Gray Partridge.

FLUSHES WILD, AND GETS WILDER EVERY TIME.

Washington's wildlife agency describes the pattern exactly: after one flush, birds are likely to flush farther out on the second approach, and farther still on the third. The agency's conclusion is that the first opportunity is the one that counts. Outdoor News notes most hunters regard Huns as maddening with either a pointer or a flusher, since they often flush wild and out of range. Huns do hold tighter early in the season.

THE DOG SHOULD POINT FROM WHEREVER IT CATCHES SCENT.

WDFW reports veteran Hun hunters prefer dogs trained to lock up the instant they get scent, even at distance, rather than press closer and spook the covey. Then the hunter moves in fast to close the distance before the flush. A dog that pushes for a tighter point costs the covey.

HARD TO SCENT.Sources thin

A Montana veteran quoted in Outdoor News believes Huns are harder to scent than other gamebirds and blend into their environment extremely well. Thin cover, small birds, open wind.

SINGLES HOLD BETTER THAN THE COVEY.

WDFW notes that flushed birds usually stay together, but singles and doubles located after the first rise tend to hold better for a dog than the covey did. Mark the flush and work the reflush.

RELOCATE DOWNWIND OF WHERE THEY LANDED.Sources thin

Project Upland's approach on rangeland Huns: they rarely fly more than a few hundred yards, so get downwind of the landing point and let the dogs range wide. Look for a landmark near the flush, a shrub clump, a rock, a taller patch of sage.

Farmland edges, grain stubble, grassy ditches, weedy fencelines, and the sage-and-grass rangeland at the margins. Often found in the same country as sharptails, which makes them the classic bonus bird on a prairie trip. Coveys are small and scattered; you won't find dozens of birds in one place.