"Quail are the sneakiest birds on the planet; they'll crouch right still until you step directly among them and then explode in a fury of feathers and rushing wind and you either jump or stand there, stock still, while the warm urine trickles down your once, warm leg."
Well, they are sneaky, but I never peed myself when a covey flushed. They're also very tasty little critters, so I got over the surprise, eventually, and learned to be an excellent snap shot. In California, you got almost no time to take your bird before it dove into the next bush.
Great fun. You always came back smelling of sage and other fragrant stuff. Then, you'd dress the little birdies, so Mom could cook for that night's dinner. Yum! My record for eating quail is 8.
Stop it now your making me hungry.;)