Rooster Report?

[MR5x5]

What are you seeing out there.  Numbers in wheat country seem on par with last year. Opening was tough with heavy rain, snow and wind, but managed to scratch some out.  Who would have ever thought dogs understood long arming

[shootem]

That's great. If they are wild birds in Washington it is amazing.

[MR5x5]

All wild.  Lots of wild birds in WA.  Just need to go to the places where agricultural practices are conducive.

[Birdguy]

Well done!! Some great looking birds and even better meals right there!!

[TVHunts]

What a day, Congrats to you and your crew! 

[Sutherland]

Great way to start the season, way to go! Thanks for sharing.

[PaulM]

Shot a few Wednesday. beautiful day with a 15 degree start.

[MR5x5]

Shot a few Wednesday. beautiful day with a 15 degree start.

Nice!  So I was kind of hoping this thread would capture what folks are seeing in various regions. Palouse, C-Basin, NE, SE, Othello, R-Slope, etc...that sort of thing.  The hatch can be a fickle thing... I'll start.  My wheat field roosters came from the heart of the Palouse.  Headed back over in a couple weeks.  What are you folks seeing in your haunts?

[GoBeavs85]

Benton/franklin county area, birds seem to be really grouped up. Flushes of 10 birds at a time and long stretches of nothing. Seems to indicate the hatch was spotty here. Really good in spots and poor in others. Quail coveys seem really pretty small so far this year.


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[ryanfam]

Managed one for a weekend of hiking around St John area with my son. Hunted feel free to hunt and hunt by reservation lands. Did not see many birds a few flushed wild.

[CackleBird98]

I've only been out once, killed 2 in about a half mile walk.  That same walk last year would've yielded up around a 3 man limit if I had the trust to take people there 

[theonlybfc]

Hunted a very famous public spot in Grant county. Only walked 2.5 with no dog and managed to kick up 4 roosters and 3 hens. Seemed like really good numbers to me especially with no dog.

[Backstrap]

Managed one for a weekend of hiking around St John area with my son. Hunted feel free to hunt and hunt by reservation lands. Did not see many birds a few flushed wild.

Looks like you pup put in a good effort!

[MR5x5]

Checking back in.  November was slow.  December weather seems to have pushed them to the edges. Not seeing anyone in the fields...?  How are the rest of you rooster chasers doing?

[BUCKHUNT]

I have gotten lucky with timing at some of the popular east side release sites. I've also knocked down a handful in more remote areas this season. How do you tell the wild ones from penned birds? Just the location?

I have a 9 month old pointer I've been trying to get on quail, but have seen only maybe 3 or 4 throughout the whole season. So far we're at 11 roosters, not including the ones from Double Barrel Ranch.

[MR5x5]

Right on.  I mostly figure wild vs released based on location.  All wild where we are at.  I'm told released birds rarely survive a winter, so if you are getting hold overs they are likely wild. You can tell hold over by serious spurs, or by holding the bird by the lower beak.  If the beak doesn't fold it's a hold over.  The pup on the right is a 9mo old too.  Second trip this year.  We got into a bunch of quail this past w/e.  The pup had a bunch of good points and retrieves.  Was great seeing the synapses start to connect in his little setter brain.

Good luck. Get after them now before too much snow ruins the sport of it.

[brocka]

I have made several trips, We are at 11 wilds so far.