September 24, 2009

Commentary
Prospects for upland bird
seasons are good this fall

By JIM MATTHEWS
Outdoor News Service

     The “good old days” for quail and chukar hunters were the months of October, November, and December in 2005. That was the year there was a spectacular spring bird hatch on top of a good hatch from the previous year. Add in a few double clutches, and upland bird hunters had to wade through the birds there were so many.
     Chukar hunters rejoice when they shoot a six-bird limit.... for the whole season. The fall of 2005 was the year I had a number of friends who shot over 100 chukar for the season -- and a couple of those were older guys who never got far from the truck (but they did hunt a lot, a benefit to being retired).
     While it has been mostly downhill since then, this fall looks to be a major turnaround in downward numbers.
     Hatches of young quail and chukar were non-existant in 2006, and there were only holdover birds from the bumper crop the year before for that fall’s hunting season. And 2007 was nearly as bad. I apparently saw one of the few young chukar produced while scouting in the West Mojave that summer. One. Things improved in 2008 with pretty good production on both quail and chukar, but the number of holdover birds laying eggs and rearing those young was dismally low.
     How low? In 2007, the DFG biologist for the Red Mountain region tallied just 170 chukar in his brood surveys and all of them were adults. That was just two years after that same biologist counted over 2,600 chukar in the same places with the same amount of effort. In 2008, he counted 642 chukar and 572 were young of the year birds. Meaning there were just 35 pairs of chukar before nesting began.
     Unfortunately, a lack of DFG funding and staff changes didn’t allow for brood counts in the Red Mountain region this year, but the West Mojave counts done by the DFG’s Andy Pauli have followed the same pattern. Last year, when quail and chukar numbers were at the bottom of the barrel before nesting, Pauli said chukar broods averaged about seven young, kicking the overall numbers up a fair amount. This year, they were closer to 10 young per pair. Gambel’s quail broods were about nine young per pair last year, but budget cuts didn’t allow him to go to the East Mojave this summer for counts. Counts by hunters at guzzlers in the East Mojave show there was an improvement over last year both in brood sizes and overall numbers.
     “It was a lot better than I thought it was going to be,” said Pauli. “The trouble was that there were not a lot of holdover birds. The last three years have been pretty bad. I was very surprised to see that many birds out there.”
     So with good production and overall numbers of birds up, this fall’s quail and chukar seasons, which kick off Oct. 17, are likely to be pretty good -- the best since that incredible 2005 season. And with an El Nino winter forecast, there is a chance the fall of 2010 could be like 2005 or even better. But I’m not sure anyone could imagine anything better.
     GUZZLER REPAIR PROJECT: Want to find a few spots to hunt quail and chukar? Volunteers are needed for repair and refurbishing of five guzzlers this weekend. Cliff McDonald’s Water-for-Wildlife Volunteer Group will be working on guzzlers north of Interstate 15 in the Halloran Springs area east of Baker from Friday through Sunday this weekend. All five guzzlers are on Bureau of Land Management Lands in good Gambel’s quail and chukar hunting areas, a benefit of volunteering to help with the project. Food will be provided two evenings and two mornings, but everyone should bring camping gear, lots of extra water for the projects, firewood, food, or lunch and snacks, and gloves.
     Over the last four years, McDonald’s group of hunter-volunteers has repaired 71 guzzlers in the East Mojave, providing water critical for the survival of a wildlife over a vast area of the East Mojave. For more information and directions to the camp site, contact Cliff McDonald at 760-326-2935 or send him an e-mail at bigmc@citlink.net.
     UPLAND BIRD SEMINAR: For hunters wanting where-to-go public land hunting information for the upcoming season, the editor and publisher of the Western Birds hunting newsletter -- that would be me -- will be giving a seminar from 2 to 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 10 at Bass Pro Shops in Rancho Cucamonga on how to find places to hunt. The seminar costs $40 per person and includes a special two-issue subscription to the newsletter, and one of those issues will have a list of GPS coordinates for all the gamebird guzzlers in the Mojave National Preserve. For information, you can call the office at 909-887-3444 or go to the website at www.OutdoorNewsService.com.
     QUAIL AND CHUKAR TUNE-UP SHOOT: I always remember that I should go shoot a few clay targets after the bird seasons open and I’ve missed nine doves or 14 quail in a row. Jesse James, of www.JessesHunting.com, has put together a tune-up shoot and barbecue beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 at the Prado Olympic Shooting Park in Chino. Cost is $20 per person for four hours of unlimited targets and lunch. There will be a number of vendors with appropriate upland hunting products, too. You can shoot and then come to my public land hunting seminar. You will be totally prepped. You can pre-register for the shoot by calling Prado at 909-597-4794.
     CIBOLA GOOSE HUNTING APPLICATIONS DUE: Applications for the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge Unit II farm field goose hunt must be received by the refuge no later than Monday, Sept. 28. That means you need to do it today.
     The permits will be valid for Tuesday-Wednesday or Saturday-Sunday blocks beginning Nov. 28, and the season will run through Jan. 17. Hunters will be selected and hunt during a maximum of one block per season (as a drawn hunter or one of his three companions), but hunters may hunt an unlimited number of times as stand-by hunters on unfilled/unclaimed hunts.
     Applicants should send a 3x5 postcard with their name, address, Arizona hunting license information, the $10 application fee, and up to four blocks of hunt dates during the season. Do not apply for the Dec. 12-13 block; this is reserved for a youth waterfowl workshop. The application and fees should be sent to: Cibola National Wildlife Refuge, Unit II Hunt Coordinator, 66600 Cibola Lake Road, Route 2, Box 1, Cibola, AZ 85328. You can call 928-857-3253 for more info.

