First upland hunt

[SCdeerhunter]

Finally got to go on an upland bird hunt yesterday for my job and I gotta say it was more fun than I could've imagined. I work at a private community here in SC called Bray's island at their gun club and was actually paid to go(can't beat that!). I was a little conflicted on it since the birds were planted and not wild but overall it was a great time. Got to shoot quail, pheasant, and Hungarian phartridge. Watching the dogs work was just amazing. Used a loaner gun from my job, a Beretta Silver Pigeon 20ga. Cant wait til I move to Colorado so im right next door to wild pheasant! So the real question, does anyone know places in the southeast with native quail populations? Wanna go again and experience wild quail.

 

[Snyper708]

It's tough to find wild Quail populations since the advent of "clean" farming techniques.

If people know where they are they tend to keep it a secret.

40-50 years ago they were everywhere.

 

[Cow Town Bill]

Finally got to go on an upland bird hunt yesterday for my job and I gotta say it was more fun than I could've imagined. I work at a private community here in SC called Bray's island at their gun club and was actually paid to go(can't beat that!). I was a little conflicted on it since the birds were planted and not wild but overall it was a great time. Got to shoot quail, pheasant, and Hungarian phartridge. Watching the dogs work was just amazing. Used a loaner gun from my job, a Beretta Silver Pigeon 20ga. Cant wait til I move to Colorado so im right next door to wild pheasant! So the real question, does anyone know places in the southeast with native quail populations? Wanna go again and experience wild quail.

Years ago I had my first bob white hunt in southern George at a first rate lodge. I was heart broken when I found out it was released birds. The Outfitter relented and let me hunt a special area set aside for wild birds. After we got a few we were quickly taken back to the release areas. It was a fun trip and I quickly realized how precious the wild birds were. That was 40+ years ago.

 

[ksfarmer]

Clean farming, protected predators, decreased milo and millet production have all hurt quail. In order to come close to the limit you have to find 4 coveys a day. I am sure that the turkey pop hurts birds. A family of Coons can sweep a field like a vacuum cleaner eating eggs. No one hunts or traps coons, skunks, possums, and bobcats are gaining. The glory days of hunting coveys only here in Kansas are gone. Quail are a delicate bird and weather plays havoc with them. Hunt them 3 mo protect and feed them 9. Doubt that my grandkids will know what fun it is over a staunch dog. I am 76 and on my fourth dog I wish all reading could experience it for a day.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Nothing like it.

 

[manitou]

Replacing prairie grasses with fescue has hurt them real bad too. Baby quail cant negotiate the grass as they can natural prairie grasses.

 

[FIGJAM]

I have been totally hooked on upland for the last 10 years. I bought my GSP 4 years ago and it is a lot more fun hunting with your own dog. I work in the SE a lot and have tried to find some wild upland game - its tough. Farms seem to be the best way to get after them down there. We take a trip to the dakotas every year to chase wild pheasants. Its a blast.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Been guiding upland for five years, it's hard to find anything more fun.
GSPs are the only way to go.

 

[mpayne]

I love hunting wild birds and mostly Quail, they hold to point and don't drive my dog crazy!

 

[Salmonchaser]

Great photo, my little GSP will go right by a rooster if she has quail scent. Don't know what it is but she hates quail, will ignore anything else.

 

[remy3424]

I do love our pheasant hunting, I might be a little spoiled, I am not it SD, but close enough to have plenty of roosters! Love mpayne's pic with those quail, I hope someday to chase some for the upland birds I don't have access here. Agree with GSPs, for pheasants, anyway.

 

[Dosh]

Must be nice to hunt pheasant, here in Az hunters need to draw a tag to hunt one small area near Yuma. There are a few private ranches who raise/buy some for paid hunts. Quail are plentiful and three species, Gambels, Mearns and Scalies in most of the state.

 

[remy3424]

Someday I would love to swap hunts with you!

Must be nice to hunt pheasant, here in Az hunters need to draw a tag to hunt one small area near Yuma. There are a few private ranches who raise/buy some for paid hunts. Quail are plentiful and three species, Gambels, Mearns and Scalies in most of the state.

 

[Country Bumpkin]

Been guiding upland for five years, it's hard to find anything more fun.
GSPs are the only way to go.

I'm sure we all have our favorites, but two of my buddies and I hunt behind Pudelpointers, I'd put them up against any of our friends that hunt GSP's for quail, Huns, pheasant and Chukkars (they hunt waterfowl too).

http://www.cedarwoodgundogs.com/