Looking for wingless, lost, quail

[flitecontrol]

On a recent Kansas hunting trip, my son and I got into a covey of quail. We both shot about the time the quail were flying into a row of cedar trees. I couldn't see the bird I was on when I pulled the trigger because it had just flown into the cedars. My son, who had a better view, assured me I hit mine and I asked if he got his bird. He said; "I shot both wings off of mine." And I responded "What?!" I walk over, and there are two wings on the ground near a cedar tree. The dog brings me a bird with two wings, with the top part of the skull shot off (lucky shot, I'm definitely not that good). Then sent the dog to look for the other bird. He went back into the cedars, but not near the wings. I was sure the wingless quail was somewhere nearby and called him back and made him search just that area. A minute or so later, my son tells me he hears a quail, and it's moving. I assume it's another bird from the covey, and keep calling the dog back. Finally let the dog search on its own, but he never did find the wingless bird. I'm wishing I had trusted the dog more, he probably could have found that cripple if I had let him search where he wanted while the scent was fresh. Always trust the dog, unless you can smell better than it can.

[orhunter]

I sometimes smell worse than a dog.......

[ANick]

I sometimes smell worse than a dog.......

........................... zing...

[flitecontrol]

I sometimes smell worse than a dog.......

I always smell worse than a dog, but the dog usually stinks more................................................................... unless I haven't bathed in a while.

[JONOV]

I'd be inclined to think that your buddy didn't shoot the wings off it, he found a predator (owl? Hawk?) leftovers. And if he did, then there's not much left of the quail to find.

[flitecontrol]

My son said he saw the wings come off right after we fired, and when we went over to where we expected to find his bird, there were two wings on the ground with fresh blood. In that dry climate, blood dries quickly. There were no other feathers, which a predator would have left if it had eaten the bird there. Given where the wings were severed, the wings were above the body when the bird was shot. We were both shooting steel shot, and the birds were pretty close when we fired. My shot was through a cylinder bore, and his was improved cylinder. My bird was missing part of the skull in front of and above the eye; not another pellet in it. Both patterns were no doubt very tight at that range.

I agree, it's hard to imagine, but that's what happened.

[AverageGuy]

I am fortunate to hunt alot, September 1st doves through the March Snow Geese and then Gobblers in April/May. Seems like I still have to relearn the "Trust the Dog" lesson once a season somewhere along the line. That shot off wing deal is extremely odd indeed but if a guy hunts enough you will encounter some unbelievable stuff along the way.

[LongHammer]

It sounds like a poof. I get one every other season usually on doves. If I forget to pull my patternmaster out after waterfowl I might redmist a few doves before I remember to let them range out a bit.