Bobwhite

[birdblastinboaz]

In the WA upland regs it mentions a season for the Northern Bob white Quail... just curious... anyone ever see them? Some of the research I have done suggest that we have a small population in the south east of WA. I live on the west side and scouting the southeastern side of the state isn't exactly a one day trip for me. Not looking for spots (obviously) but just wanted some sort of confirm or deny before I make a full blow scouting trip down there... anyone down there ever see any? Good numbers?

[nwwanderer]

Have never seen a wild one here, southeast or otherwise

[old boat]

  Saw them ten years ago on private property, which permission to hunt was granted only with the strict orders don't shoot any quail.
I'm pretty sure they never caught on although they had the support of quite a few landowners.
I've heard rumors of a population near Boise.

[Eli346]

 I've seen quite a few in Western Washington over the years but the sightings have been sporadic at best and not really any #'s that would justify hunting them. I lived in Northern California years ago and a friend of mine took a shot at a covey on the gravel road and got 13 in one shot! Six was the limit so we went back with one extra bird. Not much to eat on those guys and when they flush it's a heart check for sure if you don't know they're there.

[wonder]

Saw a few on some leased land we were hunting about 30 miles west of Spokane and it was all small coveys (less than 10 birds).  Have not hunted over there since 2011-12?

[Jonathan_S]

It would be cool if SOMEWHERE in the country they'd get a good foothold.  They are hurting in their traditional habitats due to the fire ants.  Fire ants get into quail nests and the chicks are so sensitive that it will wipe out entire seasons of babies. 

[Forrestrover.02]

Seen them a couple times in Eastern Wa.

[Elliott]

Ive only ever seen California quail when I was in the tri cities.

[Bean Counter]

In southern Arizona they have the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge. The primary purpose of the refuge is for grassland habitat for the endangered bobwhite quail.

[asmith]

I have lived in Lincoln County the past 3 or so years, bird hunted each year and have never seen a bobwhite anywhere.

[PolarBear]

We had a few here in Rainier but the last time I saw one was about 6 years ago.  I use to sit on the porch with the kids and whistle a couple of them up to the oak trees. I wish that we had some around again. 

[Jonathan_S]

I have lived in Lincoln County the past 3 or so years, bird hunted each year and have never seen a bobwhite anywhere.

They aren't around.

We had a few here in Rainier but the last time I saw one was about 6 years ago.  I use to sit on the porch with the kids and whistle a couple of them up to the oak trees. I wish that we had some around again. 

I really like hearing them whistle 

[jetjockey]

It would be cool if SOMEWHERE in the country they'd get a good foothold.  They are hurting in their traditional habitats due to the fire ants.  Fire ants get into quail nests and the chicks are so sensitive that it will wipe out entire seasons of babies.

They are all over certain parts of the country.  Places that have managed for quail still have very good numbers, even in the South.  The fire ant debate is still alive and well.  Some people say they are the reason for the bobwhites decline, some say they aren't.  There are many places without fire ants that numbers are hurting, and places with fire ants that have good populations of bobs.

[theleo]

Seen them around the Tri-cities, Walla Walla, Milton Freewater, Pendleton, La Grande, Baker, Richland OR, Wallowa and Enterprise. 

[Big6bull]

I have seen a few while scouting here on wet side and I didn't know what they were. sent wdfw a pic for id and they said bobwhite.

[wildweeds]

Any Bobs you happen upon are going to be the result of someone raising them and either having escapees or flat out turning them loose,I raised them for years and had a breakout where they went rogue in the spring.They paired up,nested,had little ones and survived,there were about 3 coveys that were seen in a 2 mile radius from where they escaped,the coveys got to be up around 20-25 birds,they were spotted off and on for 3 years and then, one bad winter did them in.Lot's of coyotes,birds of prey and housecats and not much in the way of grain feed for them.Back when NSTRA was having trials on a more regular basis on Fort Lewis than happens now a lot of birds were surviving and doing their thing.

[Fishnfowler]

They were rumored to be in the Umptaneum, but I have never seen one. 

[boneaddict]

Yes, there are a few in the Umptanum.  They'd show up at my place in the Wenas. 

[wildweeds]

Dale Davis who lives/lived north of spokane who bred pointers had a whole rearing/raising system that he marketed,he was also a breeder of pointers including Hall of Fame inductee "Jerry's Runaway Bandit" I heard he had quite a lot of them established and that his neighbors were involved in the program and the prime directive was to not shoot any. I vaguely remember the population in his area to be at 25 thousand birds.............