Another killer "workout".

My partner and I covered at least 9 miles, climbed/descended several thousand feet/dozens of gorges/canyons in really steep stuff covered in moon rocks (basalt baby-heads), thorny veg, etc. Both of us took a spill at some point- bent wrist, twisted knee, I got a thorn under my right index fingernail ( !!!!!).

Fun stuff!

We bumped some birds, but the terrain/vegetation was in the way...so yeh, there's that. But, the short gun's are REALLY paying off on these scramble fests. I think a shot PISTOL would be even better!

Been a lean year. Not giving up. We are going were no uplander's gone before! We will get some, sooner than later. Our feet and legs are like steel now. We can go all day on a small bottle of water and a candy bar in truly horrific terrain.

The odd's are narrowing, and time is running out for the little grey ghosts.

Speaking of quail, a couple of months ago I took the back road to town, to release another critter that I had trapped well away from the house, and for the first time I saw some quail on the roadside, must have been a dozen or more. This was the first time I have ever seen quail here in Dixie, saw lots as as young man in California, but never here before.

Sorry you didn't get any stovepipe, but I'm sure you'll make up for it.

Ya shoulda slayed 'em, Lester!

Thanks bud, no worries. Still got some elk 'n stuff in the fridge a buddy gave me (out of pitty cuz I've yet a bring home something in the bag! ).

Tell ya what, the Professor (my hunting buddy and yes, he IS a rocket scientist) is really on to something with the whole short gun thing up here. Elvira only had a 24" tube but it seemed like a goose gun in the tight stuff. Just gota be a little extra careful, it's easy to end up looking down yer own muzzle if you are not careful. I keep my bolt cracked open (see pic) at all times- this trips the dis-connector so it can't go off. If we see something I can rack it closed in a blink. The Professor is 6'4", wears TALL snake boots and carries that little coach gun, all old school green clothing with a red vest and cap. It's a sight to behold, like something out of a Gator movie!

Les, I remember a fair number of quail when I was growing up. I think habitat loss, feral cats and maybe coyotes put a real hurting on the population.

Stovie...I think its time you took skillet and gas cooker with you...spark up cooker and heat skillet, add some butter and with luck a quail will take pity on you and join you for lunch!!!!!!

Pumpkinslinger wrote:

Les, I remember a fair number of quail when I was growing up. I think habitat loss, feral cats and maybe coyotes put a real hurting on the population.

I"m pretty sure not Stovey caused that...

Take a brace and a first aid kit with the cooker.

As for slaying them, first I did not have a shotgun with me, I was out to release a monster skunk that was living under the house that I had trapped. No, I didn't get sprayed. Secondly, this is the first time in 20 years of living and hunting in Dixie that I have seen quail, even with a gun I probably would not have shot, I may not have much time left but if I do I would much rather the quail become a nuisance before I start hunting them.

One of the things I am doing on this land is trying to manage the forest and pastures. and plant forage for the native animals that are here now as well as those that have become rare. I only harvest what is plentiful, and only when I need it.

I did see what I thought was a partridge two years ago and contacted the SC DNR to question and alert them. I didn't expect to see anything like this here in Dixie and it scared the crap out of me when it exploded from the field. The SC DNR came out and set up cameras and caught a couple of pictures of what I saw. They said it was ruffed grouse that should not be in my area, that they are known only to exist in the far northwestern regions of SC above 2000 feet (I'm at 450 feet), and are becoming very rare. Since then what I initially saw has become three small flocks (I am guessing 10 to 20 birds total, and I am thrilled every time I see them). They absolutely love the millet I planted. The SC DNR wants access to monitor them, I said no. As far as I am concerned they need their privacy.

I am not sure what a grouse tastes like, but they look like partridge to me and I suspect they taste great.

Quail are among the best tasting birds I have ever eaten and I would normally go well out of my way to get some, I could probably do 8 to 10 easy at a setting (not farm raised), followed closely by partridge, but I don't feel there is enough of a sustainable base to start harvesting them. I am not the only one trying to establish an improved environment here, hopefully for future generations of hunters, but also because God charged us to care for the earth and its creatures. Less than a 1/2 mile from my place there is a guy who has hundreds of acres who is in a stewardship agreement with the SC DNR and his land is amazing. The only problem is the traffic of a the DNR employees.

There is only one thing I love more than hunting and eating critters, and that is helping them to thrive.

Elvis wrote:

Stovie...I think its time you took skillet and gas cooker with you...spark up cooker and heat skillet, add some butter and with luck a quail will take pity on you and join you for lunch!!!!!!

I wish!!!

Aloysius wrote:

I"m pretty sure not Stovey caused that...

Don;t make me come over there!!!

lesterg3 wrote:

As for slaying them, first I did not have a shotgun with me, I was out to release a monster skunk that was living under the house that I had trapped. No, I didn't get sprayed. Secondly, this is the first time in 20 years of living and hunting in Dixie that I have seen quail, even with a gun I probably would not have shot, I may not have much time left but if I do I would much rather the quail become a nuisance before I start hunting them. One of the things I am doing on this land is trying to manage the forest and pastures. and plant forage for the native animals that are here now as well as those that have become rare. I only harvest what is plentiful, and only when I need it. I did see what I thought was a partridge two years ago and contacted the SC DNR to question and alert them. I didn't expect to see anything like this here in Dixie and it scared the crap out of me when it exploded from the field. The SC DNR came out and set up cameras and caught a couple of pictures of what I saw. They said it was ruffed grouse that should not be in my area, that they are known only to exist in the far northwestern regions of SC above 2000 feet (I'm at 450 feet), and are becoming very rare. Since then what I initially saw has become three small flocks (I am guessing 10 to 20 birds total, and I am thrilled every time I see them). They absolutely love the millet I planted. The SC DNR wants access to monitor them, I said no. As far as I am concerned they need their privacy. I am not sure what a grouse tastes like, but they look like partridge to me and I suspect they taste great. Quail are among the best tasting birds I have ever eaten and I would normally go well out of my way to get some, I could probably do 8 to 10 easy at a setting (not farm raised), followed closely by partridge, but I don't feel there is enough of a sustainable base to start harvesting them. I am not the only one trying to establish an improved environment here, hopefully for future generations of hunters, but also because God charged us to care for the earth and its creatures. Less than a 1/2 mile from my place there is a guy who has hundreds of acres who is in a stewardship agreement with the SC DNR and his land is amazing. The only problem is the traffic of a the DNR employees. There is only one thing I love more than hunting and eating critters, and that is helping them to thrive.

Good points and a good cause.

Love it when folks say "those should not be there"...yeh, sometimes something gets dragged in that aint supposed to be there...but most of the time that's how bio-diversity happens. I love stumbling across something new. I didn't know we had Gambles on the Rim- it's 7300' up there, way too high for desert birds. Sure enuf, BRRRRRRRR! Busted a covey mountain biking. The birds travel MILES each day. Some hang out, come back to the same spots, some just keep on trucking.

stovepipe wrote:

Aloysius wrote: I"m pretty sure not Stovey caused that... Don;t make me come over there!!!

I still have a gun longer than yours...


I think the longest smoothbore here in the house is the Marlin Goose Gun, just one to have, not one to use as it's not what I want for a sweet-pointing hunting gun.


@Lester: you're so right and they are so gratefull. I also see phaisants and hare from my kitchen, and lots of doves and ducks, even roedeer sometimes.