Serving The Hunter Who Travels
Vol. 23, No. 8 Fax Number: 240-599-7679
August 2011 Order Line: 301-528-0011
Website: www.birdhuntingreport.com
Dateline: Argentina California Valley Quail • Timetable: May 1 through Aug. 1 • Accommodations: First-class lodge • Food: Regional • Hunt: Moderate Yes, what you read above is not a misprint. This is one of the best-kept secrets in the wing shooting world: There is fabulous California valley quail shooting to be had in Patagonia, the southernmost region of Argentina! About 60 years ago, California valley quail were brought to central Chile on an experimental basis. Although early results were not encouraging, the birds gradually adapted and populations eventually grew and spread across the Andes and into northwestern portion of Patagonia. Today, populations of these quail are thriving there. As the
region is home to world renowned trout waters and also to red stag hunting, some of the outfitters catering to trout fisherman and stag hunters saw the opportu-
nity and have expanded their operations and added quail hunting as yet another specialized offering.
One such outfitter is Tipiliuke Lodge, hosted by Kevin and Mary Jo Tiemersma. Tipiliuke is conveniently located just 10 minutes from Chapelco Airport, which serves the town of San Martin de los Andes and the surrounding area. There are currently two flights per week going each way between Chapelco and Buenos Aires domestic airport served by Aerolinas Argentinas. Indeed, the setting is beautiful, with the snowcapped Lanin volcano and other mountainous landscape serving as a backdrop. In fact, “tipiliuke” means “upside down heart” in aboriginal dialect after a mountain that is the first thing one sees when flying into Chapelco. Adrian Cataldi serves as master guide and is extremely familiar with these birds and their habitat. Covering (continued on page 2)
Dateline: Pennsylvania Do-It-Yourself: Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock on Habitat Managed State Game Lands • Timetable: October through January • Accommodations: Your choice • Food: Your choice • Hunt: Moderate to difficult Pennsylvania offers a host of State Game Lands (SGLs) distributed throughout the state. Many of these SGLs now are being targeted for specific management of the young forest habitat required by grouse and woodcock. Generally speaking, these birds favor dense, young
forest regrowth, particularly those that provide abundant and diverse soft mast and high-protein buds and twigs (grouse) and overhead cover for safety while probing the soil depths (woodcock). Recent fall flush rate figures from cooperating grouse hunters indicate that hunters enjoy higher flush rates in the northern parts of the state where the unique mix of northern hardwoods and oak forests provide optimum grouse habitat. Hunters also find success in the southern areas as well, with woodcock traveling the depth and breadth of the Keystone State during migration. Flush rates for ruffed grouse (also the official state bird) reported during Reproduction by Report any means is illegal 1 — The Bird Hunting — August 2011 © Copyright 2011 by Brunson Publishing Co.
the 2010-2011 season averaged 1.3/ hour statewide, off slightly from the 1.4/ hour average recorded in 2009-2010 and (continued on page 3)
Inside: Connecticut ............................p.4 Arizona ..................................p.5 Texas ...................................... p.6 Argentina ............................... p.7 Oklahoma ..............................p.8 Oregon ................................... p.9 California ............................. p.10 Minnesota ........................... p.10 New York ............................ p.11
Serving The Hunter Who Travels
Dateline: Connecticut Mixed Released Bird Hunt in Classic New England Setting with Wild Bird Opportunities • Timetable: Sept. 15 through March 31, with wild bird hunts complying with state and federal regulations • Accommodations: Pre-fabricated modular home • Food: Freshly baked continental breakfast and game-oriented lunch • Hunt: Easy to moderate The Connecticut River Valley has been home to several easily recognizable firearms companies such as Winchester, Parker, Colt and Marlin. It’s also a stone’s throw from Tony Galazan’s Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Company. With this kind of local legacy, it is not surprising to find a serious group of hunters at Connecticut’s Millstream Hunting Preserve. Millstream Hunting Preserve was founded in 1989 by Jay Limbo and Chris Cobb. In 1992, Don Favry bought out the two partners and has owned and operated the preserve ever since. As a lifelong hunter, dog trainer and dog breeder, Favry leases and manages a number of farms throughout the state. Favry offers clients a wide variety of hunts, which range from whitetail deer, Eastern wild turkey, and