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

 

Vero Beach, FL.

 

A Bird Buggy near South Carolina's Wateree River

 

Climbing into a hunter's throne near Vero Beach, FL.

 

1982 Rolls Royce Silver Spunt. Raymondville, TX.

 

A Georgia Bird Buggy

 

1982 Rolls Royce Silver Spunt. Raymondville, Texas

 

A custom teak wood quail wagon in Florida

 

A Bird Buggy with Mercedes-style Italian leather seating and custom heart pine whiskey and wine cabinet in the Black Belt region of Alabama

 

Ford F-350 Lariat Super Duty Powerstroke Diesel. Hebbronville, TX.

 

1992 Chevrolet Silverado K3500. Hebbronville, TX.

 

2004 Chevrolet Silverado K2500 HD. George West, TX.

 

2005 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. Falfurrias, TX.

 

An International Scout Traveler made into a Bird Buggy in Albany, Georgia

 

Chevrolet Suburban K2500. Rachal, TX.

 

1995 Chevrolet Suburban K1500. Three Rivers, TX.

 

2001 GMC Denali K1500. Raymondville, TX.

 

Rolling into quail country in Alabama

 

1981 Ford Bronco. Sabinal, TX.




 

Ryan Sparks is the editor of Quail Forever Journal.

This story originally appeared in the Summer 2025 issue of Quail Forever Journal