First trip out on the Yakama Res.---2 stars

[antlerbolic_bearoids]

I went out yesterday for the first time this year, and it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.  By no means was it exceptional, but not horrible.  We had a group of nine people to start the day, and twice as many dogs.  The first field held a dozen or so birds, six roosters, 3 got away.  The second Field was poor, saw two birds total, one rooster, and he didn't make it.  The third and forth Fields have been our honey pots the last couple of years.  Unfarmed asparagus with thick, and I mean THICK, weeds grown up in the rows.  Several roosters were shot at in the 20 mile an hour winds, and the majority of them live to be hunted another day.  The fifth, sixth, and seventh fields were poor.  Compared to the last three years or so the bird numbers are down, but I don't think it is going to be horrible by any means.  Right now the bird numbers are concentrated,  but they will spread out.  Especially when all that F'ing corn starts to come down.  Also keep in mind that the birds that take to the air while hunting are but a fraction of the birds that are in that Field.  Frustrating huh?  While posting one field yesterday I saw 15 birds sneak out behind the walkers and dogs.  Why don't they play fair?  It was tough scenting conditions for the dogs with the wind and dry, dusty Fields, but they seemed to be having a blast anyway.  I'm looking forward to Christmas break, and of course some snow.  By the way, where are all the quail?

[Rhinoron247]

Where you hunting pointers or flushers?  How was the quail population?

[antlerbolic_bearoids]

Flushers, all labs.  Although a couple of them point.  Quail population is way down.  I'm sure there are good numbers somewhere, but not that we could find.  Of course we weren't really looking for them either.  A couple fields we hunt usually have GIANT coveys of quail, but not this year.  I bet I saw 10 total all day.  I usually shoot at that many out of frustration, burning my expensive high base shells.

[12 gauge watergun]

All of the quail I have seen is down by the river this year and I mean a lot of quail.  I live in wapato and have pulled many quail while jumpshooting ducks along the river this season.  Hunting out west is getting tougher and the are posting a lot more land.  Oh ya dont worry all of the corn is coming down this week and next before the rains hit... or at least we are going to. 

[ribka]

I hunt the rez a lot and those pheasant all have phd's. They are some smart birds.

I have been seeing quail in the Russian olives and sage