18 NEBRASKAland • DECEMBER 2017
By Jarrod Spilger
Nebraska bobwhite quail numbers have
been trending upward recently, thanks to good
weather and improved habitat conditions. That
means upland hunters will likely encounter a
few coveys while out chasing pheasants this
fall. Quail are always a welcome surprise, but
they can be difficult to hit.
That's because quail are fast and have an
unnerving tendency to erupt from beneath one's
feet and fly in every direction. The answer
to hitting more speedy, close-range quail is
spreader loads.
Spreader loads use specialized wads to
disperse the shot pattern more quickly than a
standard load. For older shotguns with fixed
full chokes, spreaders can help open up patterns
without altering the choke or barrel. They can also be used
with more open chokes for really wide patterns, which is
especially useful when hunting over pointers.
Since most quail are taken while hunting pheasants, I often
use a mid-range choke tube and initially load up for roosters.
If quail appear, I'll simply shoot the heavy pheasant load on
the covey rise. I then load up with spreaders and go after the
singles. If I'm targeting quail specifically, I'll use spreaders
right away.
Two of the best spreader loads I've tried are made by
Polywad and Kent. Polywad's Spred-R line is available
in 12-, 16-, 20-, and 28-gauge in shot sizes 6, 7.5, and 8.
To order, visit polywad.com or call 800-998-0669. Kent's
spreader load is only available in 12-gauge with number 8
shot. It can be ordered from Huntstuff Online, huntstuff.com,
757-482-3800. ■
Hit More Quail
PHOTO
BY
JARROD
SPILGER