cottontail rabbits to Canada goose, released and wild ducks, and released and wild upland game birds. Of primary interest to bird hunters is the 411-acre property that is located off Route 66 on the Hebron/Columbia line. This farm serves as the main-campus for Millstream Hunting Preserve and offers released bird hunts for pheasant, bobwhite quail and Hungarian and chukar partridge. At the top of the property are fields of planted switch grass, clover and timothy, all of which are segregated by cut breaks that serve as walking paths. The hunting in these fields is wide open and unobstructed. The fields gradually roll down through hardwood stands of oak, maple, white birch, beech and hickory until they flatten out in a lowland
river bottom of pines, alders, and swamp maples. This is the type of cover where hunters find either resident or flight woodcock. Favry allows woodcock hunting for his clients as outlined during the Federal Migratory Bird Regulations and with the appropriate licensing. At opposite ends of the property are two, 15-acre beaver ponds. The shallow, one-tier ponds are used as part of a flighted-mallard program. Two blinds are set up on each pond, and the blinds accommodate two hunters. In season, hunters get additional opportunities for early season wood ducks and teal, midseason mallards and blacks, and late season mallards, blacks and occasional pintails, among other species. When shooting wild ducks, hunters should remember Federal Migratory Bird Regulations, appropriate licensing, and non-toxic shot apply. Millstream hunts are broken down into the standard half-day and full–day hunts. Half-day hunts are three hours, with morning hunts running from 9 to
noon and afternoon hunts running from 1 to 4. Guests have the option of choosing to hunt the fields, the woods or a combination of the two. Nine guides work out of the preserve. Favry’s goal at Millstream is to create a total experience that is similar to the kind of hunt that you would experience with family and with friends. He includes a complimentary continental breakfast and lunch regardless of a client’s arrival time. In the morning guests find fresh pastries and breads that are provided by a local baker. Eggs and bacon or sausage are also included. Lunch is served around midday, with game-based meals including boar sau4 — The Bird Hunting Report — August 2011
sage, grouse kielbasa, venison sausage or hamburgers, roast rabbit, pheasant stew or chukar chili. All-day hunters have the option to return to the lodge for lunch or to pack it with them to enjoy in the field. On-premise lodging for up to six is in a pre-fabricated, double classroomsized modular building. One bedroom features bunk beds, and the living room has three pullout couches. There is running water and a bathroom, but there are no shower facilities. The accommodations are generally used for hunters who wish to arrive the night before their hunts. A full kitchen may be used for dinner preparation. Millstream has neither a chef nor a liquor license, but BYOB is allowed. A small Pro Shop sells orange hats, vests and both non-toxic (waterfowl) and lead (upland) shells. In keeping with the friendly atmosphere, Favry has a loaner program of hats and vests for shooters who forgot some gear. A shotgun rental program features nine Stoeger over-under shotguns in 12-, 20-, and .410 gauges. Millstream doesn’t offer a formal clay target shooting such as skeet, trap or sporting clays. However, there are two automatic and two manual traps that throw 25-target warm-ups. The flight patterns are ones that hunters are likely to see in the field. Left-to-rights, right-to-lefts, quartering away, and going-away are some of the typical shots. Dogs have been an important part of Favry’s life, and he has nine German shorthaired pointers and one English setter. His London Kennels is a breeding kennel, and his pointers have been line bred out of P.J. Wildfire stock. Favry likes his dogs to work close so hunters get quality shots in the open fields and the thick, New England coverts. Litters, started pups and finished dogs are for sale, and Favry offers all levels of training and boarding. New for 2012 will be the introduction of two English cocker spaniels that will work as flushing-dog counterparts to the pointing dogs. Gear selection for a hunt is simple.
Serving The Hunter Who Travels Chaps or brush pants are recommended as are hunting vests. Winter temperatures in Connecticut can get cold, so gloves and fleece vests or jackets are a good idea from November on. Most shots taken are in the 15-30 yard range, which makes cylinder, and improved cylinder chokes an ideal choice for 20-gauge shotguns. Improved cylinder and modified are best for a 28-gauge shotgun. Shot sizes between 7 1/2 and 9 are ideal. Hunts are walk-ups, and an ATV carries fresh dogs as well as additional gear.