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

     SEPTEMBER 25-27 WATER-FOR-WILDLIFE WORK PROJECT: The Mojave Preserve Water-for-Wildlife Volunteer Group will have a guzzler repair project in the Halloran Springs area east of Baker. Five guzzlers on BLM lands are scheduled for repair. Food will be provided two evenings and two mornings, but everyone should bring camping gear, lots of extra water for the projects, firewood, food, or lunch and snacks, and gloves. Over the last four years, this loose-knit group has repaired 71 guzzlers in the East Mojave. For more information and directions to the camp site, contact Cliff McDonald at 760-326-2935 or via e-mail at bigmc@citlink.net.
     SEPTEMBER 26 INLAND EMPIRE TURKEY FEDERATION BANQUET: The Inland Empire Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will have its annual fund-rasiing banquet beginning 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept 26 at American Legion Post 442, 848 S. Lilac Dr., Rialto. Tickets are $60 per person or $90 per couple. For information or tickets, call 909-841-7006, 909-795-2735, or 909-815-5682.
     SEPTEMBER 26 UNITED ANGLERS POKER TOURNAMENT FUND-RAISER: United Anglers of Southern California is having a Poker Tournament fund-raiser Saturday, Sept. 26, at Pechanga Resort and Casino, Temecula. Buy-in is $130 and includes lunch and raffle. Contact UASC at 562-494-9900.
     OCTOBER 3 NORCO HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per person. The remaining 2009 class dates are Oct. 10, Nov. 7 and Dec. 12. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
     OCTOBER 3 BASS PRO SHOPS HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: Bass Pro Shops is now having hunter safety classes four days per month, the first Saturday, the first Sunday, the third Saturday and the third Sunday. The classes are all one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety classes. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $10 per person. Sign-ups are taken at Bass Pro and class size is limited. For information, call 909-922-5500. A pre-class study course is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/.
     OCTOBER 3-4 DEL MAR GUN SHOW: The Crossroads of the West Del Mar Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, at the Del Mar Fair Grounds, Del Mar. Admission is $10. The next Del Mar gun show will tentatively be Dec. 12-13. Information, directions, and $1 off coupons available at www.crossroadsgunshows.com.
     OCTOBER 4 BASS PRO SHOPS HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: Bass Pro Shops is now having hunter safety classes four days per month, the first Saturday, the first Sunday, the third Saturday and the third Sunday. The classes are all one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety classes. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $10 per person. Sign-ups are taken at Bass Pro and class size is limited. For information, call 909-922-5500. A pre-class study course is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/.
     OCTOBER 10 PUBLIC LAND QUAIL AND CHUKAR SEMINAR: Jim Matthews, publisher of the Western Birds wingshooting newsletter, will give a two-hour quail and chukar hunting seminar from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, October 10, at Bass Pro Shops, Rancho Cucamonga. The seminar will focus on public land hunting. Cost is $40 per person and includes a trail two-issue subscription to Western Birds and a package of public land hunting information. For information or to register, call Matthews’ office at 909-887-3444 or go to www.OutdoorNewsService.com.
     OCTOBER 10 QUAIL AND CHUKAR TUNE-UP SHOOT: There will be a quail and chukar season tune-up shoot and barbecue beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Prado Olympic Shooting Park in Chino (Euclid Avenue and Highway 73). Sponsored by Jesse’s Hunting and Outdoors web site, cost is just $20 per person for four hours of unlimited targets and lunch. Contact Prado at 909-597-4794.
     OCTOBER 10 NORCO HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per person. The remaining 2009 class dates are Nov. 7 and Dec. 12. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
     OCTOBER 17 CAPEING AND SKINNING SEMINAR: A free big game capeing and skinning seminar will be held beginning 9 a.m. Saturday at Al’s Taxidermy Wildlife Art Studio, Apple Valley. Hunters going out-of-state can no-longer bring unskinned big game heads back to California because of Chronic Wasting Disease. This seminar will teach hunters how to properly remove capes in the field. Classes will also be held Oct. 24 and 31. Space is limited, call 760-961-2434 for reservations.
     OCTOBER 24-25 ONTARIO GUN SHOW: The Crossroads of the West Ontario Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, at the Ontario Convention Center, Ontario. Admission is $10. The 2019 slate of shows in Ontario has not be set yet. Information, directions, and $1 off coupons available at www.crossroadsgunshows.com.
     OCTOBER 25 UNITED ANGLERS ANNUAL FUND-RAISING DINNER: United Anglers of Southern California will have its annual fund-raising dinner beginning 3:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 25, at the Balboa Bay Club and Resort, Newport Beach. The dinner will honor Beverly Ray. Dinner tickets are $100 per person. For information or reservations, call UASC at 562-494-9900.
     OCTOBER 28 SINGLES FRIENDS OF THE NRA FUND-RAISER: Southern California’s first Friends of the National Rifle Association “singles” banquet will be held beginning 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28 at The Castaway Restaurant, 1250 E. Harvard Rd., Burbank. Tickets are $100 per person, but women are being admitted two-for-one. E-Harmony and Match.Com can cost over $300 a year and there’s no chance you could at least win a gun. There are no ticket sales at the door. For information, e-mail Lissa Davis at ldavis@nrahg.org.

