Mountain Quail

[birdblastinboaz]

Hey I am new to the site so I hope I am posting this accurately. I am somewhat new to upland hunting on the West side and would love to know if anyone on this forum hunts for Mountain Quail. From the information I have gathered so far it sounds like they are few and far between. Just curious if anyone actually hunts for them on the West side or if you guys just stick to Grouse? Thanks.

[Heartsblood]

Saw this guy over the hood of Behemoth on sunday near Sultan. His two compadres flushed but he wasn't in such a hurry...


I've never hunted 'em over here tho'...

[Birdguy]

Heartsblood, those are valley quail you got pictures of. The mountain quail will have a straight top knot and be a bit bigger with some maroon/brown color on the sides with white stripes. The valley male in your picture looks good, but you can tell by the yellowish scale looking feathers below the blue on his chest he is a valley quail. If I had more computer skills I would put up a picture of one of my mountains I raise...we will see, I may have to try.

[marty]

Aren't they actually California quail?

[boneaddict]

California Valley Quail.  Most bird folk refer to them as Valleys Marty

[Justin7mm]

i think the proper name for these birds is valley quail...but they are California's state bird, so they get called california quail quite a bit.

[Timberstalker]

I have seen Mountain Quail one time in Washington.  I had half a boned out elk on my back.  It was in Asotin County.  I believe they planted them back in the Early 90's.  I was a long ways from Nowhere and I was not going to set down the pack of meat to get the camera out.  I didnt have enough ass to pick it back up.

[Heartsblood]

Heartsblood, those are valley quail you got pictures of. The mountain quail will have a straight top knot and be a bit bigger with some maroon/brown color on the sides with white stripes. The valley male in your picture looks good, but you can tell by the yellowish scale looking feathers below the blue on his chest he is a valley quail. If I had more computer skills I would put up a picture of one of my mountains I raise...we will see, I may have to try.

Hey thanks. I've only hunted Gambels in Mesa. I'd like to quail hunt here tho' both mountain and valley...
Yes, please do post up if you can.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Heartsblood, those are valley quail you got pictures of. The mountain quail will have a straight top knot and be a bit bigger with some maroon/brown color on the sides with white stripes. The valley male in your picture looks good, but you can tell by the yellowish scale looking feathers below the blue on his chest he is a valley quail. If I had more computer skills I would put up a picture of one of my mountains I raise...we will see, I may have to try.

[Heartsblood]

Gambels appear to be the most similar to Valley quail. Dunno if I've ever mountain quail in person before.

@ Birdguy -

If ya need some coaching as far as putting up pix, I'd be happy to help in whatever way I can.

[lokidog]

The only place I have ever seen decent numbers of mountain quail was in the coast range of Oregon.  Of course, that was back in the 80's and 90's.

One elk season (archery) I ate 76 of them in a month of hunting/camping out in the woods.  Plus a few unlucky grouse and a band-tailed pigeon.   

Mountain quail are closed to hunting in Eastern WA.

[shedcrazy]

Valley, California its all the same. Come t my backyard and get the fattest quail ever. Town quail are huge

[Sumpnneedskillin]

Here's one I got with my bow while I was stationed in San Diego.  They don't flush as often as valley's.  They love to run and they love to run straight up hill.