Thee Thicket Hunting Preserve >> Quail, Chuckar, Dove Gallery

Mattamuskeet Style Quail Hunting is a style in which the open farm terrain allows the hunter to catch coveys of quail in the short hedges. The hunter witnesses the entire covey rise in a confusing environment of multiple targets instead of coveys slipping out the backside of cover as they often do in true Traditional Pine Plantation shooting situations. We have pines, but it is the open field quail hunting that is unique to Mattamuskeet style.

Quail

We will have released over 70 coveys of quail by September's end, and these birds know how to fly! It is said that wild birds fly 35 mph and pen raised fly 16 mph- these birds move! Want to mix in some release birds for guaranteed shooting?- we can release quail or superior flying chukar.

Dove

This property has always been known for its dove. Come visit and you will see why, if anyone has dove, it's us. We plant sunflower, milo, and millet. One field is dedicated to a Dove Club that meets every Saturday of the season, opening day, and the Friday after Thanksgiving (instead of that Saturday). Another field on a separate farm is available all season long on any given day you wish to hunt. This is the perfect place to train your retriever where there is not an overload of activity and shooting, or you may just want bring along some friends for something different.

We also will have a large hunt in a large field on October 8th, the last day of the regular season, the Friday after Thanksgiving, and again on the opening day of the 3rd season, December 18th. These are little known peak migration times and the birds are thick. Don't expect easy targets as these birds know how to fly after being shot at in September- so they are a bit smarter. That's why we are stringent that the hunters wear brown and the dogs are well behaved or are staked and leashed per the request of any field Marshal. It is for the benefit of all hunters in the field.