Quail opener yesterday. Up @ 0300. Pick up new guy @ 0500, super nice dood and he's pumped, going to new spot. 3 hours later getting close, birds galore clogging road and heading west. New guy say's we're going up canyon where it's really good. Get to spot, get ready, I got 3 boxes as it's tight and I'm not running out of shells....and we start hiking- the other way. Way too tight for shooting. Unload Benelli and start ducking single file. Shot's coming from behind us as birds are getting picked up going the other way into a large wash from our canyon now a half mile off. No trail. Going cross-country now. Ducking lower and on a side slope. Cilmbing a ridge, dropping down into another canyon, still no birds, shooting or recovery room, still unloaded and bent over and breaking trail in thick juniper starting to turn to pinon pine- up and over several more bluffs and hills then...I notice we are working our way into a box canyon with vertical walls. I shout out and tell new guy about this- still no trail, forgotten about birds, now it's survival mode and I've no idea where we are. 1 hour later we are out of box canyon after scaling vertical climb, very dangerous, espcially w/o a sling. I finally call it and say no way, where's my truck and I'm NOT #@$%&* kidding. We start back over another ridge, small crease between me and new guy- ya know that crack a gun makes when the muzzle is pointed your way? Seems new guy saw a bird come up behind me, took two shots at it, I spun and the muzzle was pointed at me @ a range of I’m guessing less than 100y. Neat. Now I’m pissed. Finally get my bearings, say “later dood” and get back to truck after 3 hours of this straight up and down crap (quail don’t thrive on cliffs!). I top off with water and head southwest for another hour where I last saw tons of birds on the way in but…..too late. And my feet are trashed from these flat-land boots. He shows a little later saying there’s birds over at a guzzler he found and want’s to go back. No thanks, only kook’s hunt guzzlers and I toss big rocks at those clowns. Get in the truck, it’s time to go, we're outta here. 3 hours to his place. I really gotta “go”. He says “no, Wife wouldn’t dig it, sorry…no really”. Are you #$@&* kidding me? Super nice guy but, this is getting wierd. Bit my tongue for 90th time that day. Hit the ghetto gas station on the way back for relief thanking the bird-God’s I didn’t die…..then my check-engine lamp came on. Neat some more. Then stuck in traffic. Get home 3 more hours later, no birds, never fired a shot, gun’s packed with dirt, bird belt’s packed with scrub oak, pine needles and dirt. What a great way to start the season. But, I learned a new spot and next time I go I’m camping out the night before, ALONE, and brother let me tell ya, I’m gettin my limit, bringin’ back some fatty’s and dinners on me. And, It'll take me less than 45 mins.

Happy opener everyone!

Yep,
I always choose my hunting mates very carefully. If hes left handed so much the better, guns point away from each other if I stand on his LH side.
All to easy to get zapped by the clueless.
Stovie, ever thought of putting all this stuff in a book? I'm still laughing.......

Yup, that would definitely be the last time he came hunting with me.

Stovey, that was a very lousy opener for sure. I do believe I would rather hunt alone than go through the ordeal that you did. Fortunately I'm blessed with some great hunting buddies and have never been subjected to the events that you very dramatically described. Better luck on your next outing and I will still be waiting for some bird in hand pics.

Nice writing Stovie! I feel the same way about it and always wonder if it's me or not. There are some people that just don't think very hard and it's a shame to team up with them. Sometimes I think well maybe it's too important to me, maybe if I just go with the flow, things will turn out alright. Rarely they do, mostly they don't. It is important to me to have a successful hunt and darn if I'll have some know-it-all ruin it for me. When you only have yourself to blame, you don't lose any friends.

Suz

so true on the lefty score my big bro and my bro in law are both lefties and I tell ya its hard to hunt with a right hander now. sorry your opener didnt go so well. next weekend

That's a real bugger Stovey. A good hunt ruined by stupidity. I take you had a none too subtle word to said "super nice guy". Firearm safety is paramount mate, closely followed by commonsense hunting. No way I would ever take him out again.

Good luck next time mate.

Cheers, Vince

Thanks guys.... no worries. I can't fault him too much- sans the muzzle and guzzler thingy- it was so thick in spots I assumed everyone was unlaoded, I was. I think he's mixing activities, back country hiking and chance hunting and I also learned he don't like hunting around others- so it all makes sense now....hmmm, maybe that's why I couldn't use the can @ his place.

The going back to the guzzler thingy said "rooky". I simply don't do that, won't go near one. If I was starving? Yeh. But I wasn't. Create enough of a stink near one and they wont come back and that means no broods. Law says not to hang around them for long.

I love fair chase, workin' for it and all that- heck I grew up in these hill's and mountins of Ca, Wa, Az etc. and afraid of steep stuff....but like Suz said when I go to hunt birds that's what I wanna do- find 'em track 'em, flush 'em then eat 'em. There's ways to do it- everyone knows that that's into it. And chasin' these lil guys is a pretty good work out on it's own if you stay on the scent.

Next time guys...we'll gettum.

Mountain quail? Swear they have "ground hugging radar"...But what fun they are.

Sorry 'bout the poor choice in hunting partners.

We were kinda in the limbo zone for MQ. Too high for valley/gambles but not enough for MQ. Heard there's some nice broods of MQ out now too. Too far for a day drive for me from the beach. Have to camp it. Ya need ta come out here and show me where, I know you'd never use me as a backstop.....

moose2 wrote:

I will still be waiting for some bird in hand pics.

That was one of my main disapointers...really wanted a few plumpers to show ya moose-man. I don't pound covey's. I'll cut a few out of the covey, and work them then take a break and leave for a spell- if they's there when I come back good, if not there's more for later. So- here's some of last years openers....indicactive of what's still there, even fatter, fingers crossed. Gettin' hungry here!

Stovey wrote:

...a guzzler he found...only kook’s hunt guzzlers...

OK Stovey...I'm confused mate...what is a "guzzler"? Out here, A guzzler is one who throws his beer into his face real quick, then scarpers up to buy another.

Cheers, Vince

Sorry...it's a man-made catch-basin for wildlife. It can be topped off by man or catch rain- has a super low roof so only lil critters like birds can get in. Your version works too!

EG:

thats a cunning idea to look after the game, abit like putting out a feeder during the winter AFTER the shooting season is over.

There's laws against lingering around these things too long and too close. I say good as well. Not sure why but people look for these things then zoom over to them and start shooting. Birds usually drink and move on. Not very sporting hitting them at the bar. If I stumble onto one I keep it to myself and move on. A watering hole in the desert is kinda sacred in my eyes and to ambush something getting a drink is what gators do. Plus I'd think one pressures these things enough the birds wont come back and then die off and no more broods.