CALENDAR RESOURCES

     For a complete list of HUNTER SAFETY CLASSES held throughout the state, including times, dates, and locations, go to the Department of Fish and Game’s web site at this address: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/classes.aspx.
     For the rules and regulations on GRUNION RUNS, along with a complete schedule and the expected times of the runs, go to this web site address: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/gruschd.asp

CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

     The following is a list of hunting, shooting, and fishing clubs and organizations in Southern California with contact information and regular meeting dates:
     976-TUNA ROD AND REEL CLUB: The 976-Tuna Rod and Reel Club meets 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at Bass Pro Shops, Rancho Cucamonga. At the December meeting a free trip to Palmas de Cortez in Baja will be given away. Contact Phil Friedman at 310-328-8426.
     CALIFORNIA STATE VARMINT CALLERS ASSOCIATION: The California State Varmint Callers Association meets 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the Denny's just north of the 210 freeway at Irwindale Ave., Irwindale. Contact Steven Childs at 626-407-8826 or steve@sdchilds.com. Web site: www.csvca.com.
     CANYON OAKS SPORTSMAN’S CLUB: The Canyon Oaks Sportsman’s Club meets the first Tuesday of every month at it’s clubhouse in Lakeview Terrace-Sylmar. The club has regular trap, skeet, smallbore, big bore, handgun, and Cowboy Action shooting events. Contact Gary White at 818-998-7240, Mike Totta at 818-362-2181 or Mike Nickoloff via e-mail at idpamike@yahoo.com.
     CERRITOS ROD & GUN CLUB: The Cerritos Rod & Gun Club meets the second Wednesday of each month at Heritage Park in Cerritos. Contact Charles Sharp at 714-317-8290 or fish_90605@yahoo.com.
     CLUB FISH: Club Fish, a 20-year-old fishing club, meets 7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League Clubhouse, Santa Ana. The clubhouse is located at the entrance to Riverview Gold Course. Contact Mike Cross at 949-854-5258 or m_r_cross@yahoo.com.
     DEEP CREEK FLY-FISHERS: Deep Creek Fly-Fishers meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League clubhouse in Fairmont Park, in Riverside. Go to www.deepcreekflyfishers.org to download a map to the club house. Contact Brett Browning at 909-793-8912.
     HIGH DESERT FLY-FISHERS: The High Desert Fly-Fishers holds its monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of each month at The Apple Valley Fire Conference Center, 19235 Yucca Loma, Apple Valley. Contact John Rose at 760-247-5966.
     HIGHLAND PARK SPORTSMEN'S CLUB: The Highland Park Sportsmen's Club meets at 8 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of each month at 2035 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles. Contact Mauro Garcia at 323-254-0763 or incareal@juno.com.
     NATIONAL VARMINT HUNTERS: The National Varmint Hunters meets 7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Veterans of Foreign Wars club located on Grand Avenue, just west of 17th Street, Santa Ana. Contact Mark Harris at 714-655-6954 or mhitis1@yahoo.com or Terry Mathers at 714-299-9938 or coyote@jps.net.
     NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (INLAND EMPIRE CHAPTER): The Inland Empire Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at Bass Pro Shops, 7777 Victoria Gardens Lane, Rancho Cucamonga. Contact David Halbrook at 760-694-1191 or nrajrc@msn.com.
     NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER): The Orange County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at The Firing Line, 17921 Jamestown Lane, Huntington Beach. Contact Pat Ryan at 714-373-3688 or Casey Rasmussen at 714-377-5859.
