Hunting public land is often a choice driven by economics, but it’s also an excellent option for those pursuing bird hunting objectives other than body counts or a tailgate covered in feathered carcasses. That is what preserves and expensive guided private land hunts are for! Since we hunt mostly for our dogs and to be in the open spaces with enough wing shooting to keep it interesting, hunting public land works well for us. Access is usually about free, but the downside is that often there is not an abundance of game. We are happy with the handful of birds we usually find, but the truth is that we rarely take a limit, and sometimes the number of birds is zero. Because that is the norm, the times we do get into them are extra special, appreciated, and never taken for granted.
I hope you enjoy these pics from this season’s Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico public land hunts; looking for my favorite game bird of all time!
Thinking about quail.
Not Quail. Sandhill Cranes.
Quail tracks are always a welcome sight!
Handsome Henry!
Point! Henry is learning how to hunt desert quail. We see better dog work each hunt.
Andrew and Elsa.
Elsa, the Small Munsterlander. Best bird dog ever!
It seems we always have a mountain view while hunting desert quail.
Hunting buddy Kyle.
Please, Lord, just one more covey!
Here they are!
A snout full of scaled quail scent.
Scaled or Blue Quail
Gambel’s Quail
Ranch House Cafe on Route 66 in Tucumcari, New Mexico, opened in 1952. The last taco was served a long time ago.
Milo never runs out of gas!
Some kind of weird memorial. A child’s play set and a cross. This cannot be good.
Ross 4-point barbed wire. Patented June 10th, 1879.
Cholla cactus is tough stuff. Better than sand burrs but no fun for the dogs.
Henry loves to hunt desert quail.
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