Mountain Quail
- Thread starter CTR13
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The only ones I've ever seen and the only one I ever bagged, and it was only one, was around 40 years ago just off of Highway 15 about halfway between 138 and the summit. There used to be a dirt road that you could turn off onto from right off the southbound side of the freeway and then you'd follow the Edison tower roads around a hill and up a valley off to the west. I'm pretty sure they blocked off access to that road years ago. I did look at the San Bernardino County shooting map and that area appears to still allow shooting for "lawful hunting only". I chased them around for a couple of hours, got an occasional shot at birds the flushed at the edge of outside of range and finally had one the held and flushed almost right at my feet. I was going to have it mounted but due to the close range I blew the heck out of it. Went back there several times but never saw the mountain quail there again.
I’ve spent a lot of time in that area on both sides of the 15. There’s some FAT quail around there. The downside is a lot of off-road traffic and they can be elusive as Waldo
I spent about 9hrs yesterday driving around the mountain, hiking and biking different locations scouting for bear and came across these little guys...my first time seeing them!
Good job on getting some mountains, my favorite of the quail. Last year in the early season I bagged 3 birds with 1 shot. I went to ground shot one I could see and as I shot two others must of poked their heads up to see what was going on... didn't end well for them. I came up to retrive my one bird and there was 3, all head shots.
The main issue is trying to find them in an area that is not choked with brush that has clear shooting lanes. The disappear easily in heavy cover. Also the have a penchant for 45 degree hillsides. But in May they ring the ridge around my cabin and you can hear their mating calls all day long. They call very little if at all during the hunting season
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Frank,
During the hunting season...They make a single note whistle...Quite unique amongst quail.
During the hunting season...They make a single note whistle...Quite unique amongst quail.
A covey walked past me yesterday when I was hunting for deer... of course I didn't see a single quail when I went out with my shotgun a few weeks ago.
