So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Just curious if you guys want me to report on my Upland bird hunts this year. I hunt upland birds more than any other game combined. I intend to take some of you all bird hunting this year. I mainly hunt Mountain quail, ruffed grouse, and blue grouse. Later in the year I will hunt chuckars, Pheasants, valley quail, and huns. Next week I will be hunting Sage grouse. Today it begins. If there is anybody on this board that wants to have a go at Oregon birds, let me know. I will be glad to host a hunt. I have two nice bird dogs, and a career that gives me a flexible schedule. The cost of bird hunting in Oregon is $58.50 for a non-resident license and you must purchase a state upland stamp validation. I will report tonight on the first days hunt.
Feel free to chime in with your own. So it begins!

Use a Big Lead to shoot them
were they aint.

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Thats a great offer thanks!!! <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> Personally I would like to here reports on how well ya'll did

Gun controll is using both hands!!!

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

It was tough hunting today. Hot weather and lots of my favorite areas where closed due to high fire danger. The dogs worked super hard in some rough country. We managed to scratch down 2 blue grouse, and 7 Mountain quail. My springer did very well on quail. She found several that I did not know I had hit. The lab made a classy retrieve on a blue grouse that had its wing broke. She chased it down a near vertical slope and brought him back alive. For there first day back to hunting since late Jan. they did super. I plan on going again in a few days. Good luck to all.

Use a Big Lead to shoot them
were they aint.

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Big Lead, your my kind of guy -- upland birds are the only game that I hunt. The only birds my dogs and I have not hunted are western quail, ptarmigan and blue and spruce grouse. I would really like to get into some blue grouse in the near future and vally quail, too. Maybe we could swap a hunt sometime. I can provide bobwhite quail, woodcock and ruffed grouse -- if interested.

Good luck the rest of the season!

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Maybe we can work something out Uplandchessie. I do not travel much, but I guess I could start. What I would really like is a good midwestern pheasant and sharptail hunt. I would also like to get in on some huns. I am taking off for eastern Oregon on Friday to spend a couple of days hunting Sage Grouse. I went out tonight for Mountain Quail and Grouse. I got 2 Mountain Quail and missed several easy shots. My Bad!! I ran the dogs hard and wore them out. We got into one covey that spread out over a clearcut. I took off after them with the dogs and got into a canyon filled with briars, piles of brush old snags and huge thistles of all sorts. My Springer ripped a pretty good gash on her belly skin. The Lab made it through with no injurys. I cleaned them up when I got home. Tough dogs. After it rains I am going back into that hell hole after them. There were a lot of birds in that area. Next time I am wearing my brush pants. I had thorns on top of my thorns after coming out of there. The Springer found a bird my dad did 'nt even know he hit. She also found a cripple that dove under a pile of brush. My lab found another that went under a bushy tree. In this country you have to have a dog that will go in after them and stay in until they are recovered.

Use a Big Lead to shoot them
were they aint.

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Big Lead I live in the upper mojave desert along the edge of the southern sierra nevada mts. I hunt wild hogs mostly because the season never closes. But my passion is upland game especially CHUCKERS. I have hunted em for 35 seasons now and while I dont move as fast as I used to I still live for that moment when ya break over a ridge top and walk in to a nice covey of chuckers and for an instant there all around ya so close you could just about swat em. It just dont get much better than that.

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

I know what you mean. There is something about chuckars that get under a fellows skin. They are a great bird. I love the fact that they survive in such rugged and steep country that nobody wants. They are an every mans bird. Tonight we chalked up 3 more mountain quail and 4 blue grouse. My buddy and I were just talking about how the grouse population must be down this year because we havn't been seeing many. Just then a group of 8 flushed and scattered into some thick reprod and brush. We got half of them before the rest decided to get out of the county. Lots of fun. I hope I can connect on the Sage grouse this weekend. I had to take my Springer to the vet earlier today. She had some abbrasions on her eyes and several cuts on her stomach from windfalls, and blackberry bushes. I asked if I can still hunt her. He said, yes but make sure she takes it easy. I said that is one thing I am sure she won't do. She just don't know how.


