Got to spot #1, dawn approacheth, windy, cold, muddy and wet. Hmm, coveys could be anywhere. Swell. Sun comes up and no little buddies. Got out and kick some bushes for a few, no one home. Off to spot #2. There they are! Hop out, bust the covey flapping my arms and send them off in smaller groups, I dont fire on or near big covey rises. Pick my players, they are coming up in every direction, dove too, and jacks! Faak! I want QUAIL, everyone else go home!

And, I miss. Over and over and over and, not one hit. Let this spot cool down, back to #1, yank the skeet choke, in goes the Mod, find an old car hood, perfect pattern, no holes, it aint the gun! It's been 10 mos since I've shot the Benelli auto 20, I'm rusty, my nose is running- etc. I'm choking....gotta settle down.

Back to #2, birds galore, find some to flush into more open stuff, 3 come up, pop! Down she goes and in my belt. Rinse and repeat 10 mins later, pop!, plop. One shot drops, clean kills.

Things are getting spread out and they are on to me but not before I corrall some on a fringe, some back-flush, get the wind and are gone to the side, one crosses left @ 30y and is really moving and -pop! Down like a spinning sack of taters. 3 shells, 3 birds, all is well.

My belt's kinda full, time out to dress the kill, think about going back for more but...hip says no, time for a pill, save some for next time, etc. These fat puppies sauteed in cream of mushroom, peppers and onions will make a nice meal with whipped garlic taters, veggies and some cold one's. First 3 ofr 2010 and things are looking REALLY good.

Happy Quail opener everyone!

AWESOME...well done Stovey. They are three nice size birds mate.

Cheers, Vince

Well done, Stovey! I like your recipe for success - 20ga and Cream of Mushroom Soup.

Not to mention the "cold ones"...

Well done [for an old man ]...

Thanks gang!

Was kinda funny, forgot how to shoot that 20ga, man it handles well and the trigger is sweet compared to the other shotty's I carry in the off-season. Methinks I'm gonna/should take it out more often.

Bushy- yer only as old as ya feel. Where's my cane and advil? Super sore today so...coffee's on and time for a hot soak.

Made a new buddy over the summer, gonna show me some new spots I aint hunted yet, should be good for some chukar and with all the rains we've had they should be pretty plump. These birds above crop's were PACKED with ripe little forbs so I'm hopeful for some yummy stuff this seaon!

ooops-almost forgot, obligitory boot pic fer Bushy. Cowtown 1211 buackaroo work boot, check out the spur ridge on the heel....

Not pointy enough...

ByTheWay Stovey...Do you know the name and purpose of the various boot parts?

Pointy boots are for kids.

Some, probably not all. Shank, spur ridge, sole, welt, vamp, shaft etc. Dont make 'em, just wear 'em.

Naw, naw, naw...

Pointy toe for easy insertion...
High heel for depth control during insertion...
Boot shaft to protect the white socks from being soiled...

Of coures we are talking about a stirrup here, right?

Bushmaster wrote:

Pointy toe for easy insertion... High heel for depth control during insertion... Boot shaft to protect the white socks from being soiled...

Now we know why Bushy's boot rarely shine!

Stovey, it looks like you polish your boots every now an then!

I thought those pointy boots were for killin' cockroaches in the corners...

Fer green-breakin i used to use a long underslung heel for reasons Bushy ponited out, could not walk with them outside the corral or on hard-pan, heel was too long and underslung they were strictly for "rodeo" type use. Fer workin/riding I prefer a heel under 2" with a large spur-ridge. Never liked pointy toes, prefer square (old school) or rounded. Don't polish but condition them after getting wet with Skidmore's.

Mike nailed it fer the pointy toe uses...

Cookin' up the birds now after aging them a couple days. Man are the plump. Male Gamble has a lot of good flesh on him. Best lookin' birds I've seen in a while.