Great quail year?

[GoBeavs85]

This is copy and pasted over from my introduction post...never got any responses so thinking nobody reads those:)



Just recently moved from Oregon to Kennewick. I figured one step in my assimilation to Washington is to actually join the forum instead of lurking:) I've been a member of ifish in OR for awhile now and I look forward to a similar community here!

Little about me...

I love to upland hunt and archery elk. I get most my fishing in on the Oregon coast at my folks place(although I plan to start learning the ropes here). I have a 3 year old gsp named Dakota.

We have had a great year! I shot my first archery elk just before we left OR. Been getting into quail everywhere I go but only have shot one rooster. Still have only ever shot release site pheasants. I thought i had a wild rooster on a small section of public property but turns out it had a band! No release sites close so it must have been a preserve escapee.

Not sure if anybody reads these intros but I do have one question, is it a great quail year here? Clearly I'm new ish to bird hunting but have been pleasantly surprised by all the quail. I've seen 5-6 roosters but only one flushed in range. So hoping its a slightly down phez year:)

Thanks!

Bryan

[scottcrb]

The phesant pop does seem to be down a bit. Not sure about the quality of quail this year though.looks like your having a good year. Good looking dog too. Oh and welcome to.the site.

[Bmcox86]

Well I have been finding it opposite then you. I have found pheasants every to,e I've been out like 3+ where I only saw 3 all of last year.

Last year I was finding 5+ coveys a day with some having 40+ birds. This year I have found the same two coveys twice. One has 6 birds the other around a dozen.

Today I even found a rooster in my quail hole. Surprised the crap out of me so much I didn't even get a shot off. I wish I could find my quail from last year.

[L-ofalab]

The last 2 times out I saw lots of pheasants but didn't get close to any! I'm going to start duck hunting now. The salmon fishing is very good up the Columbia, once you figure it out you won't go to the coast any more.

[boneaddict]

I'd say average year for quail, as opposed to last year which was really good.  Pheasant has been down down down for a couple years now.   Spring storms have been really hard on them.   Quail seem to recover better.   I would say not the best year for chukar either, though I haven't been pounding the hills for them, but I normally see more when out doing photography.

Welcome to the site

[10Key]

Been bird hunting with a dog for 4 years, mostly in central WA. This has been the worst year for birds in the last four for me

[AspenBud]

This is copy and pasted over from my introduction post...never got any responses so thinking nobody reads those:)



Just recently moved from Oregon to Kennewick. I figured one step in my assimilation to Washington is to actually join the forum instead of lurking:) I've been a member of ifish in OR for awhile now and I look forward to a similar community here!

Little about me...

I love to upland hunt and archery elk. I get most my fishing in on the Oregon coast at my folks place(although I plan to start learning the ropes here). I have a 3 year old gsp named Dakota.

We have had a great year! I shot my first archery elk just before we left OR. Been getting into quail everywhere I go but only have shot one rooster. Still have only ever shot release site pheasants. I thought i had a wild rooster on a small section of public property but turns out it had a band! No release sites close so it must have been a preserve escapee.

Not sure if anybody reads these intros but I do have one question, is it a great quail year here? Clearly I'm new ish to bird hunting but have been pleasantly surprised by all the quail. I've seen 5-6 roosters but only one flushed in range. So hoping its a slightly down phez year:)

Thanks!

Bryan

Where did you get your dog from?

[WSU]

Friends in Pullman say it is a horrible year over there for roosters.

[C-Money]

I must agree, we have been seeing more quail this year on our hunts. I love those little fellers! Only on pheasant flush, and it was a rooster. Not even a hen this year. The quail have been providing most of the fun this year. I am worried that we are not seeing hen pheasants. The dogs usually will put up hens every trip. Nothing this year.

[Bwana Bob]

Been out 15 1/4 days so far and have 75 quail in the bag, which isn't too good for the amount of time and effort I put in. I would say the quail are spotty at best. hunted chukars for 3 days and saw a decent amount of birds but they are spotty also. Had lots of birds go out wild on me. Two pheasants in the bag, horrible.
My friend and I hunted the yak res this past weekend for 3 days with a real hunting time of 2 days, with only 4 quail and a dog captured rooster to show for it. We did see two coveys of decent size though but lost them in the thick stuff and cattails.
I think its a better quail year than last unless your in the wrong area. Not sure on the chukars yet, haven't put enough effort in them yet.
Gone are the days when I averaged 150 quail a year. I haven't broken 100 birds in the last 5yr and I keep good records on all the birds I kill and wound.
Good luck to all and shoot straight

[GoBeavs85]

Thanks for the reply's. it's interesting to hear the different successes from different parts of the state. I think I have targeted quail type areas as the year has progressed since that's where I'm having success. I have been disciplined enough to not go back to the same spot twice as to not put the hurt on one covey too much. So I know I am finding multiple different coveys. I haven't found many areas that "scream" pheasant habitat to me. I suppose that's the main problem with me not finding many pheasant. All 6 pheasant I have seen have been roosters. That had me concerned too.

I got my dog from a friend in Philomath OR. They had four litters over the course of their dogs life. I got Dakota from their last litter and they are now done breeding . It was nice dealing with friends because we got to be w the puppies 10-15 times before we picked. We got the exact temperament we were looking for.  She doesn't come from famous hunting stock but she was the right price for me as a broke, novice dog owner. She surpasses my expectations almost everyday we go out!

[fethrduster]

Been out 15 1/4 days so far and have 75 quail in the bag, which isn't too good for the amount of time and effort I put in.

75 quail in the bag isn't a good year?  Holy cow, that's an average of 5 per trip.  Be careful about over-harvesting.  If everyone that hunted them killed that many there would be none left in short order.

[Naches Sportsman]

I'd say average year for quail, as opposed to last year which was really good.  Pheasant has been down down down for a couple years now.   Spring storms have been really hard on them.   Quail seem to recover better.   I would say not the best year for chukar either, though I haven't been pounding the hills for them, but I normally see more when out doing photography.

Welcome to the site

Chukar numbers are down a bit. still seeing an average number though even though I quit hunting for them on 12/1. gotta save some for next year.

October was really good for me. November not so much.

[merkelman]

I'd say average year for quail, as opposed to last year which was really good.  Pheasant has been down down down for a couple years now.   Spring storms have been really hard on them.   Quail seem to recover better.   I would say not the best year for chukar either, though I haven't been pounding the hills for them, but I normally see more when out doing photography.

Welcome to the site

Chukar numbers are down a bit. still seeing an average number though even though I quit hunting for them on 12/1. gotta save some for next year.

October was really good for me. November not so much.

smart man!!!  Save a few for next year!

[merkelman]

Been out 15 1/4 days so far and have 75 quail in the bag, which isn't too good for the amount of time and effort I put in.

75 quail in the bag isn't a good year?  Holy cow, that's an average of 5 per trip.  Be careful about over-harvesting.  If everyone that hunted them killed that many there would be none left in short order.
[/quote

I agree with Featherduster,  if the year is down save a few for next year!