Sporting

Following the Call of the Quail

One Saturday last December, Gates Shaw, a retired pastor and passionate quail hunter, hosted a group of friends for a day of quail hunting at Brierfield Farm, his family’s eight hundred acres in Bibb County, Alabama. Radcliff Menge, the owner of the sporting apparel company Tom Beckbe; writer and Garden & Gun contributor Charles Gaines; chef Chris Hastings of Birmingham’s Hot & Hot Fish Club; and photographer William Hereford were greeted by a welcome cold spell and treated to splendid dog work and plenty of adroit coveys.

Menge calls it the “most perfect day ever.” From the looks of it, we would hardly disagree. Click through to see the photos.

August/September 2018

View as Slideshow

Gates Shaw (left) and Radcliff Menge prepare to follow a Llewellin setter into the field on a December day in Bibb County, Alabama.

1 of 8

Gates Shaw (left) and Radcliff Menge prepare to follow a Llewellin setter into the field on a December day in Bibb County, Alabama.

Photo: William Hereford

Shaw and a pointer.

2 of 8

Shaw and a pointer.

Photo: William Hereford

Dash, a four-year-old Llewellin setter, hard at work.

3 of 8

Dash, a four-year-old Llewellin setter, hard at work.

Photo: William Hereford

Menge pushes through the buffalo grass, blackberry brambles, and partridge pea in pursuit of birds.

4 of 8

Menge pushes through the buffalo grass, blackberry brambles, and partridge pea in pursuit of birds.

Photo: William Hereford

The quail buggy comes to a halt on Brierfield Farms as hunters and dogs ready for action.

5 of 8

The quail buggy comes to a halt on Brierfield Farm as
hunters and dogs ready for action.

Photo: William Hereford

Rye, an English setter, takes a moment to
rest in between coveys.

6 of 8

Rye, an English setter, takes a moment to
rest in between coveys.

Photo: William Hereford

Dash gets some affection after delivering perfect points and a bounty of birds.

7 of 8

Dash gets some affection after delivering perfect points and a bounty of birds.

Photo: William Hereford

A bird strap full of quail signals the end of a terrific day.

8 of 8

A bird strap full of quail signals the end of a terrific day.

Photo: William Hereford

Subscribe today and save.

Get a Subscription Give a Gift Manage Your Subscription