Watching a Buddy Take His First Bob

[Chris Pope]

A good friend and hunting buddy of more than 35 years from New England finally decided to travel south to my new home of 6 years in SC to give his first try at wild quail. He hunts a LOT of days every year mostly for woodcock, ruffed grouse, turkey and waterfowl. But he had never hunted quail.

First day out we put in about 4 miles afoot when finally my 2 griffs got birdy. They worked a side hill about 100 yards up from the shore of the lake in some nice pines with patches of nasty brush scattered about. After about 200 yards of zigging and zagging “Fish” locked up and “Arcas” backed him. I took a few steps and up went the covey. My buddy was about 20 yards from the dogs and me and made a beautiful left to right crossing shot and down went a Bob. "Arcas" made the retrieve. My friend had borrowed a 28 ga Ruger Red Label. He’s a lefty and this was the first round he’d ever fired with it.

You might have thought he won the lottery on Christmas Day!

[Reggie B]

Are you hunting public land? Nice to see there are still some birds in SC!

[Chris Pope]

Yes public land. That land is owned by the Army Corps and the state manages it for quail and other critters. There are not a lot of coveys but I sure am grateful to have such beautiful public land 15 minutes from our home.

Much of the 71,000 acre lake (referred to as Clark's Hill Lake if you are from GA and Lake Thurmond if you are from SC) sits on the border between SC and GA is surrounded by either Corps land, State Park Land or National Forest.

[mobirdhunter]

Wild Bobs are trophies when taken honestly over a good dog’s point and with a good gun. Congratulations to your friend, his guide… and that fine bird dog.

[Andy]

Cool I didn't know you knew Andrew Zimmern, one of my favorite wild game chefs : )

[Mike of the Mountain]

Originally Posted by Andrew Sacco

Cool I didn't know you knew Andrew Zimmern, one of my favorite wild game chefs : )

Andrew Zimmern and Mike Robinson. Hard to watch them and not get hungry.