Unguided Quail Hunting
Unguided quail hunting within this Association is distinguished by the seasoning of hunter. This is more so than the regional differences across the Association's Kansas, Missouri and Iowa region compared to other localities.
Unguided Quail Hunting Theory
We stick to what we think we know. That is observation of the wild Bobwhite unguided hunter. We do not believe this applies to the preserve or plantation hunter.
Sixty nine year old Carl, a life long Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock hunter from Maine describes well the value he gains from unguided hunts:
"It was my least productive year as far as "birds in the bag"...but I saw more birds, both pheasant & quail, and had more shot opportunities on quail this year than ever before...".
Unguided hunters generally run the age range from the 30's to the upper 60's. A few on either side of that age bracket. Paralleling this age range is the type of hunter. At the lower age end has more dogs and desires more limits. The upper age seeks more the tranquility gained from special attachment to fewer dogs and enjoyment of that dog on a less intense schedule. A duality rarely recognized until experiencing it.
This duality scale (red double arrow chart) is sliding in type of hunting as it is in seasoning of the hunter.
The short answer is the more someone spends training and hunting over his own dogs the more the enjoyment of that dog and field time increases. This includes the need for more quail in the bag along with a larger kennel decreases.
The duality in tranquility or the overall satisfaction effect of unguided quail hunts is this blue line graph.
The end result is more that is hunted the more satisfaction increases along with age. A kink occurs on the graph representing the accepted mid-life crises most men face. Although indication includes those men with a strong recreational activity, quail hunting or otherwise, experience less of that mid-life value questioning than others.
What does this recognition of differences in unguided quail hunters means to this Association quail hunter? That has an easy answer not derived from this analysis but from observations of hunters of all disciplines. This understanding affects the membership application interview. Essentially, it is a rare hunter in his 20's is allocated a membership. Those in their 30's that express concern about the number of limits they "will" get are quickly tempered in their expectations. Those 40 and higher are most likely to gain membership. The payback to the Association hunter is that those that enjoy unguided quail hunts are more likely to be in an Association of similar minded hunters. Secondary effects include preservation of the coveys from year to year is just as important as the dog work and far less than a daily limit.
Kelly retrieves right to hand and only releases when a hand touches her jaw.