Holly chukar and quail.

[jetjockey]

We spent last week on Lake Roosevelt drinking beer, skiing, playing, and even did a little fishing.  I can’t believe the amount of birds we saw.  Pulled the boat up to the beach on the reservation side and immediately saw a covey of about 40 chukar.  Every time I drove down the road in the morning I saw at least 1-2 coveys of quail, peaking at 5 coveys in a 7 mile section.  If what I saw is a sign of things to come, WA should have good bird numbers this year.

[vandeman17]

can't go more than a few blocks around my house without having to slow down for quail running across the road. I have a few coveys that come in my yard, biggest has 21 birds in it.

[aman]

i'm excited to get my 9 month old pup out there for his first season. let me know if you guys have suggestions for areas.

[C-Money]

Agree! We saw a big covey of chucker on our way to Chelan yesterday. Quail all over the pace as well!!

[Bob33]

If a dogless novice wanted to start hunting quail, what advice would you give him?

[Old Dog]

If a dogless novice wanted to start hunting quail, what advice would you give him?

Get a dog!   

Or you could bribe the Old Dog with a good spot, and he would bring Jasmine.   

[metlhead]

Best advice, find someone with a dog! So much more enjoyable. Always willing to bring someone along. Ifn you gotta do it alone, only shoot one bird at a time, and do not shoot over cover. You will, not may, but will lose birds. Also learn their call sounds. Pretty easy to locate then.

[bracer40]

If a dogless novice wanted to start hunting quail, what advice would you give him?

If time allows, I’d be happy to meet up with you and bring my Brittany. He’s always been a lot of fun to hunt quail behind.
One of the best “I’m so proud of that dog” moments was on a chukar hunt I did with another member for a first time meet-up at one of his places.
I noticed Cutter was getting very birdy when he suddenly locked up on point. I didn’t see Joe (new Hunt-Wa partner) so I waited till he came into view and started making “hurry up get up here arm motions. Seemed like the dog was on point for over 10 minutes while waiting but it was probably more like 5. Still.....

When he caught up to us, we walked in and flushed the covey. Boy was I surprised when not chukar, but a covey of around 40 quail flushed. Boy did we have fun hunting down triples, doubles and singles in the area. I love how quail tend to hold much tighter (especially compared to pheasant!)
Shoot me a pm if you’d like to discuss getting out. Unfortunately I don’t hunt behind my dog nearly as much as I did before taking on my current job. Now I put about 40k a year on the road so by the weekend I haven’t been as enthusiastic about making a day trip from Seattle to the dry side bird landscape as I used to be.

[joe_dumy]

Bracer40
That was a great hunt. Enjoyed watching your dog work so much i got my own. Word is out on that place. Havent been there for a few years now. Hit me up if you want to go again.
Bob33
I hunted chukar without a dog for a long time. Learn you pursuit. Study what they eat and study maps for water. They are where you find them in chukar country. I look for rock faces with poop running dow them. That means the predtor birds are having a good year. Lots if guys will point you to the nastiest areas. There is birds there but good luck. Look for ground with pockets out of the wind with food. Turn your spidey senses on at check the covers. Put tons of miles on and exspect few results until you start finding them and then you wil start putting ir together.

[ThurstonCokid]

I’ve been seeing more chukar and quail then ever. Wenatchee area


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Bob33]

Thank you for the information and offers of assistance.

To clarify my question, it’s partially for me. I don’t have a hunting dog and do very little upland bird hunting these days. I hunted chukar for many years without a dog and had limited success but it was primarily a replacement for the gym. The hills look a little steeper now so I’m considered getting back into bird hunting with a “kinder, gentler” bird like quail. I don’t care so much if I shoot many but would like a chance to be in a place where I might.

A second part of the question pertains to being a hunter education instructor. The curriculum and many courses tend to be big-game oriented.

For a new hunter (particularly one without a mentor) to succeed as a big game hunter is not easy. Average success rates for deer hunting in Washington run around 25% which means you get to pull the trigger once every four years on average. That’s a tough way to “hook” someone starting out. I’d like to encourage new hunters to get more involved in bird (upland and waterfowl) hunting if possible. I think they would find it a little more rewarding in the initial stages of being a new hunter. I’ve encouraged several students to start out turkey hunting; that’s another good way to get started.

As for Old Dog, I know that he’s got several young hunters off to a great start and I even have pictures to prove it.

Thanks again for the help.

[Lady Grouse hunter]

Covey's everywhere! just to go to the store for a six pak!