Use a Big Lead to shoot them
were they aint.

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

BigLead,

I would suggest Montana for Huns and you probably know where to go for pheasant and sharptails. In ten days, a buddy and I will be in MT for sage grouse, Huns and sharptails, plus, we will spend a few days in SD for prairie chickens and sharptails. Hope to get into some dove and snipe, too.

Good luck this season, shoot straight and don't work the dogs to hard!

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

hey Stubbs i just started hunting upland game and my goal is to cover them all here is my list so far DOVE, MOUNTAIN QUAIL, VALLEY QUAIL , PHEASANT , COMMON SNIPE, now i got the fever for chucker real bad im in southern cali and me and my buddy tryed randsburg with no luck i dont mind driving futher then randsburg can ya help me with my urge you dont have to give me your honey hole but stear me in the general direction thanks <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Well I got back from the Sage Grouse hunt last night, and I was whupped. I walked in the desert, sat in on waterholes, and generally tried every thing I could. I got a few shots at them, but they were extra wary. My buddy limited on the first flock we got into. I marked down about 20 birds and started up the mountain after them. When I crossed the ridge they flushed and headed for the next county. I had a couple of more oppurtunitys that did not pan out. I ended up getting one with the help of my ball of fire Springer. We did see quite a few antelope, and got to see some huge country. I will go back after sage grouse again next year. It is a tough hunt in rough country, but to see those bombers launch is quite a sight. I left my lab home for my dad to use on the early goose hunt. He said that she had to fetch a goose for a fellow who's dog refused to go in. He also knocked one down that landed about 100 yds out and started swimming for the middle of the lake. It got so far out that it was a little tiny dot out in the middle of the lake. He took her way up on the bank and she spotted it out there. She took off and swam a straight line for what he estimated was 350-450 yds. She finally caught up to it and came back. Dad said that people put down there guns and lined up on the bank to watch her go. People were hooting and cheering her on. I missed not having her while sage grouse hunting, but she got to work and earn her
keep and thats what counts. I am going to do some more Mountain quail and grouse hunting this week so I will keep you all updated.

Use a Big Lead to shoot them
were they aint.

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Have you tried hunting snipe? I think Oregon has a fair amount. The flushing dogs would work well on them and they are a lot of fun to try to hit. They are strong, fast, graceful flyers that twist and turn more than doves, even when flushing. They are not bad eating either which surprised me.

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Biglead congrats on your hunt . Did you get one of the fall turkey tags . I'm starting to see some of the longbeards again ,Maybe you can get one of the big ones this time . LOL Halcon

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Big Lead, it is good to hear from another bird hunter that has a Springer and your description of how he (or she) tears up that thick cover. Here in PA the few bird dogs there are are usually GSP's or Labs. It appears to me that GSP's are sissy dogs ... or maybe just their owners are sissies. My Springer will hit those hedge rows and stay in there all day, the thicker the better. After about a half an hour his tongue will be bleeding, his face is scratched, his nose is scratched, nasty looking things will be stuck in his ears and he will be as happy as a dog can be. After a while I'll try to whistle him away from the thick stuff just to give him a break but that's where he wants to be and that's where he'll flush out the birds. In the mean time, while he's flushing pheasants, the GSP's and their companions are out &quot;prancing&quot; in the pretty grassy fields with nothing in the game bag. We like to wave to them on our way back to the truck with our limit.

