Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Small Game Who's out West?

Washington here...Where is everybody from, and what do you like to hunt for?

Hi. I like to hunt the quail species, Mtn., Valley, and Gamble's. But I hunt almost everything that flys. Ducks, Geese, doves quail, etc. In "great" Kalifornia, you havre to really dig to find some quality hunting, but you can do it. E.

E, How's the Mountain quail hunting down there? here in Washington we have a season, but I'm now just starting to get interested in pursueing these wiley gamebirds. Is is true that they ddon't flush easily? Should you throw rocks in the brush to flush them out? I'll be using my setter to find some here in the lowlands of the Puget Sound area and it can get pretty thick out there. I'l have to let that dog break point just to get them out! Don't own a flushing breed.

Lady Grouse Hunter,<BR> Where is Maple Valley? I've heard it before, but I've never been there. I'm Way out on the north olympic peninsula in PortAngeles. To you and all the other alloutdoors folks, Welcome,,BEARHUNTER

Bear hunter, M.V. is south of Issaquah and east of Kent on Hiway 18. My Mom dated a State Trooper that worked in Port Angelus alot. I've never been up that way myself. <BR>Welcome aboard! What do you like to hunt and fish for?

Lady Grouse hunter,<BR> DUHHH!!!! I should have known that. Nice area there and not to far to go to get away. I do hunt grouse over here, every once in a while I stumblre across a big blue(even a blind pig finds truffel every now and then).Mostly I just hunt deer,beer(I mean bear) and Elk. I used to live in E. Wash, lots of Pheasants,quail, chukar, and huns. I really miss the bird hunting alot. When I go back home during hunting season I usually will get a day of pheasant hunting in. That goes a long ways towards the healing process. Glad you folks found your way over here.,,BEARHUNTER

Hi Lady Grouse Hunter. Basically, you need to find them first. In the Sierra-Nevada of CA, they range from 3500 to over 7000 ft. I like to look for knee, to waist high scrubs, and grass, not too far from water. Meadows are good places to look. They run alot. Much more than Valley Quail, but not as bad as Gambel's Quail. They are widely scattered in small groups, as a rule. I don't use a dog, but they are very useful-sometimes. We've got cover that even a tough dog can't work. When that happens, you just move on. It's challenging, and I often have the area to myself. Besides, they are often found in good tree squirrel habitat. Sometimes, even in Blue Grouse habitat, such as in dry years. E

[img]images/icons/laugh.gif" border="0[/img] Thick & tough you say? We have some of the THICKEST BRUSH AROUND! In Mntn Quail & Grouse areas we hunt, it's full of continuous Blackberry thickets and is borderd by stinging Nettle! And sometimes you'll even run into a giant paper wasp nest! I'm just now doing reserch as to where our states populations are and most resources say that's were the birds are...I'm teaching my setter to negociate this kind of brush but I check him often for stickers in his hide. I got my work cut out up here for me.....<BR>Eremicus, where from Eastern Wa. did you move from?

Hi LGH. I've never lived in eastern Washington. I wish I had. E.

Lady Grouse Hunter, I live down the road a peice from BearHunter in Union on Hood Canal.<BR>The last couple days on my into Shelton i have seen a couple of nice ruffs with chicks. now if the local dogsand cats will leave them alone we could get a population up again, it's been on the bottom of the cycle for some years now. I have seen this before but now the areas to hunt are so over grown even a good dog will do you no good. this years crop of berries looks real promising so this could be the year the bird populations start to rebound. The local deer are fat and the couple bear I have seen so far are already rubbed, good signs for grouse.<P>Bullwnkl.

