Shot 12 blue quail yesterday and I am looking for the best way to cook them. I was just thinking olive oil, salt and pepper and then grilled. But I am open to any other good ideas.

The blues we hunted yesterday in Dawson County were like long distance sprinters (if that is even a thing). I was absolutely worn out at the end of the day after chasing them. You definitely work for every bird you get, between hopping fences and chasing after them, my phone said I walked 11.96 miles between 10 a.m. and 6:45 p.m.. It was also one of the funnest things I have ever done and plan on doing it a bunch more this season.

Any recipes or suggestions on how to cook my new favorite quarry will be greatly appreciated.

What you suggested is good. Over coals

Also damn good fried and as a sub for chicken in dumplins

Spatchcock and grill over hot coals.

I seasoned these beauties with Louisiana Wing rub and grilled hot and fast over mesquite. I did half the leg quarters the same way and the other half floured and pan fried.

Delicious.

I actually prefer the legs, but I'm a bit of a slack jawed rube.

I picked up some boneless quail, stuffed them with boudin, seasoned them with Slap Ya Mama and they were amazing. Probably wont work if they are just breasted though.

I threw a bunch of legs seasoned with Tony's on the smoker, last time I had a chicken and ribs on, for an hour. Awesome appetizer.

I'm a huge fan of egg wash, fry and serve with biscuits and gravy.

If you have them whole, smoking is a great way to have them. Hard to be at good smoked quail. Stuffing with boudin, wrapping the mid section with bacon and roasting in the oven is also very good. Serve with steamed or sauteed veggies and with some rice pilaf and you have yourself a fine meal.

powerbelly51 said:

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Spatchcock and grill over hot coals.

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Brine them first, but this.

Where in Dawson County were y'all hunting? I've only seen bobs at the couple of spots that I have access to hunt. Tons of bobs but have yet to see any blues.

Hard to go wrong here. Any way you do it will be the right way.


IMHO Pan fried quail, mashed taters, biscuits, and gravy. That is a meal fit for a king.

Check this out. Ag owned and operated.

http://texquail.com/

fried

Just west of Patricia on 115, Echols country. Didn't see a single bob. Man, them blues are wiley but fun as hell to chase after. Although at about 3:30, when it was 90 degrees I would have taken some easy going bobs to hunt instead of those blues.

I brine mine, season with whatever strikes my mood, wrap with bacon, and smoke them over apple wood.

Dip in an egg/buttermilk mixture, into seasoned flower, back into egg wash quickly, a second quick roll in the flour, and deep fried. Serve w home made cream gravy made from the drippings over rice. Out of this world. Now I'm going to have to find somewhere to shoot some quail this year....yes!!!

I still have about 30 in the freezer from last season.

I've never hunted or cooked quail, but aren't they similar to dove? Cream cheese stuffed jalepeno between the breast, wrap the whole thing in bacon, stick a toothpick through and throw on grill.

primomosquito said:

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I've never hunted or cooked quail, but aren't they similar to dove? Cream cheese stuffed jalepeno between the breast, wrap the whole thing in bacon, stick a toothpick through and throw on grill.

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Exactly what I do.

primomosquito said:

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I've never hunted or cooked quail, but aren't they similar to dove? Cream cheese stuffed jalepeno between the breast, wrap the whole thing in bacon, stick a toothpick through and throw on grill.

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Imo quail is much better eating than dove and I dont like covering with cheese and bacon.

Fried quail is other worldly

Pen raised I'm sure......



I kid I kid let me know if you ever need a hunting partner. I'm safe as can be, can shoot, and hey, you'll have free orthopedic care for your dogs in the field, and for you in an emergency! Grew up shooting quail over Brittany Spaniels and Pointers, best memories I have of time w my grandad. He passed when I was 12 suddenly in a small plane accident, was rough on me bc he was my close friend and got me my first dog and shotgun, but to this day I can remember our time together in the field like it was this morning.

There is nothing better than a bunch of Blues. Hunting them on the ground or frying them in a skillet. Some of the best game birds either way.

Couldn't agree more.

Grew up in Dawson County, miss those days with easy access to quail. Grandmother would dip in eggs and then flour with black pepper and Creole seasoning twice then fry. My favorite were the legs
"Running gear" that she would fry up separate from the body. Add a little gravy and good to go. Lost her earlier this year at 104.

On my grill. Guess you'll just have to come over.

primomosquito said:

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I've never hunted or cooked quail, but aren't they similar to dove? Cream cheese stuffed jalepeno between the breast, wrap the whole thing in bacon, stick a toothpick through and throw on grill.

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No, not similar. You should both hunt and eat quail ASAP.

Probably about half and half. The place I hunt in Alabama has built up a pretty good wild population over the last 5 years. Being good friends with the owners gets me access to the places that are off limits to most that hunt there. Their released birds are almost indistinguishable from the wild ones, the main difference being how tough the habitat is for hunting and how remote it is on the property.

this thread seems like its destined to start a "best poultry" thread.

I'd put quail up against any other bird. grilled quail only takes a back seat to fried chicken (though its really close).

Ended up brushing them in olive oil and then dusting with salt, pepper and a very light coat of Uncle Chris' Gourmet Seasoning. I'm gonna have to find some more birds, that was the best lunch I've had in a long time.

Quail are majestic, intelligent, challenging and delicious. They are survivors, the chosen ones of the wild bird world.

Sky rats are about the most plain and common animal I've ever hunted and/or eaten. They're a pair of brown shoes... One step above a pigeon. Save your bacon and cream cheese for them... They need it.

I'm about to achieve greatness.

Lungblood said:

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Quail are majestic, intelligent, challenging and delicious. They are survivors, the chosen ones of the wild bird world.

Sky rats are about the most plain and common animal I've ever hunted and/or eaten. They're a pair of brown shoes... One step above a pigeon. Save your bacon and cream cheese for them... They need it.

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Sky rats or mini pigeons or whatever you want to call them taste pretty damn good to me.

BQ75 said:

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Check this out. Ag owned and operated.

http://texquail.com/

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Thank you for this!