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.
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