. Who could tell that such a bird would travel that far? That's why we respect them and hunt them responsably, never hunting what we are not going to eat and never shooting to the ones which haven't been pointed by the other main characters of this story, the magnificent dogs.
8 month and already a superstar dog!
The latest agricultural techniques are in my pinion the biggest threat to quail population. Pesticides and herbicides clearly affect their numbers in areas qhere they used to be abundant. Also quicker growing varieties of crops which are harvested earlier, ruining nests and chicks. We should consider the fact of reducing chemicals and returning to old varietals if we still want to hear that "bit-bit-bit" singing which has been our summer companion for centuries here in Spain.
If you ever have the chance to visit Spain for a quail hunt with pointers, don't hesitate; you won't regret it.
Cheers!
