26 replies to this topic

[tawnoper]

If what they are saying is true, it should be good. Looks like all the rain and snow did it's thing.The 2005 season was really good. Anything close to that would be great.Quail-Chukar

[Braz]

That sure doesn't seem to be the case up north here. I spent 2 weeks at the cabin, encompassing July 4th, and saw very few quail. I saw one brood that had one adult and 3 chicks, but that's it. Didn't see another anyplace. Not even very many pairs. I was out and about on the quad a lot over those two weeks covering probably 60 miles of country. Sure sounds like a great season for the south though.

[Frank]

Yep, I totally agree on this upcoming season being potentially one of the best since 2005. I may be semi-surprised if it becomes the "best in decades", as Jim states. Maybe? But I hope so of course. LOL Reason I say that is, 2005 was indeed a Benchmark year.I've told this story before, but will say it again. In the summer of 2005, a friend & I scouted a public land area & in only about 3 hours, we stopped counting after approx 1,100 quail seen (in numerous, mostly large coveys)... And why I will be hard pressed to "out do" that year. But again, I am certainly hoping so. lol Either way, a Great report for a potentially fabulous upcoming season. And Thanks for sharing!Frank

[zippy1970]

I have been out a few times this year & have seen plenty of Quail but they never seem to be there after the season opens . Also last year bout same time there were also alot of Doves in the mix but I did not see any the last 2 times out . Worst of all , I see Turkey Spring & Fall but the land owner won't let me shoot them : ( Andy

[dabob]

I am seeing quail everywhere at work and the ranches I hunt on. It looks like more than one hatch because some of the quail are over half grown and some are tiny.

[tawnoper]

I'll admit, I'm more of a predator hunter above all. Since bird season happens the same time as my favorite time to call predators I always bring my shotgun and bird vest. I remember the 05 season. We'd be walking out to a stand and jump a covey of quail, so after the stand we'd walk back grab the shotgun and chase the birds for awhile. Same with Chukar, usually see them while driving to a stand and would end up chasing them around for awhile. I remember making a stand near a guzzler one afternoon...and watching at least a 100 Chukar walking down for a drink. Most years I don't make specific bird hunting trips...in 05' I did.

[Bisley]

I am the exact opposite, birds first, predators as opportunity strikes or for a break from birds. But I have always said it, and will continue to do so, Great bird seasons rotate around about every 5 to 7 years. There may be decent seasons in between, but really good one, every 5 to 7. I think Frank may be right (I sound like a broken record) it may be a GREAT season, but NOBODY on Earth can tell you if it will be the best in who knows how long. We could have a horrible, rainy, windy winter, and the birds may there but weather not permit. Too many factors in every season to predict anything. I hate when writers try to tell me how good or bad it will be. If they were that good, they would break Vegas!That being said, good luck to everyone this season again. I know I am more excited than usual for it

[stephen722]

YEA birds first, the wire and I allways have a good season. might walk all day and shoot at four or five, lucky to hit two but still better than work! have fun stephen

[clampdaddy]

I'm with you guys. Wingshooting is just so much fun. If heaven is getting to do what you love to do best for ever and ever I could go with Dove, Duck, or crow hunting and never tire of it. All I'd need is a comfy chair, a good gun that never runs dry, a good dog that never misses a retrieve.......and a cooler that never goes empty.

[Bisley]

.......and a cooler that never goes empty.

Amen! If you ever find out where they sell one of those, PLEASE let me know. I would give anything for one of them And you guys are absolutely correct, no bad days are ever spent with friends or your dogs. Some are just less productive than others, but not bad.

[BearWhoHunts]

I live in Central CA and from what I have been seeing, I am looking forward to quail season. I am jumping several LARGE coveys a day out on the farm. I am going to do some deer hunting in a few weeks at one of my favorite honey holes for upland birds and my scouting trips have been making me more excited to carry my shotgun than my rifle.Best of luck this year!

[dabob]

Last Thursday I went for s short drive out at work to check some chemical pumps and saw 6 pairs of quail with young quail with them.Some of this year's chicks are 3/4's grown and I saw one pair with little tiny chicks. Around here they are not in covies yet, just pairs or two pairs with this year's chicks. I saw a picture the other day a lady took in her yard of a pair of quail with 13 little chicks.

[Bisley]

That is music to my ears. But sadly, it is all for not if the weather doesn't cooperate. Too much wind or rain and it doesn't matter how many birds hatch this year.A goo weather forecast would be nicer to hear than a good hatching, especially with dove, not so important for quail.

[turkeyman85]

bisley I was just saying that to my buddies. I hate to put a bad thought into their lil heads but its true. If weather doesnt get any better than the dove will be gone for a while. lol They still have High hopes tho.

