mountain quail

[Stilly bay]

any mountain quail enthusiasts out there? we talked about them briefly on another thread but they are such a cool little bird I think they need their own topic.
any sightings, stories, or pics?

I used find them infrequently when hunting  for grouse, the buggers would come boiling out of the under brush so quick it was hard to get off a shot.

[RadSav]

I grew up hunting them on the Oregon coast.  One of my favorite birds to hunt still.  Very disappointed there are not more here in Washington.  Seems like Seaside is about as far north as they get in real good numbers.

Back in the day I was allowed to take my shotgun to school as long as I took the barrel loose from the action.  Actually made my first silhouette rifle in highschool shop class   When coming home on the bus I would have the bus driver drop me off at the gate to my favorite quail road.  I would then hunt a five mile loop around the Salishan Airport and back to the house.  I didn't get too good of grades in school, but I did get an "A" in Home Ec for my various ways to cook wild game.  We cooked a lot of birds in that class.

[Stilly bay]

I grew up hunting them on the Oregon coast.  One of my favorite birds to hunt still.  Very disappointed there are not more here in Washington.  Seems like Seaside is about as far north as they get in real good numbers.

Back in the day I was allowed to take my shotgun to school as long as I took the barrel loose from the action.  Actually made my first silhouette rifle in highschool shop class   When coming home on the bus I would have the bus driver drop me off at the gate to my favorite quail road.  I would then hunt a five mile loop around the Salishan Airport and back to the house.  I didn't get too good of grades in school, but I did get an "A" in Home Ec for my various ways to cook wild game.  We cooked a lot of birds in that class.

I remember when you could bring a gun to school! thems were the good old days. I had a teacher for my last class of the day in high school that would let me cut class if it was good duck hunting weather and my grades were up. I guess he knew I wouldn't amount to much anyway.

there are pockets of them here in Wa, I know a few areas where they out number the grouse by a land slide. I have seen birds on whidbey and have heard of them as far north as bellinham.  the peninsula used to be pretty thick with the little buggers, but finding access to good quail cover is getting tougher every year.

[RadSav]

I guess he knew I wouldn't amount to much anyway.

I think that is what my US History teacher thought of me too.  He told my buddy Rick and I that if we brought him two cords of wood before elk season we only had to attend class Monday & Tuesday during bow season.  We would probably have skipped most of his classes during that time anyway.  So he was probably smart and got two cords of firewood out of the deal anyway.

[Wacenturion]

Have seen a few occasionally west/northwest of Olympia

[boneaddict]

I came really close to raising them, but I just didn't have the room at the time.

[Stilly bay]

I came really close to raising them, but I just didn't have the room at the time.

once Birdguy gets a break from being Dad of the year, he is supposed to send me some intel on raising Mountain quail. I am going to try and gather some breeders over the next few years, I think it would be cool to try and reintroduce them to my neck of the woods. we don't have any hunting pressure besides a bunch of free roaming cats -which I imagine are pressure enough.

[Huntbear]

Seems their range is pretty limited here in Washington...


http://www.birdweb.org/birdweb/bird/mountain_quail#

[Birdguy]

Stilly, I have not forgotten about getting you all I can on raising these little guys. Unfortunately I lost my Dad earlier this month and have been super busy with that. I will give you all I know about them when I get the chance. If you plan on releasing them make sure the breeders you select are NPIP certified so you have the proper paperwork to transport them into our state, then find out who in your area can give you your certification as you will only be allowed to release birds that are certified in our state. I had to use the State vet from the WSU branch in Puyallup when I had mine.

[ORCA_SIX]

I saw a covey close to my neighborhood last year. There is a trail that runs through it, and I was running down it and a pushed up probably 10-15. It completely threw me off to have some so close and within close proximity of houses.

[HardCorpsHuntr]

Cool bird for sure!  I grew up seeing a mounted Mtn. Quail on my Grandparents mantle, thinking it was the coolest thing since I was used to our California valley quail here in EWa.  That Mtn. Quail is now camped on top my mantle... and is in sorts a memorial to my Grandparents.  While at Camp Pendleton I tried, but failed! 

[Sumpnneedskillin]

I chased them all the time when I was stationed in CA.  Kick myself hard and many times everytime I think about not getting a couple of mounts done. 

When I was down there I enjoyed hunting them more than CA valley quail.

[jackmaster]

idk what kind of qual they are but sequim sure has alot of them, any river dyke or power line road is loaded with them and farmers that live along the dungeness will sometimes give permission to do some bird huntn

[sirmissalot]

I see quail around shelton too. Not sure if they are mountain quail or what, but definitely a quail with the little dangly feather over their head and run super fast across the roads and through brush. Never shot one they seem too small to mess with to me.

[Dhoey07]

I see quail around shelton too. Not sure if they are mountain quail or what, but definitely a quail with the little dangly feather over their head and run super fast across the roads and through brush. Never shot one they seem too small to mess with to me.

Mountain quail have a feather on their head that goes straight up or back, and california quail have the dangly thing hanging forward towards their eye. 

[Stilly bay]

. Unfortunately I lost my Dad earlier this month and have been super busy with that. I will give you all I know about them when I get the chance. If you plan on releasing them make sure the breeders you select are NPIP certified so you have the proper paperwork to transport them into our state, then find out who in your area can give you your certification as you will only be allowed to release birds that are certified in our state. I had to use the State vet from the WSU branch in Puyallup when I had mine.

I am sorry for your loss birdguy.
take all the time you need I am in no hurry at all.

[sako85]

We used to get some out between shelton and union back 25 years ago, i personally have never seen them anywhere else.  From what i can remember they were twice the size of a valley quail and a little smaller than
a ruff grouse and not as much color.

[Birdguy]

Stilly PM me with any questions you have about mountain quail, I will be glad to help out. If you are ever on the Kitsap Peninsula get a hold of me and I will show you my set up and how I do things. It is a lot faster to look at and discuss than I can type for sure.  A few things to think about are:
*breeder pens, will you do pairs or colonies, I have done both and had decent luck with both but the pens need to be much bigger for the colony style. (general note for all birds the bigger the pen the better). If possible cover some of the pen and have some open to the elements, a little rain is good for their feathers. On the wet side I would recommend off the ground wire pens, as too much wet dirt brings in parasites you do not want. I have some ground pens but they have a lot of sand in them and drain very well, I still do not keep quail in them over the winter.
*brooder is a tough place for them too as the chicks are very cannibalistic, they like to eat the other chicks toes. We have gone to using the yellow bug lights and usually peat moss on the floor for them. Constant fresh (high protein gamebird starter) food and water is a must, we also add hard boiled eggs and meal worms, as well as fresh grass/weeds for them to pick at.
* a large grow out pen will be a big part of your success as well (this would be a good place for the ground pen, but it must be predator proof).
     There is plenty more to discuss as you get closer just let me know where you are in the process and any questions you have. There really is no better quail to raise, they are tough to get going but well worth it. If I think about it I will post a few pictures of some of mine on this thread.

[rasbo]

I see quite a few in hancock kapowsin.I hunted them for years in No Cal,placerville area was loaded with them...loved to hear them crow in the mornings