Bullwnkl,<BR> You're not giving away all are secrets are you?<BR> Lady Grouse Hunter,<BR> I used to live in Spokane, hunted birds south of there down the old pullman hi-way. the names of the towns are escaping me right now, but anywhere in the palouse is good bird country. Bullwnkl is right about the grouse on our side of the pond. Pretty bad lately. I didn't know about the berries and bear rub thing though(very interesting).<BR> Bullwnkl,<BR> Did ya get that 458 2" done yet?<BR> BEARHUNTER

Bear hunter,Bullwinkle,<BR>Have you guy's ever seen any Mountain Quail on your side of the big pond? I'm interested in coming over that way and doing some hunting for them this fall. Believe it or not, kitsap,Mason & the Southern parts of Jefferson County's have stable populatiuon of birds. on the Grouse thing, I think you guy's are right. I haven't seen the birtds in my core areas like it was 6 years age. It's said that they go in seven year cycle's. I guess i'll get out and do some scouting soon. Welcome aboard newbies! [img]images/icons/laugh.gif" border="0[/img]

Ememicus, I live here in Western Wa. The Quail mostly range up to the Pacific Crest trail boundery and are scare on the Eastside of the Cascades. The woods on my side are a tough bet for any kind of hunting, even Deer.I guess I'm use to it and do just fine.

LGH,<BR> I see Quail every once in a while, but that is usually east of where I do most of my hunting over here. Yesterday I was working up in the hills just a little west of here and I saw more than a dozen grouse with 2 or 3 little chicks following close behind. It was really cute and a very positive thing for sure. I haven't seen that many grouse around here in a long time. i suspect it has something to do with the unusually dry weather? But I don't know for sure,take care,,BEARHUNTER

Lady..., Looks like the population of grouse could be rebounding, sure would be nice. I have not seem a blue in a long time but the ruffs are around. here in Mason County the best grouse hunting i have ever done was up in the foot hills around the Skokomish river. Today that area would be a tough hunt as it is all second growth and very thick. Mostly to hunt around here you have to be very fast with a shotgun or shoot the critters out of the trees with a 22, my preferd method.<P>BearHunter, the 458x2 is done. Now I have to wait until my sholder heals up, hurt it lifting my lawn tractor to change belts. Guess i'm not 20 years old any more.<P>Bullwnkl.

Bull Winkle, <BR> It sounds like they might on the rebound from a low cycle. Every body I know that's been out fishing Mountian lakes or driving the F.S. roads have seen Grouse with chicks! Even in Western Oregon I'm getting good reports for Grouse w/chicks and Mntn. Quail.But also alot of them won't make it to falls opener....that's life! [img]images/icons/crazy.gif" border="0[/img]

LGH,<BR> You nailed it there. The only bad part about seeing all these young little chicks is that means the predators population is also up. I guess we need to do our part and nail a few extra yotes and coons..hopefully though things are on the upswing. keep us posted on any other news or reports you here. thanks,,,BH

Hi all, I'm from Beaverton, Or. between Portland & the coast range. We (my Vizsla & I) hunt just about all birds that we can. We've found a few small spots here in the local coast range for grouse hunting, both ruffs & blues. Saw mom & chicks just this past week. Eastern Ore. is the place to hunt grouse though. I guess valley quail & huns are my favorites, but then there's roosters, chukar, & grouse oh hell I don't know.

On the 4th of July, I went to my dad's old stomping grounds, around the Skok. I worked my way all the way up above Cushman and onto Prospect Ridge, I heard exactly 3 grouse flush in front of me, about all my setters ended up with was sore feet.

Hi everybody, <BR> I'm back from my week long vacation on Orcas Island. I help with the fireworks show up there every year. Saw too many Deer again, and even a Pinto two point Buck in velet to boot! I see that the Grouse w/chick reports are still coming in strong, Too bad there are none on the Islands. <BR> Please for all you Washington scouters, leave the DOGS at home for now, this is not upland persue season in Washington. It starts August 1st. the birds need this time to raise there young in peace. Scout for moroding Bobcats and make note of their home terratories. They have a great impact on local bird numbers and cycle up & down with them. boy I'd better get out and see what everybody's talking about.... [img]images/icons/crazy.gif" border="0[/img]

Lady Grouse Hunter,<BR>I've just graduated from college in Michigan where I have spent the last four years. I started hunting two years ago and am looking forward to chasing birds here too. I've got a female yellow lab who loves to hunt and we are starting some advanced training as we speak. I'm interested in finding some grouse hunting oppurtunities on the west side of the state.

