Sometimes the biologist and naturalist sides of my brain collide with the bird hunter side. That alphabet soup of brain waves used to annoy me until I decided to use it to my advantage. I’ve found that being able to think like a game bird enables me to enjoy a more fulfilling hunting experience.

Perhaps some definitions are in order, from Merriam-Webster’s dictionary:

• Biologist: A person who studies the science of the plant and animal life of a region or environment.
• Naturalist: A student of natural history.
• Natural History: The study of natural objects, especially in the field, from an amateur point of view.

After recently flushing a covey of bobwhites, I took a few minutes to assess the situation with both a biologist’s eye and a naturalist’s observations. I began to dissect why that covey of bobwhites was found in that particular spot on that day and time.

Both new bird hunters and veterans may benefit from applying a little natural history and biology on their next bird hunt. Here are a few tips.