Anybody Mountain Quail Hunt?

[DaMitt Mystagin]

Anybody here hunt mountain quail in OR or CA?  Seems a lot of folks are saying not to strike out on foot, to ride the backroads and look for coveys, then bail out after them.  Is it worth bringing my dog?

[AL WORRELLS KID]

As long as you have A/C in your rig, you both can cover a lot more "Cover" instead of sweating on foot until those Coveys are located. Scout where there's a fresh water source and plenty of cover. 

[DaMitt Mystagin]

I appreciate the advice. 

[kselkhunter]

Drive the roads until you bump a covey, but also get out every once in awhile and just listen for them if you're in an area of younger trees with grasses/blackberries.   Mountain quail are usually very vocal and once you know what they sound like, you can hone in on their location pretty quick.  Once you know their general area, as long as you don't harvest too many each year that area will keep paying off.  I've hunted the same spot for mountain quail for decades. 


You'll find them in both the cascades and coast ranges in Oregon (I can't comment if there are any in Eastern Oregon, never come across any over there).  Typically below 4,000 foot elevation.  Usually in areas of younger firs with grasses and blackberries still growing amongst them.   Most areas where you find mountain quail, there are usually lots of grouse as well.   In SW Oregon you'll get into mountain quail, valley quail, grouse, turkeys, and gray squirrel all on the same day.   I grew up there and in between the morning and evening deer hunts, we'd fill the coolers with birds and squirrels.  Now my favorite mountain quail area is in the west slopes of the cascades, and I can usually take a few forest grouse on those trips as well when I head into the older growth areas from the young firs. 


As for dogs on mountain quail, my flusher wasn't much use.  My GSP was better in the more open areas, but in the young firs it's hard to keep track of him and in my experience mountain quail don't hold for very long.  I typically bring the dogs out to find the dead quail in that thick grass or blackberries.  I mostly hunt by sound, tracking the quails calls until I'm on them.   


Good luck.  Mountain quail hunting is so much fun.  And where I hunt them you get very small shooting lanes and very little time to shoot, so practice alot at quick pop-up shots before you head out.   

[DaMitt Mystagin]

Thanks for all the detailed info! I'll look for the terrain you mention when I start scouting. 

The "mountain quail, valley quail, grouse, turkeys, and gray squirrel all on the same day" sounds like a blast! (No pun intended)

[kselkhunter]

If you have Basemap or OnX, turn on the layer for old fires (I use Basemap, haven't used OnX in years so not sure about it's fire layers).  Pick a location on NF or BLM land that had a fire between 5 and 20 years ago, that is <4000 ft elevation and start at those locations for your scouting. Or a similar spot on timber land that has been harvested in the past 5-20 years, if you choose to get access to the timber land.  Those are typically the best spots.  And typically the neighboring older growth next to those fire locations hold forest grouse as well.  Especially if there is a creek or lake or river within reasonable proximity.

[DaMitt Mystagin]

Good point kselkhunter. 

[asmith]

I hunted them all the time in commyfornia.  Never did drive roads, as they were mainly up in the mountains.  Id hike miles up canyons then work my way down the ridges to find them.  Rarely did you see them by a road.

[Goshawk]

I'm 61 and have never seen a wild one. Very impressive.

[HntnFsh]

Beautiful birds. Never seen those particular quail