Quail Hutch

[H20fwler]

With training the new dog we are keeping some quail at the house. I bought a kit and made some modifications to it and beefed it up, it is working very well so far.
A few days ago I bought some four week old quail that should be ready to release in about a month. I have been surprised at how much the little pigs are eating, it is fun to listen to them and watch how they move as one group in about everything they do.
We will be planting them out at the farm a half dozen at a time for the dog to point up and flush then they are free to do as they want and try and stay ahead of the foxes and hawks. I thought about doing a recall pen but I'm not planning on having any at the house once it starts to freeze the water jug.

 

[Bill]

May as well shoot them when they flush. Something WILL eat them. Might as well be you.

 

[H20fwler]

May as well shoot them when they flush. Something WILL eat them. Might as well be you.

I would like to but our county is not open for quail hunting. I'm allowed to raise and have them with a state permit and plant them to work the dog on our property but I'm not allowed to shoot them. Survival rate will be about zero, for the month or so that a few survive it will be neat if I hear them whistle while I'm bow hunting.
There is a put and take game reserve about ten miles away that the boys and I are members of that has a commercial permit to shoot them along with pheasants and chukars from Sept-April, I may take some over there to work the dog with and that is OK with state.... I do like the idea of having a few running around on the farm even if it is just for a little while.

 

[roymunson]

Any state laws regarding a private party release of a previously captive animal? Not being smart, just asking.

We had a deer farmer around here sell a captive deer to a hunt outfit that tested positive for CWD. Now they've laid down the law on what we can and can't do in a 7 township area.

Pretty cool looking birds

 

[H20fwler]

Any state laws regarding a private party release of a previously captive animal? Not being smart, just asking.

We had a deer farmer around here sell a captive deer to a hunt outfit that tested positive for CWD. Now they've laid down the law on what we can and can't do in a 7 township area.

Pretty cool looking birds

None, it’s no different than all the game farms in the state that raise gamebirds for pay and hunt that hunters miss while hunting. They don’t expect any to make it long.

 

[roymunson]

None, it’s no different than all the game farms in the state that raise gamebirds for pay and hunt that hunters miss while hunting. They don’t expect any to make it long.

Then is sounds like a party. It's neat seeing dogs work. I need to find a buddy with a beagle

 

[H20fwler]

Then is sounds like a party. It's neat seeing dogs work. I need to find a buddy with a beagle

Bunny hunting is my absolute favorite hunting there is. Working with beagles is a hoot, I’ve got one friend that keeps a couple good dogs that I hunt with at least once a year.
Normally it’s just the boys and I or a friend with whatever duck fetcher we have brought along kicking brushpiles and walking cover all day. I like it best with a fresh snow on a really cold day.
I try to manage our cover to always be bunny friendly so we can have some winter fun chasing them.

 

[H20fwler]

My oldest son is getting a GSP pup this fall so next spring we will definitely be getting a recall pen to recycle the quail so we can use them multiple times through the summer. Some probably won't come to the recall and that's fine, plan is to still let them free on their last session in late fall because I don't want to fuss with them through the winter.

 

[H20fwler]

The oldest son got a little GSP female a few weeks ago, so next summer I am going to step up my quail raising game. Going to ad a good size ground pen that I can move around the backyard and keep them on fresh grass&dirt that will hold a couple dozen adult birds comfortably and still be able to catch them to work the dogs when we want.

Oldest boys pup "Lou" with Darcy...they are a matched set of trouble makers.

Down to just a few quail left, will be releasing/training with them soon.

 

[Bill]

All I can say is keep lots chewy stuff around....