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Hey Springer2000. I have seen the bloody nose and tongue myself quite a few times. They are the most selfless dogs I have been around. My little Springer found 2 mountain quail I shot tonight. She did a fantastic job. My lab played the hero again though. We got into a good bunch of blue grouse up on the hill this afternoon. I hit one dead on and marked it down. I was able to scratch down a second, but lost sight of it going over the hill. I figured it would be on the run. The
third bird took off through the timber and I pulled 3 shots off with my Browning Gold hunter. I thought I missed. Well the first bird was found seconds after I got him. The next bird was off down the hill and
was still kicking it up pretty good. I went down into the timber further and after a few minutes told my buddy that I was pretty sure I
missed that 3rd. grouse. He asked if I was sure. I said yep I am pretty sure. He told me to turn around. I turned around and here was my lab with a nice plump grouse in her mouth. I asked him if she had the bird for long. He said she followed me around for a little while trying to give it to me. What can I say, I'm a bone head. We got into a another nice covey of Mountain quail and got three more out of it. The total bag tonight was 3 blue grouse and 5 mountain quail. I got a few pictures for my bird album. I had a few birds for dinner the other night. Mountain quail are the best tasting game bird in the world in my opinion. It takes 10 to make a meal, but there is nothing better.

Hey Halcon I did manage to secure a Fall turkey tag today as well. Do you want to go buck hunting this week. I can get away on Friday. You will have to call me if you do. My computer still won't recieve emails from you. Its good to hear that a few more gobblers are showing up down there in your neck of the woods. I need something bigger to take home than those two jakes I shot this spring.

Use a Big Lead to shoot them
were they aint.

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
hey Stubbs i just started hunting upland game and my goal is to cover them all here is my list so far DOVE, MOUNTAIN QUAIL, VALLEY QUAIL , PHEASANT , COMMON SNIPE, now i got the fever for chucker real bad im in southern cali and me and my buddy tryed randsburg with no luck i dont mind driving futher then randsburg can ya help me with my urge you dont have to give me your honey hole but stear me in the general direction thanks <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>


<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
hey Stubbs i just started hunting upland game and my goal is to cover them all here is my list so far DOVE, MOUNTAIN QUAIL, VALLEY QUAIL , PHEASANT , COMMON SNIPE, now i got the fever for chucker real bad im in southern cali and me and my buddy tryed randsburg with no luck i dont mind driving futher then randsburg can ya help me with my urge you dont have to give me your honey hole but stear me in the general direction thanks <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>


<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
hey Stubbs i just started hunting upland game and my goal is to cover them all here is my list so far DOVE, MOUNTAIN QUAIL, VALLEY QUAIL , PHEASANT , COMMON SNIPE, now i got the fever for chucker real bad im in southern cali and me and my buddy tryed randsburg with no luck i dont mind driving futher then randsburg can ya help me with my urge you dont have to give me your honey hole but stear me in the general direction thanks <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>


<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Seahonk you might try hunting from Jawbone Canyon west along the aquaduct road toward mojave. check out the canyons that have sage and creasote bushes with a darker shade of green than all the rest. those are the ones with water. If you know a little bit about the area you know that the garlock fault runs east and west along those hills between jawbone and mojave. Thats where the water comes from in a lot of those canyons. When I say water I mean not much more than a wet spot between the rocks but thats all them chuckers need . Give em hell
Stubbs

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Stubbs there used to be some good hunting on out Jawbone canyon towards Weldon . You can also try Bird springs or Dove Springs ,I have done good in that area on chukars. Its not everytime but its a place to hunt .I hunted around there for twenty some years .

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Big Lead you said you would keep us updated on the hunting .Where are you ? Halcon

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Sorry guys. I have been busy trying to hunt by day and work by night.
I have hunted every day this week either in the morning or the afternoon. I got a chance to go with a board member on Sunday and we did not do super well. I need another chance to prove myself. I went monday and got 2 mountain quail. Tuesday I got four more mountain quail. Today I got another four. I finally saw a ruffed grouse today. I missed him on the flush. We did see quite a few band tailed pigeons today as well. I hope to get one of those tommorow. I will try to stay on top of things from now on. We had a good rain the last few days, an that has opened a lot of my favorite areas to hunting again. I should be able to score on some birds in the morning. Hopefully I can get into the ruffed grouse. They have eluded me so far this year.

Use a Big Lead to shoot them
were they aint.

