Bobwhite Quail and some patterns

[Old Hat]

I purchased a bobwhite quail skin this weekend. There are some very nice feathers to be found on one of these if you haven't used one before. It is a small bird and the feathers are all sized appropriately for soft hackles in the #12-#16 range.

Here is a selection of the feathers from the same bird.



Counterclockwise from top left: under covert, rump, upper covert, breast. Back feathers are very similar to the upper covert feather.

Here is a pattern with the over covert.

Hook: Mustad R50 #14
Thread: Pearsall's silk thread brown
Rib: lagartun silver braid fine
Body: Hare's ear dyed dark dun
Hackle: bobwhite quail upper covert



and one with the breast feather

Hook: Mustad 3399A #14
Thread: pearsall's silk thread brown
Body: Davy's Bug Dub, rear natural hare and thorax golden
Hackle: bobwhite quail breast feather

[Izaak]

Thanks for posting that! Beautiful feathers...

[Old Hat]

Your quite welcome, still trying to get the right light on the feathers of the flies to get the patterning to come out. The upper covert is a beautiful feather just couldn't get it to light right in the photo.

[Kelly L.]

I have wanted one of these skins, but do not know hunters, who would get me one. My dad used to hunt quail all the time when he was younger. But he passed away a couple of years ago. He hadn't bird hunted in several years. But if I was tying back in the day...he would of loaded me down with quail, pheasant, dove (don't know if it is good or not), squirrel, deer, whatever. Thanks for the photos of the feathers. Thank you even more for the LOVELY FLIES!!

[Old Hat]

Yes, wild birds, I believe have much more color and are generally of better quality, but not as consistent. This was a wild bird. I usually get feathers from my hunting outings or friends. Bobwhite is one of the birds we don't have locally to hunt so it is one I have not tied with before. I have tied with mourning dove which works well.

[kanutripr]

Oh my, good gosh and golly! I've been thinking of taking up hunting lately with all of the beautiful feathers I've been seeing around here!





Vicki

[cicvara]

-Really nicely done, this hare's ear dark dun act powerfully,beautiful feathers.

[JohnP]

Beautiful feathers, beautiful flies.

[tie2fish]

With your skills at combining natural materials, Old Hat, these two specimens are just a glorous start.