     ORANCO BOWMEN: The ORANCO Bowmen meet the second Tuesday of each month at the club range, 17504 Pomona Rincon Rd., Chino (Euclid Avenue one block north of the 71 freeway). The range is open to the public on Sundays 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 909-597-7582. Web site: www.oranco.org.
     ORANGE COUNTY BASS CLUB: The Orange County Bass Club meets 7 p.m. the third Monday of each month at the Garden Grove Elk's Lodge. Contact Steve Pendergast at 949-651-8172 or prendergasts@netzero.com.
     PLUNGE CREEK COWBOYS: The Plunge Creek Cowboys, a new Cowboy Action Shooting club in the Inland Empire, has shoots the third Saturday of each month at the Inland Fish and Game range on Orange Street in East Highlands. Authentic or replica firearms and garb required. Information: www.plungecreekcowboys.com.
     PREDATOR CALLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY: The Predator Callers of Orange County meet 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at the Denny's restaurant, 7490 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach. Contact Rickey Macy via e-mail at rickmacey@juno.com.
     QUAIL UNLIMITED (HIGH DESERT CHAPTER): The High Desert Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the Apple Valley Gun Club. Contact Cruz Garcia at 760-949-6334 or fathercruz@verizon.net.
     QUAIL UNLIMITED (ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER): The Orange County Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League Clubhouse (located at the entrance to Riverview Golf Course) in Santa Ana. Contact Craig Riedel at 714-282-1194 or criedel@mflex.com.
     QUAIL UNLIMITED (RIVERSIDE CHAPTER): The Riverside Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at Prado Olympic Shooting Park, 17501 Pomona Rincon Road, Chino (one block west of Euclid, just off the 71 freeway). Contact Ron Gibbons at 909-902-9814 or gibbent@gte.net. Web site: www.quriverside.com.
     QUAIL UNLIMITED (SAN DIEGO CHAPTER): The San Diego Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at DFG Headquarters at 4949 Viewridge Rd., San Diego. Contact David Preddy at davidpreddy@cox.net or visit www.sdqu.org.
     QUAIL UNLIMITED (SAN GABRIEL VALLEY CHAPTER): The San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Triple B Clays in El Monte. Contact Tim Bovard at 866-206-9070, ext. 6715 or sgvqu@onebox.com.
     REDONDO ROD & GUN CLUB: The Redondo Rod & Gun Club meets 8 p.m. every Thursday of every month at its own clubhouse. The club has promoted hunting, fishing, sport shooting and the outdoors since 1948. The clubhouse is located at 2023 Vanderbilt Lane, Redondo Beach. Contact 310-379-7772.
     RIVERSIDE VARMINT CALLERS: The Riverside Varmint Callers meet 7 p.m. the last Saturday of each month at Flo's Country Kitchen, Riverside. Contact Lance Cochrane at 909-919-4309 or Ray Gauthier at 951-785-4986. Web site:www.californiavarmintcallers.com/chapters.html/.
     SAN DIEGO SPORTING DOG CLUB: The San Diego Sporting Dog Club meets 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Animal Medical Center, 600 Broadway, El Cajon. Contact Steve Sarmiento at 619-659-9393 or sssarmi@sbcglobal.net.
     SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VARMINT CALLERS ASSOCIATION: The Southern California Varmint Callers Association meets 8 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at the Denny's Restaurant at Pioneer Blvd and Imperial Highway in Norwalk. Contact Granville Crow at 310-548-6221 or crowshot1@cox.net or Skip Gildner at 562-900-9020 or mtnhigh5@excite.com.
     TEMPLE CITY SPORTSMEN: The Temple City Sportsmen meet the first Thursday of each month at the Temple City Civic Center in Temple City. Contact Jim White at 626-201-7782 or TCSPresident2006@yahoo.com. The club’s web site is www.tcsportsmen.org.
     TURNER'S OUTDOORSMAN ROD AND REEL CLUB: The Turner's Outdoorsman Rod and Reel Club meets 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Marie Calendar’s Restaurant, 2300 Foothill, Pasadena. Contact Richard Crowe at 626-960-9610.