Quail Rigs
The Thrones of Quail Country
Words by Ryan Sparks
Photos by Bird Buggy, Logan Hinners, Texas Quail Rigs by A. Lokey, Ryan Sparks, and J. Hodge
In pockets of quail country — Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, and Georgia — the quail rig is more than just a mode of transportation. It's a mobile headquarters, a dusty workhorse, a bird dog's kingdom on wheels. These rigs are built with purpose and worn by miles — equipped to carry dogs, coolers, shotguns, and a heavy load of gear, they also double as a hunter's throne from which to watch an age-old drama play out between bird and bird dog.
Quail rigs come in all shapes and sizes. Some are decked-out pickups with climate-controlled kennels and custom built-in water tanks. Others are chopped-up sedans with plywood dog boxes, held together with a prayer.
This photo essay celebrates the quail rig — capturing the character, variety, grit, and ingenuity that goes into crafting each one. These rigs may be patched with duct tape or polished like showpieces, but each one is a rolling embodiment of the quail hunt.
Take a ride with us through the world of quail rigs. These machines may be covered in mud, feathers, and dog hair, but they carry the soul of the hunt.
A Bird Buggy (birdbuggy.com) in the rolling hills of South Carolina
Photo by Bird Buggy
Vero Beach, FL.
Photo by Ryan Sparks
A Bird Buggy near South Carolina's Wateree River
Photo by J. Hodge
Climbing into a hunter's throne near Vero Beach, FL.
Photo by Ryan Sparks
1982 Rolls Royce Silver Spunt. Raymondville, TX.
Photo by ©Texas Quail Rigs by A. Lokey
A Georgia Bird Buggy
Photo by Bird Buggy
1982 Rolls Royce Silver Spunt. Raymondville, Texas
Photo by Bird Buggy
A custom teak wood quail wagon in Florida
Photo by Bird Buggy
A Bird Buggy with Mercedes-style Italian leather seating and custom heart pine whiskey and wine cabinet in the Black Belt region of Alabama
Photo by Bird Buggy
Ford F-350 Lariat Super Duty Powerstroke Diesel. Hebbronville, TX.
Photo by ©Texas Quail Rigs by A. Lokey
1992 Chevrolet Silverado K3500. Hebbronville, TX.
Photo by ©Texas Quail Rigs by A. Lokey
2004 Chevrolet Silverado K2500 HD. George West, TX.
Photo by ©Texas Quail Rigs by A. Lokey
2005 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. Falfurrias, TX.
Photo by ©Texas Quail Rigs by A. Lokey
An International Scout Traveler made into a Bird Buggy in Albany, Georgia
Photo by Bird Buggy
Chevrolet Suburban K2500. Rachal, TX.
Photo by ©Texas Quail Rigs by A. Lokey
1995 Chevrolet Suburban K1500. Three Rivers, TX.
Photo by ©Texas Quail Rigs by A. Lokey
2001 GMC Denali K1500. Raymondville, TX.
Photo by ©Texas Quail Rigs by A. Lokey
Rolling into quail country in Alabama
Photo by Logan Hinner
1981 Ford Bronco. Sabinal, TX.
Photo by ©Texas Quail Rigs by A. Lokey