Welcome Tincup,<BR> I recognize your user name from O.A. right?<BR>Thanks for stopping by... I see we're almost nieghbors. Where in Issaquah are you at? I'm just west of Issqaquah/Hobart road on 18. I'm new to the southend so I'm looking for local areas to Grouse hunt at. I see that one needs to hit the Pass routes to get out of town. I've done most of my hunting off Hyway 2 area so I'm looking for close area to home. [img]images/icons/cool.gif" border="0[/img]

Yes, I did spend a little time at A.O. I'm actually living on cougar mountain, just south of Issaquah. I'm new to hunting and have not pursued grouse but would like to give it a try.

Tincup, What got your interest up for Grouse and do you know what one looks like? What is your age class and how long ago did you start hunting. Its nice to see adults enter the hunt field later in life, (better late than anti, I mean never!) I see your a pro golfer also. Hunting is more addicting than what you golfers see in your sport. I like to think of hunting as a way of life and not a sport, it just doesn't sound right to me and gives it a bad name to the uneducated public. Its a managedment tool that really works in everyones best interest... [img]images/icons/cool.gif" border="0[/img]

I'm 23 and seeing grouse in the U.P. of Michigan sparked by intrest. I had college friends that loved grouse hunting and since the season starts sept. 1, it allows a refresher to later bird seasons.

I forgot, this will be my third season, I've mostly hunted pheasants and ducks, but I really enjoy hunting because of the "hunting expierence" and not the kill. I too hunt for the food, but agree that hunting is an essential management tool. I have a young dog and this will be her first "real" season, I can't wait to watch her work.

What is U.P.? I think that's great for you to get out an experience the outdoors like it should be.... What breed of dog do you own? I have a two year old Red setter and this also will be our first year out as well. I have the first time dog jitters but I expect it to be trial and error and just have fun watching him learn to handle wild birds this season. Soo what if we are total newbies out there, at least it will be a good time for both of us. He's pretty smart so I suspect he'll figure it out in no time...

The U.P. is the Upper Pennisula of Michigan. My dog is a 1 1/2 year-old yellow lab. We start her advanced trainging tomorrow. Hope it goes well.

What are you looking to accomplish on training your lab. Will he/she be used for marsh and uplands? Who are you sending it to for formal training? I have a couple of good trainers in mind if you need a refferance. Bird dog training season starts on August 1st. for getting a dog on wild upland birds and forest Grouse. I can't wait to get my Setter out in my favorite Grouse haunts. I took him out in a few places early last season, just to see how he would do on finding Grouse. He did execellent dispite being on a rope, & under control the whole time. This was the best way I had to show him what it's all about. No birds were shot over him during the early opener due to inexperience on holding points. It was great exposer for him and this year will be the "real" test for him. I still have to follow the golden rule for pointing breeds; if he "roads in" on a bird that he has established scent on and wont hold point, the bird will not get shot for him. [img]images/icons/blush.gif" border="0[/img] It's a tough one to follow for most beginners but it will come in due time. [img]images/icons/laugh.gif" border="0[/img]

We are starting force fetching next week at the Canine Country Club in Fall City. I will mostly persue upland birds but some duck hunting too. Eventually, I would like to get a duck boat, but thats probably a couple of years off.

Tincup, <BR> As of August 1st. we can start getting our dogs on wild birds. Official Birddog training season kicks off then. I'm always looking for someone to share the the ride & gas, to go scouting for birds to point for my dog and others. These spots I go to are a good hour or so away. Some areas I've been going in for over 9 seasons now.

Hey everyone,<BR>I'm out west. I come from sooutheastern Arizona, a small town called Mammoth. <BR>I am sorry ma'am I have been away for awhile and I think you are new to the site. pleased to meet you.<BR>I love to hunt coues deer, but on the small game end. I love the excitement of dove and quail hunting, it is nonstoped action.<BR> <BR>86

Hi LGH and others. I'm in King County just south of Renton. Seen plenty of grouse and sign around lately. Should be a good year.