Last week, I proposed a yearly calendar for your outdoor sporting endeavors and this past week I got started on mine.  I suggested that you go quail hunting in February but our trip actually came a little early.  My brother-in-law treated a couple of us guys to a hunt in South Georgia and I must report to you that it was about as much fun as I’ve had in a long time. Stomping around in the woods all afternoon brought back some long-lost memories of my younger days. 
    Our outing took place in Nashville, Ga., at Shadow Oaks Plantation, and the afternoon began by meeting our guide, Caleb Hardeman. Hardeman turned out to be a real pro.  He made us feel welcome, was a superb handler of the dogs, displayed a wonderful knowledge of the sport and was a stickler for safety. All these attributes made him a great companion to spend the day with. Hardeman was also kind to us when we missed shots we should have made, and he always knew where the leftover single birds went after those misses so that we could hunt them later.
    We rode to our destinations on the plantation in a safari vehicle complete with comfortable high-backed seats, kennels for the dogs and plenty of storage for our guns, ammo and refreshments. I felt like one of those guys on the TV hunting shows.
    We hunted in classic quail habitat. The pine woods were full of undergrowth particularly suited to the bob-white quail and our dogs were world-class, pointers, setters and Labrador retrievers. We took two pointers and our setters with us at each stop plus a Lab as a flushing dog.  When the pointers had locked down on birds, Caleb would send in the flushing dog and the quail would come busting out of the underbrush. I had nearly forgotten the thrill of watching dogs on the point and the noisy rise of a covey, but the first group of birds we found provided a glorious reminder to me of that outdoor delight, and I quickly learned how rusty my skills were by missing two shots right off the bat. 
    After my embarrassing start, I settled in and did better although there were times when those quick little birds still got the best of me. We walked those South Georgia woods for more than three hours and the action was fast and furious for the entire time. We stalked coveys and single birds, enjoyed watching the dogs work, reveled in every good shot, and took abuse from each other when we missed. It was a good day in the field and one I won’t soon forget. All together, we bagged nearly four dozen birds and I’m pretty sure they are going to make some great meals for us in the near future.
    If you decide to go on a quail hunt, the basic equipment needs are fairly simple. A 20-gauge shotgun is perfect but a 12-gauge is fine as well. The choke on your shotgun should be an improved cylinder for best results. As for ammo, I’d suggest eight or nine shot, and most places require that you wear an orange hunting vest. It is also advisable to wear a pair of briar-buster pants and a comfortable pair of boots, as you will be doing a considerable amount of walking.
    A few basic rules of safety are always of utmost importance:
    1. Approach the dogs from behind when they are pointed.
    2. Keep the muzzle of your gun pointed skyward and the safety on until ready to shoot.
    3. All members of the party should approach pointed dogs in a side-to-side straight line.
    4. Only shoot when your gun is parallel or above parallel with the ground to avoid hitting one of the dogs.
    5. When in doubt for any reason don’t take the shot.
    Having had a great experience at Shadow Oaks Plantation, I can recommend them based on their professionalism, quality of facilities, and courtesy. Shadow Oaks is owned by Butch and Adam Houston, and can offer trips for around 20 hunters per day, and will do half- or whole-day excursions. They also feature a trap-shooting facility, overnight accommodations, home-style cooking and first-rate guides.  They can be reached at 229-686-7454.
    Quail hunting is an experience you must not miss and right now is a great time to head to the woods. After all, you need to get started if you are going to complete your outdoor checklist for the year.

    Articles and columns by Alvin Richardson about hunting, fishing and other outdoor sports appear weekly in the Statesboro Herald. Richardson can be reached at dar8589@bellsouth.net.