Quail hunting for the first time

Pen raised hunt. Let the birds get up before blasting so you get some sport out of it and don't shoot a dog.

Wear Orange. They may supply it.

Would not put in a Wally World bag. I would get a game vest you can put them. Guide will probably have a cooler handy since it will probably be hot as hades while you are in the field.

I would use 2 3/4". No need for 3's at the ranges you will shoot at.

It is hot as hell to be running dogs in this heat. I didn't even think pen birds opened till mid October.

Wear orange, dove loads, pick up a cheap orange hunting vest for your shells and birds.

Wear snake chaps or something to protect from rattlesnakes and the briars. Wrangler makes a pair of blue jeans with field pants legs. Boots also work. Wear as much red/orange as you can wear (head, vest, shirt). I shoot pen raised birds all the time, but would never run my dogs between May - September. It will be 100 plus degrees around Austin in the Hill Country and dogs can't last more than 30 minutes in that heat. Take plenty of water for you and the dogs.

Shoot 7.5 shot, 2 3/4's. Field load is fine. Shorter barrel on the gun and open (skeet or field) choke is best. Don't shoot at the ground for low flying birds and pay attention to the dogs. Better to pass on shots unless 100% sure it is clear. Some dogs break when the birds flush.

On pen raised birds, most of the time it will be 2 - 3 birds per covey. You can't be hunting wild birds because the season starts Oct. 25th in Texas.

Come back when it is cooler and don't forget to shoot any dove flying around if hunting in the Central Zone after Sept. 1. Some of my best dove hunts have happened while quail hunting.