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Big Lead I scored on three ruffed this morning ,they were all down low in the creek bottoms . I did see a few covey of mountain quail up high but never went after them . Had to be somewhere .

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

We got 3 more mountain quail this morning. I missed a shot at a blue grouse going through the timber. I am going out with my father this afternoon and have another go at them. Good luck Halcon. Maybe we can get a hunt together next week.

Use a Big Lead to shoot them
were they aint.

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Got one more blue grouse this afternoon. Was'nt sure if I hit it, but my springer came back with it.

Use a Big Lead to shoot them
were they aint.

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Missed the opener in Western SD as my son had a back operation and I have been helping him this weekend. Everything was fine = too much chasing after and away from fires with a news camera on his back I guess.

We have gottten some good rains in the last few days and the temps are way down. Saw several coveys of grouse on my way to Rapid City today.

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Hey eveyone. Uplandchessies and I hunt together all the time. We are going to Michigan next week for grouse and woodcock. He got a banded woodcock last year. Very good hunt. I cant wait to go again. Ill also be going for black phase gray and fox squirrel. Im gonna try and eat a porcupine this year too. Anyone else hunt Michigan? We hunt near Rose City, Rifle River Recreation Area, and Huron National Forest. Talk to you all later. Squirrel Master

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Went out Sunday afternoon and got 2 more Mountain quail. I missed a nice blue grouse. I went out tonight and got 3 more mountain quail. I am going out in the morning with a board member. I will keep everybody
informed about how the hunt went.

Use a Big Lead to shoot them
were they aint.

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Went out this morning with Halcon. We had a good time. The first event of the morning was we jumped a nice Ruffed grouse on an old logging road. I knocked him down and thought I saw another coming down the hill. It pounced on the grouse I had just hit and was trying to fly off with it. It was a little falcon or small hawk of some kind. He was a feisty little cuss and I was afraid he might not let me have my bird. After this we got into a small covey of quail, I managed to get one and so did Halcon. The dogs were busting them out, but they were not flying into a good shooting lane for us. We later jumped a nice blue grouse that Halcon knocked down over a brushy hill. I sent the dogs down after it. They were hunting short of were I had seen it go down, so I decided to get them down closer to it and see if they could find it. I got down into some timber and gave the command to fetch em up. They searched the area that I figured he was at, and did not come up with him. My Lab ended up back up the hill and need some water to get freshened up. After being hydrated she went back down into a dry creek bottom about 80 feet from were I knew the grouse was at. I was about to call off the search when I saw her tail go up and start winding. I watched her get down there and start going through a bunch of old rotten logs and a maze of Mountain laurel. She came back out with the blue. I guess when the bird was going down it was able to glide or fly another 30 yds or so past where we figured it was. We got into another bunch of 4 grouse after that and managed to miss a couple of gimmee shots. After this we jumped one more small covey of quail that managed to keep the brush between us. Overall it was a pretty good hunt. Between seeing that little rascal hawk try to steal my grouse, and my Lab make a nice retrieve it was a memorable morning.

Use a Big Lead to shoot them
were they aint.

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Wend. night I got a Blue grouse, and a Mountain Quail. Thurs. Afternoon I was able to get 2 more mountain quail. I went this morning and got 2 ruffed grouse. Tommorow deer season starts, so it should be interesting out there. Many of the usual hunting places are closed due to high fire danger. I hope I get a deer quickly. I would like to get back to bird hunting. I wish some of you others would post. I keep putting it off so that I don't have to post every day. Lets hear it. How have some of you others done lately.

Use a Big Lead to shoot them
were they aint.

