Why hunting of quails is still popular in Western

Wycliffe Onyango Indeche uses a trap to get ants which he uses to feed his chickens and quills at Muyafwa village in Butere Sub-county on October 31, 2023. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

We found Wycliffe Onyango Indeche, a quail hunter, carefully planting traps in a bush, a few metres from his homestead at Muyafwa A village in Butere Sub-county.

Mr Onyango's target is to catch as many quails as he can, so as to sell them to the locals who cherish the bird's meat.

Onyango has been hunting quails for over three decades. It is a trade he inherited from his grandfather who was a renowned quail hunter in the area.

Onyango wakes up early to lay the traps on routes known to be used by the quails, which are short-tailed game birds resembling partridges but smaller and less robust.

They are described by experts as sociable due to their nature of gathering and moving in small flocks called coveys.

Quails are categorized under 1.6 per cent of other poultry species like ducks, geese, turkeys, pigeons, ostriches and guinea fowls.

Onyango usually harvests ants which he uses to lure the quails into the traps located strategically on bush routes frequented by the birds.

He is emboldened by the quails' huge demand, with a single bird selling at between Sh50 and Sh70 depending on their weight.

In a good day, he traps between 20 to 50 quails, translating to about Sh2,000 which is enough for Onyango to fend for his family.

"I have no intentions of quitting the venture as it pays me well," said Onyango, indicating that he is encouraged by the demand for quails' tasty meat.

"I sell the birds I trap but keep some which help me to lure others from the wilderness."

Onyango keeps some of the quails in small traditional enclosed cages (efihuli), which are then hoisted on a tall tree.

The birds make noise to attract other quails which end up trapped. Onyango has modified a small bell that acts as an alarm whenever a predator invades the cages.

"The quails on the tree make noise at night attracting coveys that walk into the traps. I have created a small clear path in the bush to make it easy for the quails to walk right into the traps," said Onyango.

Hunting for quails remains a popular practice in Kakamega and Vihiga counties to date.

Wycliffe Onyango Indeche prepares traps he uses to hunt quails in Muyafwa village in Butere Sub-county on October 31, 2023. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

According to Onyango, quail meat is very tasty and nutritious with low fat content compared to other meat.

"Quail meat is recommended for individuals suffering from high blood pressure. Quails eat ants, green plants as well as grains, and so they are usually in plenty when crops are in the farms and during harvesting," said Onyango.

They flock in large numbers in May, June, and November which are considered the peak months.

Onyango says he has been able to take his children to school with proceeds from quail hunting.

"I have also been able to invest in poultry farming with proceeds from the trade. I bought a cow with part of the money I earned from selling quails," he said.

For those who want to keep them as ornamental birds, Onyango said he sells a pair (male and female) at Sh200.

Esther Odera, a Vihiga-based nutritionist, says quail meat and eggs have high protein content. She said some families in Vihiga County also hunt and rear the quails for their high nutritional value.