Coast Upland Report 9/20-21/03

[birdhunter]

Hunted the coast this weekend for upland birds with fair results. Saturday got a little later start but ended up flushing 10 ruffs and one covey of mt. quail. I limited out on ruffs by 11. Sunday I took a friend out who had never been grouse hunting. Little different than the farmed pheasant he was used to. I put him on 8 grouse and 3 different coveys of quail, 6 shots and not a feather was lost. I shot one ruffed in the middle of the day just to make sure his shotgun wasn't loaded with blanks. A little more practice may be in order.

Lots of bandtail pigeons out there. Didn't have a dog this weekend, so passed a lot of shots if I didn't feel comfortable on being able to retrieve the birds myself. Saw one bobcat and a few elk. Had one fat spike standing in the road for me this morning. Plenty of stickflicking company out there, but haven't heard of much success. Anyways, that's the report. Good luck.

[GutshotApe]

Thx for the report. I've wondered about the bandtails...over the last few years I've noticed an apparent increase in their numbers around my place (on a ridge on east side of coast range)...but this year I've seen very few. However, the mtn quail seem more numberous up here than in previous years.

I spent the weekend on the Willamette valley farm where I have permission to hunt...cutting trails thru blackberries to jumpshooting spots overlooking a pond and an old channel that will have water later. There were about 200 mallards on one of the other ponds friday evening...and a flock of 40-50 canada geese out in one of the fields saturday afternoon. And, there seems to have been good valley quail production there this year...coveys in several locations. The bear seems to have departed for points unknown...although he left his calling card all over the place.

Oh yeah...I spent a few hours out by the river defending a gravel bar from maurauding doves...saw a few fly by at a distance...didn't fire a shot.

[ 09-22-2003, 06:43 AM: Message edited by: GutshotApe ]

[Timberdoodle]

Hey there, Birdhunter, thanks for the report. I'm an upper Michigan grouse hunter (heading there next week for the annual Grouse Camp in the U.P.). I've been working the Coast Range only as far west as the Upper Nehalem where it crosses Hwy 26. Sounds like I need to get closer to the ocean, like the Saddle Mountain area. Can you nudge me in the right direction? My young dog really needs the satisfaction of feathers soon.
Thanks.

[birdhunter]

Lezplayhookee,

I'd work more on the central coast or the Cascades if I were you. I don't hunt the north coast much, but don't usually see near as many birds. Generally in the coast I'm going between Newport and Florence. Hunting often times within 10 miles of the ocean. But the grouse are where you find them and there are plenty to be had in Oregon. Let me know if I can be of any further help.