![]() Whenever I am fortunate enough to shoot a bird, I make a point of studying the contents of the crop to understand what that bird has been eating. As you understand their patterns, you’ll begin to find them in predictable places and situations. As you watch the local coveys, you’ll begin to understand their patterns. Learn the behavior of valley quailĬalifornia quail coveys tend to stay in the same areas within a given season, so scouting and taking notes of your observations can help increase your success over time. Oftentimes this has been our only clue that we’re in the vicinity of a covey. It’s not a loud or obvious call, so it pays to be patient and observant. If you’re in the right spot, you’ll eventually hear the quiet “Chi-ca-go” call of the quail as they group up or communicate a move. Your area may look quite different from mine, so the value in studying the birds in their habitat can’t be stressed enough. These groves also provide a variety of seeds and berries that make up the bulk of the quail’s diet.ĭon’t be afraid to take time to quietly observe the area. ![]() These areas are typically marshy and provide an abundance of safe (often impenetrable) cover. On central Washington’s public land, this generally points toward the Russian Olive groves that dot the sage desert. Keep these important elements in mind when surveying an area for potential habitat. Like any animal, valley quail require suitable cover and access to food and water. From a beginner’s perspective, quail offer an invaluable opportunity to observe, learn, and eventually pursue a targeted bird – even on pressured public land. Remember to be patient! It took me almost an entire hunting season to learn enough about these birds to be reliably successful. Other game birds offer more meat for the effort, but I enjoy hunting valley quail because of their larger numbers and more predictable behavior. We are back in pursuit of the humble quail and have successfully brought a few (fully intact!) home to the kitchen. Happily, though, we have since redeemed ourselves with a summer of training under our belt. It’s hard to feel good about your first bird when it takes the form of small piles of partially digested feathers and bones dotting the yard. Unfortunately our training hadn’t yet addressed the proper retrieval of freshly shot birds, so to my great dismay, that first bird was swallowed whole by my young pup. A quail was the very first bird that I shot over my very first bird dog. ![]() My own history with the valley quail is one of failure and redemption. “I’ve always got about 50 in the yard and would love to try cooking one of them.” Bah humbug. “When does the season open?” the merchant asked. On the drive home, a stop in a local shop turned into a chat about California quail hunting. On a recent trip, we put in over 10 miles exploring a new spot and scouting for likely coverts – finding just two small coveys of skittish birds. I can hike all day through endless sagebrush in search of the little beasts, only to see huge coveys milling about in every other farmer’s driveway. On my public hunting grounds in central Washington, chasing valley quail ( California quail) can be deeply satisfying and yet incredibly maddening. New England Grouse Shooting, by William Harnden FosterĪ brief guide to hunting valley quail that covers habitat and behavior for this quail season.The Upland Shooting Life, by George Bird Evans.
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