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Just got back last night from Michigan. Had a good hunt but could have been better. Grouse numbers we down, at least they were down in the areas we hunted in. We shot 27 woodcock, I lost 2 of them running thru the alders. I went thru almost 2 boxes of shells in about 45 minutes. So many woodcock in this one area. I was crouched down on my knees it was so thick, letting the dog work. I also had one grouse flush, the dog actually got it up instead of it flushing wild. Had no idea where it went. I shot 3 woodcock on the third shot, one landed in the river, cinnamon retrieved it. I shot one a little to close, say 10 or so yards...blew it up. I wasnt doing so good on my numbers for woodcock till the last day. So i got 7 all together and 5 squirrels. 3 were black phase grays, 1 gray and 1 fox squirrel. I lost 1 black one. When I shot it, another one came out and so I shot him also, but when I went back to the area I thought I shot it at, it wasn't there. Everything looks the same. Anyways, I was a very good hunt again. Hopefully we will go back next month. Oh yeah, no porcupines this trip, but we did manage to find a bee nest in the ground. The dog got stung a few times, so did uplandchessies. I just hauled ass outa there. And one possum. I think thats just about it.

Squirrel Master

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Biglead haven't you got that deer yet ? I thought you would be back to posting on the grouse hunting by now .

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Nope. The deer have eluded me so far. My father got a nice mulie last week. It had a 23.25&quot; spread and was about that tall. Nice buck overall. I have not laid eyes on a legal buck yet this season. I went to eastern Oregon for the Quail, Chuckar, and Hungarian partridge opener and did pretty good. In all we got 11 Chuckars and 4 quail. I shot at a couple of huns but did not connect. We went over Friday night. It took us 8 hours to get over there. There was plenty of chuckars this year. It seemed like whenever you started up the hill they would start calling and leading you up the nastiest, steepest sections. We ran into some rattlesnakes, and a few nice muleies. We just got back about 20 min. ago. I am going over to Summer lake this next weekend, so those deer will elude me once more. I will try reel hard to get one this week. Weyerhaeuser has opened some of there timberlands, so I will go to a few of my honey holes. Call me if you want to go for an afternoon hunt.

Use a Big Lead to shoot them
were they aint.

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Went out today and got a Blue grouse, 2 Ruffed grouse and a mountain quail. I am heading out duck, goose, quail, and pheasant hunting this weekend in eastern Oregon. I think I ought to just move over there. I really love that country.


Use a Big Lead to shoot them
were they aint.

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

BigLead I'm filled up this week on my schedule but maybe next week we can get out .I took the lab out today on quail he did okay after I convinced him they were mine and not his to hold . I got these on the place so it was easy for his first time out . Lots of luck on getting that deer .

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

I opened our local season Saturday and got 6 chukar and 4 huns. Not a bad day...but the dogs got warm and we had to quit by 1:00pm. And that was rotating five setters!

Good Dogwork and Good Hunting

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Just got back from eastern Oregon tonight. The weather was perfect for
Upland and lousy for waterfowl. I did manage to get 4 ducks, and a snow goose. We hunted a public wildlife area for pheasants on Saturday. I managed to get one wiley rooster and jumped 8 hens. This morning my buddy and I jumped 5 more hens and a rooster. My buddy was pretty frustured and let one get away that came up at his feet. Oh well bagging a wild pheasant on Public ground was quite a feat. I got to watch my Springer fetch some ducks. It was in the 20's and she just jumped in when the Widgeon hit the water. She had ice hanging off her ears and belly, but I was sure to put a Neoprene vest on her to help insulate her. Good trip overall.

Use a Big Lead to shoot them
were they aint.

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Went out for the second time this season and got three Valley Quail and two more chukar. The setters have been performing admirably.

Looks like a banner season for birds this year...

Good Dogwork and Good Hunting

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

Went out Monday and got 2 mountain quail. Tuesday I got two mountain quail and a blue grouse. Today I got 2 pheasants.

Use a Big Lead to shoot them
were they aint.

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

My third day out was huge. I ended up bagging seven Valley Quail, four chukars and a hun. All were over outstanding points and/or backs. These setters truly are amazing...

Good Dogwork and Good Hunting

RE: So it begins, (Upland bird Hunting)
 

BigLead sorry I wasn't able to make tuesdays hunt ,will tell you about it next time I see you . I did get out today scouting for elk in the high country and got two ruff and a blue grouse as a bonus to a great day .