upland boots and shells

[bnsafe]

I use to quail hunt but havnt in years. Birds in MO are pretty much gone so no need. However Im getting the itch an may try some game preserve hunts (dont like it but is what it is).
At any rate, I use to use cheap rubber boots as a kid and danner pronghorns as a adult. But, the pronghorns never made it a season without leaking, and my feet do not fit well in any of the rubber/neoprene boots out there now. I wear a 11.5 and 11s to small 12s my feet slides all over.
What do yall use for walking thru brush and briars without getting your feet soaked. I have a great pair for deer hunting and another for elk, but neither will work for walking all day in MO country.

Side note, I use to buy AA skeet loads for quail. Are they the same as they use to be? The box says tight pattern and I want something that opens up quickly as Im shooting over a dog. Preferably in the 9s range.

 

[chemist]

Depends on payload but I prefer either 7.5 or 8 shot for quail.

AA are definitely a quality shell. That said, I normally shoot whatever is cheapest for quail.

 

[Irish Miner]

Some game preserves/wildlife management areas may require non toxic shot so just make sure you know the regs for the area. Hard to beat some good ole 6 shot as a good all around load for different upland game, but 7.5's would be good for quail specifically. Choke constriction will determine how "open" you want.

Boots - You said you don't prefer rubber type, but have you ever tried on a pair of Mucks? I wear mine often and they work well. Try some on and see how they fit and feel if you get the chance.

 

[yfarm]

About to start using these on wet days

Men's Apex Lace Up Boot

The Men's Apex Lace Up Boot AXML000 Black is a high-performance all-terrain boot built on an innovative platform for high endurance outdoor pursuits., Muck Boot Company

www.muckbootcompany.com

Pretty happy with heavy dove 8s usually Remington

 

[bnsafe]

Yes, had mucks, ok for short deer hunts but not long walks.
I have shot 100s if not 1000s of quail. Almost exclusively with 9 skeet loads. Thats what im goin back to, just wasnt sure if they open up like they use to

 

[KurtR]

Yes, had mucks, ok for short deer hunts but not long walks.
I have shot 100s if not 1000s of quail. Almost exclusively with 9 skeet loads. Thats what im goin back to, just wasnt sure if they open up like they use to

Shells have little to do with opening up vs what the choke does. Shoot the right choke.

 

[Macintosh]

AA is their premium target loads, they say “tight patterns” because they use higher-antimony lead shot compared to their less $$ ammo as well as a more cushioning wad compared to some of their other ammo, so it is a little harder shot that is better protected from the bore. That in theory has less fliers…so more even patterns, possibly very slightly tighter. But a skeet choke is still going to be a skeet choke, ic is still ic, etc. And if you reload the hulls last longer. But its splitting hairs for sure.
Regardless AA target loads are great for smaller wild birds like quail or ruffed grouse or preserve pheasants. Those shells will likely only be available in 7.5, 8 and 9 shot sizes. I have used 20ga AA 7/8oz target loads in 7.5’s for grouse since the 1980’s, but quail are even smaller…whatever size you use nothing at all wrong with those shells for quail. For preserve oheasants my buddy who is a pro dog trainer kills hundreds upon hundreds of them stone dead with a 28ga shooting 3/4oz target loads of 8’s. Preserve birds are not wild birds. But if you eat them they’ll be full of shot and feather balls—I might prefer a little bigger shot simply for that.

 

[2ski]

Why not use your deer boots for this?

You'd be surprised how much anymore I'm wearing some gore tex north face shoes. They aren't waterproof anymore but in Dew they are.

 

[danhuntingmi]

Hunting preserves is not like wild bird hunting. Any preserve I've been to in three states has been a 10-30 acre field allotted per hunter. No need for special footwear.

I've switched over to AA 7.5 7/8 oz 20 ga exclusively for grouse and woodcock. They might work on preserve pheasants but I'd probably get a 6 shot game load for them.

Don't overthink the game farms. Just go and try it out. I bet you that if you found someone with a dog and offered to pay for birds you'd have a trip. Then you'll know what you need for yourself.

 

[bnsafe]

Im suppose to go today but its raining so it will prob get cancelled.
My deer boots are out, fit well for warmth and big socks but not for walking.
I was always told skeet loads were designed for the wad to open up faster, prob back in the day before interchangable chokes, to shoot skeet closely. Is that not right. If not why does winchester list three aa loads, trap, sporting clays, and skeet. There must be some wad differences in there.
As for shot, 7.5 would prob work fine for this kind of hunt, totally agree. I grew up quail hunting ALOT. Our birds were wild and rarely flew in the open. They would head right into the thickest crap you can imagine and our shots were fast an close. 9s were awesome.
I admit, I am not real thrilled with a preserve hunt, but if your gonna hunt quail in MO, barring possibly someone with a special spot, its not gonna be wild birds. At least where Im at. First there are no birds left. If you hunted all day and got a covey or two up it would be a huge success. Everyone around would be shooting those same coveys and they dont do well. Second, we use to start at daylight and hunt all day and never get off people we knew to hunt on. Now its all sold, leased, etc so you cant take off walking and hunt. The birds would get up and fly someplace not far you cant hunt anymore. Its all changed, and gone.
I wish I could figure out other states that had good birds again. I would drive a couple times a year for that. But Im not a pheasant guy. I saw a ton of birds in new mexico an az the last couple years when I worked there but thats a long way from where I am. At this point Im just trying to relive my youth for a day or two.

 

[danhuntingmi]

I doubt you'll do much walking and tennis shoes would probably be sufficient.

The recommendations on the side of shotshell cartons is usually based on shot size and load.
Due to better shell quality, most chokes pattern tighter than they are marked. I think this year I settled on cylinder/skeet for an o/u for shots under 30-35 yards. You would need to pattern your own gun with loads and chokes to find out. Or just use any target load from IC and call it a day.

 

[chemist]

Quail have highly cyclical population swings. Surrounding states and even some places in Missouri still have decent populations that come and go.

However people are not going to blow out their honey holes. The only way you will figure out the wild bird populations on public land is by burning gas and boot leather.

If you want wild bobwhite and a high chance of getting into them without burning boot leather you are probably looking at a hunting lease in Texas or Oklahoma.