Mearn Quail

[paparex]

I have a few Mearns Quail skins, field dressed. If I harvest the black and what feathers, what are they worth? Cash value or trade. I would share with anyone if you are interested as I know they're used in Salmon flies. I've used for soft hackles. Similar to Guinea

[Mataura mayfly]

They should be really fun skins for fly tying. Should be plenty of soft hackle feathers on a skin, around the neck and wing coverts if the body feathers are a bit big.
They are a neat looking bird, nice contrast between the front and back feathers. I have heard or read somewhere the white spotted breast feathers can be used as Jungle Cock sub? Not "enamel" like JC, but a fair colour sub.
Here is betting you get a lot of inquiries!

[paparex]

Kia Ora Mataura,

Yes, there are lots of different colors of soft hackles on the skin. The prized ones are the black and white, but I'm drawn to the small black ones that are at the throat. Thinking about small soft hackles that might be easier than Starling to work around the hook without breaking. Won't have the purple undertones, but.... Also some nice barred orange feathers, not unlike English Grouse. My friend discarded the back and wings... Mearns are hard to come by here. Only a small nesting area in Arizona along the Mexican border. Hunters aren't the only ones carrying shotguns in the field. My friend tells me the quail are tasty.


http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt ... wAA&iact=c

[Mataura mayfly]

Tena koutou katoa paraplex,

Having looked at some more photos of the Mearns, I see what you mean by the Grouse like feathers...... nice! Looks to be lots of nice feathers that would be very usable on those birds. The hens, now they would be a real soft hackle hit, those earthy tones and mottled browns just suit so many soft hackle aquatic insect imitations.
Shame your buddy tossed the wings and back, remind him to keep them next bird season...... never hurts to have a good supply of "tradeable" material, can lead to some interesting swaps within the forum.

In regard to price, I have seen complete cock-bird skins with head and wings (and back) still attached for $25. You may have to work back from that a little for incomplete skins.
Not sure the neck feathers will be any less brittle or less prone to breakage than the Starling, but you will possibly find the feather spine tapers quite a bit between tip and base of the feathers. Only way to find out is to start tying some up and sharing the photographic results with us all.

[paparex]

insomnia in Utah! I guess I better get used to it.

I asked about price because I was curious. I value the feathers far more because they were given to me from a friend and they are not common. Ebay sold skin $36US http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fly-tyers-Mearn ... 4ac39c36a1

Here is the arch-typical Mearns Quail Salmon fly I know of: http://www.bestclassicsalmonflies.com/m ... s_fly.html
A soft hackle tie: http://www.flytyingforum.com/index.php?showtopic=49718; http://www.flytyingforum.com/pattern9784.html
Other dress Salmon flies: http://www.bestclassicsalmonflies.com/b ... oster.html; http://www.bestclassicsalmonflies.com/m ... bique.html; http://www.angelfire.com/wa/salmonid/khalid29.html
The Zia: http://ziafly.com/freestyle-salmon-flies/the-sunbird/ If I am not mistaken, a New Mexico symbol is the Zia

[Mataura mayfly]

Those soft hackle links you bring our attention to....... tied by a very talented man that belongs to this forum as well.

[hankaye]

paparex, Howdy;

Here's a wee bit on the Zia symbol and the people the State of New Mexico
'borrowed' it from.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zia_people

hank

[Old Hat]

I still have a few Mearns quail feathers lying about. They were given to me by a friend as well. Not easy to come by and I cherish them. You'll have a great time tying with them paparex. I hope we get to see some of what comes from the vise.

Carl

[fflutterffly]

Hank excellent inclusion on Zia Tribe. Very interesting... as are all our indigenous Americans. It made me wonder if the Native Americans had a specific name for this continent. I'm looking forward to a taste of tying with the Mearns Quail.

[paparex]

Kelly sent me porcupine quills as a "trade" for the Mearns Quail feathers. I tied a stonefly nymph up with the porcupine quills and a little dubbing. A marking pen to add highlights and lead underweight. The photo is terrible but useful to document intent. Definitely wingless. The tails, antennae, and legs are all the business end of porcupine quills. If the hook doesn't do the job, the quills will