[Bisley]

The weather for dove right now is perfect. Just 30 more days of no thundershowers and we're all good. The quail and chukar however don't leave because of the weather, but most the places they live are constantly plagued by wind that time of year. Yes, I know, some people have their own "places with no wind" that they know of, but for the most part their habitat is in windy areas. And if we have a stormy, windy winter, all the birds in the world won't matter if they don't fly. Not trying to be a bummer, just a realist. Lots of game doesn't make it a good hunting year, just a good year for breeding. A big difference. I obviously hope we don't have that this year, but I am no making extenuating plans just yet either. It will be what it will be and all we can do is hope for the best. I myself am not psychic, and am not qualified to make any predictions (until the day before the season ends).

[HogHunter714]

I would have to say it's gonna be a BANNER year for Quail and Chukar. I live in Northern Nevada and we have some great upland bird hunting. Lately, it has been looking very promising on my scouting trip. I have quail all over my backyard and most of my local chukar spots are lookin REAL good right now. We will see how things are come Oct..

[turkeyman85]

Ya I was just reffering to the dove, any sign of badd weather and they're gone. But quail and chukar,your right I have always hunted them in high winds. Except for the last 4 years in my spot there hasnt been any wind other than a slight breez. Which I've been weired out by,and have to adjust to the conditions of shooting with out wind lol. But I hope the natural sping was fixed and the lil pond is full. Than its on this year!!! Two years ago was the worst hunting season I have ever had since I can remember. Which still wasnt as bad as for some ppl and other areas, every time we went out we got into birds and almost got limits.

[weber]

Weather this weather that !!!!!!!!!!!!! The only thing its going to be raining is Doves out of the sky !!!!!!!!!!!I live in San Diego and lucky enough to hunt the opener every year down Yuma . I leave home around 3AM and almost without fail there are streaks of lightining across the sky the entire drive out .Pockets of heavy rain some places ,but by sunrise the birds are up and flying like they always do . Rather than the rain what I find that pushes them out is the cold weather . In my experience that just doesnt happen on the opener this far south.Always just a little nervous until that first bird comes flying by in that gray light . Followed literally by hundreds of his buddies . I have yet to have an opener in Imperial/Yuma where limits werent had in well under an hour for most. But that is what the single shot 410 is for . Good Luck

[Bisley]

When the storms hit, which way do you think all the dove fly? Yep, south. And since this state has 163,696 square miles and more than just one county, some of us do have to take weather into consideration. Where do you think many of those birds flying that way came from? I do hope you, and many of the two-day-a-year-"hunters" that infest that area have a good season, but remember that there are a lot of us that 1. either can't make it down there or 2. just don't want to hunt in an area where you reach in your back pocket and bump into three people crammed next to you, that DO have to take weather into account. The world, nor bird season, centers around just your little area of choice. Did you also know that there are two dove seasons also?! And guess what? One does happen to be right in the middle of the rainy season. Yeah, some of us hunt all the seasons, not just the good first day or two. When you do that, not only do you take weather as a consideration, you also think of both seasons before making it a consideration as a "good or bad year".

[sxshooter]

I was up in the Quail Lake area and saw lots of valley quail. Last season was really good in the Cuyama area. Even saw some good numbers of chukar. I was up in Apple Valley a couple weeks ago and quail were everywhere in the semi rural areas, in large numbers. I think this will be better'n any season in the last 10 yrs.

[turkeyman85]

You saw chukar in Cuyamaca area? or cuyama?

[sxshooter]

Near Cuyama.

[looseshot99]

I was up in the Quail Lake area and saw lots of valley quail. Last season was really good in the Cuyama area. Even saw some good numbers of chukar. I was up in Apple Valley a couple weeks ago and quail were everywhere in the semi rural areas, in large numbers. I think this will be better'n any season in the last 10 yrs.

I can concur about the about the Hi. Desert area having tons of quail. Was just up there this weekend around Hesperia/ Apple Valley. Saw a ton all around town. Good luck trying to find a place to hunt them though. Try around Adelanto/Phelen/Oak Hills/Lucerne Valley.

[bunktheclown]

I believe it will be a banner year up North as well. I have several pairs on my 3.5 acres and they have each had at least 2 hatches. Counted 15 2 days ago just bigger than my thumb. The larger ones are starting to covey up and I counted thirty in one last night. -jb

[clampdaddy]

My opening day of dove season might be a little rough. The late rains we had this year moved the corn planting off a few weeks so none of it has been chopped at my favorite spot yet.

[Haywood]

I haven't been on here as much as I used to, been real busy and worn out from work junk. Last year for me was kinda slow on dove, I was solo the whole time and it was like I was in a cartoon. I'd be watching one direction and they'd come in behind me so I'd turn and face the other way and they'd come in behind me again lol. I would have just sat there spinning in circles but then I'd be too dizzy to shoot lol. And to add insult to injury I'd come home and the yard would be full of dove, so tempted to break out the pellet gun. Anyway guys I hope this year is better and I wish y'all luck, be safe out there if I don't get a chance to pop back in before the season starts.

[sxshooter]

Come on you guys, the hatch is obviously better'n it's been in a while and it promises to be a great quail and chukar season. Weather won't stop me from taking good numbers this season. Dove is just target practice for real hunting.