[MarketHunter]

Preacher,

Apparently on your last quail hunt there in the desert you must have chewed on some of that special cactus the Injun's call peyote. It was nice talking to you today on the phone though all your reqests for photos of me in my union suit are officially denied.

To All The Rest,

The cranes proved elusive today so after a half days efforts we decided to hit the low desert hills and gullies for some quail. The dogs handled a small covey we found with grand style though my quail shooting skills are mighty rusty what with about a 15+ year lay off. Phil let me do all the gunning over the points we got and I managed to miss a single clean and only killed one out of a chance for a perfect double. The birds were scaled quail, a first for me, I'd never even seen one before outside of a glass case. I think I only managed to kill the one quail through the graces of having shot at it with Dad's old Stevens 311. That gun has killed more bobwhite quail than most folks have a chance to see in a lifetime. It knows it's business even when handled by a professed and very sinful duck hunter.

After that bit of success we made a move to a dove shooting spot for the evening flight but managed to run onto another big covey of the blue scaled birds before we got settled. The dogs were loosed again but the birds proved to be wild, running a long way before finally flushing wide. Phil made a tremendous long shot on one that impressed me very much. After the dogs did us the service of finding it in a dry creek bed we continued on to the doves. Not many flew but I got a barrel in at a couple and managed to scratch one down.

All in all a great day, seeing new country and new game I'd never seen before, good company, and excellent dog work.

We're going to give the cranes a try again first thing in the morning them move off to a new spot that Phil claims in the prettiest piece of land in the state to try the Mearn's Quail. As you all know, I'm not a bird hunter and haven't been for a long long time. I was a little worried about not being able to keep up in the rocky ground and cactus covered slopes but I managed well enough. I think Phil was easy on me and the air here must be filled with some remedy for bad knees and a fat belly. Hopefully I'm able to keep us as well again tomorrow because I'm mighty keen to get one of the strange little quail with the hawklike claws.

More reports to follow unless I get snake bit. If that happens I'm praying the whiskey holds out.


Regards,
Destry


P.S. Phil's lovely wife just treated us to the finest pot of split pea and ham soup I think I've ever had the pleasure to dribble down my whiskers. One more drink, a quick resorting of gear, and I'm off to bed.