Viva Mexico Quail Hunting

The sun is rising, the pasture cover is thick, and hunters Greg Ray (foreground) of NRA Outdoors and Billy Hablinski enter the day’s first field anxious for their first encounter with Yucatan’s black-throated bobwhite quail.

The lightly populated landscape in Yucatan’s northern coastal plain is big cattle country, so there are many fences to cross and difficult walking because of the rocky surface carpeted in heavy cover.

Hunters spread out, in hot pursuit along with their Mexican guides.

Lead guide Harvey Chule Hao, doesn’t just look, he whistles like a bobwhite, then listens for the birds’ response.

Point! Point! A long-legged pointer shows where the covey is holding.

When birds fly as low and fast as these Mexican bobwhites, the shooting can both furious and fun.

Finding downed quail in the lush tropical vegetation was difficult and required a determined team effort of hunters, guides and dogs.

At the end of a morning’s hunt, guides (from l.) Dreyger Herrera, Harvey Chule Hao, Hiran Yan and Miguel Moguel show why their home turf rates among the world’s great upland-bird destinations.

Along with fine days afield, the hunting party made more memories soaking up some local culture. And anyone who likes Mexican food really ought to try the deliciously different Yucatecan cuisine.