Bobs, Brush and Brittanies

Vance, a columnist for Gun Dog and Wing & Shot, professes his love of quail hunting in a colloquial narration told as if he's imparting wisdom to family members or, more importantly, to good friends. The bobs, or bobwhite quail, are the ""number-one upland game bird,"" whose coveys are found in the dense brush of the title, and are pointed out by Vance's favorite quail-hunting dogs, Brittanies. Though the book is not an exhaustive how-to guide, Vance does offer much useful information and suggests other books or even Web sites to readers who require more in-depth instruction. Included in his book are recommendations on shotguns, hunting gear, dogs, even a detailed chapter on field dressing quail, as well as a few recipes to further enjoy the game. Vance's love of hunting encompasses discussions of conservation, as he hopes to ensure the survival of the bird as a species, as well as its habitat. Though wittily opinionated, Vance indulges in recollections of ""the good ol' days"" and can be long-winded; but readers may still want to accord Vance his own advice on how to treat a good hunting buddy--to ""laugh at his stories and jokes, especially the ones you've heard five times before,"" because his advice is helpful, and the new, fresh tales do creep up. (July)