February is the month for quail hunting as other hunting that had previously taken center stage has closed and the season cherished by upland bird hunters moves toward it season ending date on February 27.  However, there is still time to create new memories of great pointer work plus harvesting a few more quail for the table until the new season reopens in late October.

Popular wildlife artist Lou Pasqua has capture the excitement dogs and hunters feel as a covey of bobwhites explode from grassy cover in his painting entitled “Small Covey.”  The flutter wing-beat of these fast flying gamebirds and the express on the dogs face truly represents the adrenaline rush four legged and two legged hunters both experience on a covey rise.

The title of this painting and its appearance in the last month to hunt quail is also appropriate.  The small coveys that have made it through the winter and avoided predators are the brood stock from which next season’s hatch will come.  Experience hunters are cognizant of this fact and will restrain from hunting singles and only hunt coveys.  This allows the enjoyment of the dog work and hunt with less pressure put on resources that are already smaller this time of year.  There is even less pressure on the trigger as the hunt experience is savored more than the harvest. For more information on “Small Covey,” or other fine works of art and commissions by Lou Pasqua, visit www.loupasqua.com, email pat@loupasqua@comcast.net or call (412) 782-4869.  — Bill L. Olson

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