7 replies to this topic

[BearWhoHunts]

So prior to the season opening I was seeing lots and lots of quail in some pretty large coveys so I was expecting a stellar year. On opening day I headed out to my secret public land spot and it was a quiet and mellow opener. Mostly dads out with their kids (3 groups) and us. Well a buddy of mine scored his first quail (after hunting most of last year) and I scored two cottontails (pictured is the first of the day and the smallest - the next one was quickly skinned and was about twice the size) which kept me from being skunked.I have been out a few more times since and have not put my bead on more than two birds. We just didn't run into the coveys that we knew were out there. I am not much of a Halloween person so I set up a hunt with a buddy over the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Well my buddys boss is a and a so he had to stay in to do inventory before his winter hours kick in. I figured since I found his boss a great shotgun for incredibly cheap that he would be down for the cause but I was wrong. My other buddy wanted to stay in town to get some candy of his own at the Halloween parties and said "Ehh...the hunting wasnt so good the last times. I will pass till Mojave in November." So it looked like I was out on my own. I headed down do pick up my new model 66 in SLO and then camped out Sunday night at my favorite little hideaway and enjoyed a quiet and star filled Halloween. The next morning I woke up late (7:30 or so) and had a nice a slow breakfast while the frost melted. I drove down to where I know there is a nice watering hole for a little dip and what did I jump when I cannon balled into the water???? About 150 quail!! You would have thought I was doing a polar bear swim I got out of the water so fast and back to the rig. I had my hunting gear on in about 5 mins and started to get after them. I hunted from about 8:30-11 and hit 6. I recovered 4 - 1 went the way of a red tail hawk and the other is gone and lost forever in a thick bush of Poison Oak! I ate some lunch and headed home so I could get some work done on the ranch before sundown (and gloat to my friends). Finally found where all the coveys are holding this year! Shame I was alone for it. A buddy would have kept me out there a good bit longer but all in all it was a great day!

[ShooterJohn]

Nice bag of game you have there. Also if you are hunting in the condor area don't forget you need to have non lead ammo in that pistol.

[BearWhoHunts]

Thanks John.Since you mention it right now I am using some federal 140 grain barnes expanders. I'm going to ask a question in the reloading forum about lead free 38/357 loads tonight.

[mjc89]

Nice job on the rabbits and the quail. And nice 870, got one myself.

[sportyg]

Good story and a nice hunt congrats.. Jumping in that pond though burrrrr....

[Bisley]

My other buddy wanted to stay in town to get some candy of his own at the Halloween parties and said "Ehh...the hunting wasnt so good the last times. I will pass till Mojave in November." So it looked like I was out on my own.

Guess he likes hunting in the high wind and freezing weather instead of the gorgeous forecast we're having now? Nice job, and looks like you had a great time. Looks like you learned the truth behind the old saying too. "Find the water, find the birds". Now go out and go get them again.

[BearWhoHunts]

Bisly - I agree the kid is crazy but snow and cold is a little easier for us to deal with compared to blistering heat. We are coastal boys out here and my buddy does not like it when it gets above 80 F. I grew up in the central valley so I am good to go from 20 F-102 F. The area that I hunt is a network of streams with a few ponds so water is pretty prolific year round - Here it is more of a fact of finding the right water. Sporty - It is a stream but it isnt all that bad. It is a good way to get my behind moving in the morning. I just cant wait until I can have fires where I go so I can warm up next to it with my cowboy coffee in the morning after my dip. I also take one in the afternoon to cool off and get some of the poison oak off my skin. MJC- yeah my 870 is my beater shotgun. I take it on my chukar and quail hunts in tough terrain. For my pass shooting or easy terrain I usually take out my grandpas 16 ga A5. Nothing shoulders like that one. I have been looking for a while to find another like it that I can turn into my beater semi auto.

[sxshooter]

Nice bag, but don't be shootin rabbits around bird dogs. Bad habit for a bird dog to learn you want rabbits and ground shooting is asking for a mishap with your dog or someone elses. Somebody ground shoots around my dog, I either leave or they get kicked off the property. No discussion.