Winter highlights from northern Florida quail plantations

Isn’t this pretty? On left, Northwoods Normanie (RU-CH Northwoods Nirvana x Northwoods Carbon, 2017), owned by Paul Hauge, and Northwoods Sir Gordon (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2017), owned by Ben McKean, point separate coveys on an early morning hunt in January.

Betsy and I just returned from another winter spent in the piney woods of southwestern Georgia and northern Florida. The area is home to the decades-long tradition of bobwhite quail hunting on beautiful native habitat.

What a fabulous season we had! The quail were plentiful and the dogs were outstanding–both young dogs and veterans alike.

It’s interesting to look back through photos and videos to see how things change. Foliage varies from autumnal colors to bare branches to spring green. The birds change, too. Young fall birds are generally exactly where dogs point while wily spring survivors either run or sit so tight you can hardly get them to flush.

When we arrived in Georgia in November, our youngest dog, Northwoods Lyon, was five months old. He left at 11 months of age–so he had hunted quail for almost half his life!

Here are highlights from the past season. I hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

Northwoods Fen (Northwoods Blue Ox x Northwoods Chablis, 2014), owned by Harrison O’Connor, points a covey in December.

On right, Northwoods Istanbul (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Nickel, 2018) shares point on a January covey with plantation pointer Pinehaven Dixie.

What a sight! In front, Northwoods Dublin (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Nickel, 2018), owned by Paul Hauge, points at the edge of a chopper trail. Three bracemates back:  a Sunny Hill Plantation pointer, Northwoods Paris (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2018) and Northwoods Istanbul (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock Northwoods Nickel, 2018).

In a blocked area, Northwoods Paris (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus Northwoods Carly Simon, 2018) points a covey on a training run in March, after the season closed.

The piney woods are greening up when Northwoods Vienna (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock Northwoods Nickel, 2018) points late March birds.

Northwoods Lyon (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Minerva, 2018), owned by Bob Senkler, points a late spring single while two plantation pointers back.

Northwoods Geneva points an early January covey backed by Northwoods Istanbul (both by CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Nickel, 2018). Geneva has this covey stuck!

Northwoods Gucci (CH Erin’s Hidden Shamrock x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2015) backed by 13-month-old Northwoods Valencia (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Carbon, 2018) relocate on a mid-March covey. Valencia is almost steady to wing and shot on wild quail.

Two-year-old Northwoods Sir Gordon (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2016) has this late February covey pointed right!

In late February, Northwoods Rolls Royce (Blue Shaquille x Houston’s Belle’s Choice, 2013) worked this covey some distance before getting them to stick.

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