Millstream accepts up to five hunters per group. That said, for safety reasons only three shooters per flush are allowed with rotations allowing for every gunner to experience lots of action. A half-day, six-bird hunt costs $285, a 12-bird hunt costs $700 and an 18-bird hunt costs $860. Additional birds can be added at $23 per pheasant, $16 per chukar, $18 per Hungarian partridge and $12 per quail. The flighted duck program costs $430 for 12 mallards, $600 for 18 mallards, and $770 for 24
mallards. Hunting for bobwhite quail is after an initial hunt at Millstream. Wild bird hunt pricing is available by request. Millstream Hunting Preserve is located about 25 miles from Hartford, Conn., about 55 miles from Providence, R.I., and about 100 miles from Boston, Mass. For more info: Millstream Hunting Preserve, Don Favry, 860-295-9974, w w w. m i l l s t re a m p re s e r v e . c o m , info@millstreampreserve.com. The best method of contact is telephone. —Tom Keer
Dateline: Arizona Mearns’, Gambel’s and Scaled Quail • Timetable: Late November to midFebruary • Accommodations: Southwestern B & B or dude ranch • Food: Regional or other casual dining • Hunt: Gambel’s and scalies — easy to moderate; Mearns — moderate to difficult Using the picturesque southwestern town of Patagonia, Ariz., as his winter base of operations, Dave Brown Outfitters offers Mearns’, Gambel’s and scaled quail hunts utilizing his kennel of fine Brittanys and English pointers, along with a yellow Lab backing up the pointing breeds for the more difficult retrieves. The terrain in this portion of south central Arizona is highly diverse with frequent elevation changes, providing habitat for all three species of southwestern quail that individually require their own environmental needs to include slots of elevation. Indeed, all three species are found within a reasonable distance from Patagonia and also nearby Sonoita. Gambel’s are by far the most abundant species of quail in Arizona with a range over much of the southern twothirds of the state and are also the official state bird. These birds tend to occupy the lowest elevations, up to 2,500 feet but can on occasion be found up to 4,500 feet and higher. They are typically found in brushy washes and scrubby desert landscape. These birds are runners, and cov-
eys can run well ahead of the dog and hunter. The best approach will often to be to get the covey flying. Birds will fly a few hundred yards and then settle down as singles or in smaller groups where they tend to hold better. Once airborne, their incredible acceleration and unpredictable flight patterns can make for some rather challenging shooting. Scaled quail, or “scalies” as they are nicknamed, are also known as blue quail, for the fish scale pattern and blue hues found in their breast feathers. Scalies enjoy living in open grassland savannahs occupying 2,500- to 4,500foot elevations. They too are runners,
sometimes even more so than the Gambel’s, so the same strategy is employed to break up coveys and then hunt up the better holding singles. Mearns’ are the least numerous quail found in Arizona. Indeed, their U.S. range is confined to areas in Arizona and New Mexico along the border with Mexico. There are some Mearns’ to be found in southwest Texas 5 — The Bird Hunting Report — August 2011
but there is no open season on them there due to such restricted numbers. Mearns’ like higher elevations of around 5,000 to 7,000 feet and tend to be found in jagged landscapes of ravines lined with brushy scrub oak and similar vegetation. Indeed, theirs can be the most difficult terrain to navigate of the three species. They are generally considered to be the most “cooperative” when it comes to dog work, holding reasonably well but nonetheless not as mindlessly as penraised quail can sometimes be. They are also considered to be a “collector’s” bird because their plumage is totally unlike any other quail, with the male bird having clown-like facial features. It is for this reason that they are sometimes called “harlequin” quail. Another moniker they have is “Montezuma” quail as much of their range extends well into the higher elevations of Chihuahua state, Mexico. To varying degrees, all three species of quail offered here are reliant on the monsoon rains that come through the region in the late winter and again in mid-summer. Indeed, bird numbers will be affected favorably by the rains or unfavorably by the lack thereof. However, even in dry years the quail will be found, albeit in fewer numbers, and one must simply hunt harder to find the coveys. Dove shooting over decoys is also offered for variety and the relative relaxation that can be found with pass shooting. Indeed, Arizona is one of the better dove shooting places to go in the continental U.S.