January Upland Bird Hunting Tips

[Cab]

I'm going out for Quail and Chukar for the first time next weekend in the Wenas National Forest and was wondering if anyone had
 any tips for hunting upland birds this time of year? I figured it's the end of season so the guys that know what they are doing have already got their fill and I can have some space to try and find birds. I don't have a dog but have hunted grouse for years so I'm a decent shot. That said this is totally new species for me and new terrain so any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[jackson7]

quail, hunt them like grouse. stop and go.
chukar, take your binocs and try spotting them. if snow on ground, follow tracks. good luck.

[Cab]

quail, hunt them like grouse. stop and go.
chukar, take your binocs and try spotting them. if snow on ground, follow tracks. good luck.

Thanks this is great help!

[jackson7]

once you bust a covey of quail, try to watch where they go. they will sit tight. kick each piece of brush. chukar, whole different story. enjoy.

[Duck_Lover]

For Chukar you should walk a lot to find them. I am not sure binoculars work! Also you can hear their call and locate them especially after sunrise.


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[Naches Sportsman]

Cover cover cover. Birds will not hold very well in the open this time of year. Your location says Vancouver. Taking 12 over?

[jackson7]

When you get tired of walking , pull out the binocs and listen and scan.
Worst case scenario you will see some deer, elk, coyotes. Still pretty cool.

[Cab]

Cover cover cover. Birds will not hold very well in the open this time of year. Your location says Vancouver. Taking 12 over?

Yup, I have an insanely slow week at work and know I can get out fri early drive out, camp over night and get a crack at it hunting some birds at first light. thanks for ths tips guys this is super helpful.   

[owa]

Was over there this weekend and was tough hunting this go around for me.  Has been better over the years.  Saturday we put 10+ miles on the boot with the dogs doing close to 21. 1 covey of quail and a smaller covey of chukar busted up, and only 5 birds shot.  On Sunday dogs were pretty shot, but still managed to get half the day in until the dogs decided they were beat.  They're not in Chukar-shape I guess!

[Cab]

Was over there this weekend and was tough hunting this go around for me.  Has been better over the years.  Saturday we put 10+ miles on the boot with the dogs doing close to 21. 1 covey of quail and a smaller covey of chukar busted up, and only 5 birds shot.  On Sunday dogs were pretty shot, but still managed to get half the day in until the dogs decided they were beat.  They're not in Chukar-shape I guess!

Good to know, I'm going to think of it more as a walk in the sage and hopefully I get lucky enough to bring home some dinner. plus I need to work off some of that X-mas weight.

[Cab]

Well I gave it a shot and ended up coming home empty handed but boy oh boy is were the views great. So much fun and great first experience for me even hunting in central WA. Didn't put up any birds but saw a lot of tracks here and there. Thanks for all the tips everyone and I look forward to next fall.

[GoBeavs85]

I like that picture! Good job getting out and exploring. I always say when I get skunked that some people come out and go hiking without a shotgun or the anticipation of a possible bird flush. So a skunked day of hunting is a normal day of hiking for the other folks! Nothing to feel bad about


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[Cab]

I like that picture! Good job getting out and exploring. I always say when I get skunked that some people come out and go hiking without a shotgun or the anticipation of a possible bird flush. So a skunked day of hunting is a normal day of hiking for the other folks! Nothing to feel bad about


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Agreed! I view it as a hike with possible dinner  thanks for the kind words it's appreciated.