BY JIM NIEMIEC
NILAND – While checking in with wildlife biologist, outfitters and upland game bird hunters, the results have been kind of a mixed outlook on what hunters can expect for this coming fall season. It’s still months away from dove opener and the pending El Nino weather forecast calls for lots of summer rains, hot weather and strong winds, all of which could affect bird populations all across the state and into Arizona.
Western Outdoor News checked in with Cris Crecelius, Wildlife Habitat Supervisor II, with the Imperial Wildlife Refuge and he reported the following.
“Imperial Wildlife Area staff members have observed an average population of white-winged and mourning dove across the refuge system for this time of the year, which (can) fluctuate with weather…the hotter the better. The IWA upland game bird fields are looking great, with plenty of wheat and wild sunflower grain crops being utilized by dove. The Gambel’s quail population is decent, but these birds are only huntable at the Finney Ramer Unit (Ramer Lake is currently closed for repairs.) The local pheasant is dismal, BUT the refuge will be holding our annual junior and family pheasant hunts this fall (date TBD). After the hunt, remaining pheasants can be hunted by the general public after the scheduled hunts.”
Crecelius went on to add, “San Jacinto Wildlife Area reports that there are small groups of mourning dove scattered around various SJWA planted upland game bird fields, with small coveys of quail observed traveling back and forth from SJWA fields and Lake Perris. Although pheasant can be found on the wildlife area, they can only be hunted during SJWA annual special hunts(dates TBD). Upland game bird hunters are reminded to make sure they check in/out at registration booths.”
As reported, after a spring wild pig hunt with Bitterwater Outfitters, the outlook for valley quail hunting along the central coast and inland to the foothills of the western slopes of High Sierras, is looking very promising. There were lots of paired up quail spotted and a couple of small coveys of carry-over adult quail numbering less than 6 birds. The coming fall should produce pretty good quail gunning, especially around watering holes, and the best quail hunting will be on private ranch property, but don’t overlook some of the desert regions and public lands surrounding the Tehachapi mountains.
Reports coming in from the high desert indicate that perhaps chukar season could offer up mixed hunting success. Avid chukar hunter, Harold Honer told Western Outdoor News that there was ample rain fall this past winter, and that’s a good sign that this coming fall could provide decent chukar hunting…at least for those willing to put forth the effort to get to some of the more rugged terrain. This hunting writer doesn’t have a good a feeling about the chukar season tough. I have driven through the high desert country a couple of times this summer and its bone dry, especially the areas around Red Mountain, Ridgecrest and south off Hwy. 40. Also, it appears that the rougher high country off Nine Mile Canyon is pretty bleak and didn’t offer much in the way of a substantial snow pack.