New hunter to Ventura County, point in the right direction!?

[marella31]

Hello,
New to hunting. I'm a lifelong fisherman and just moved back from up north as I graduated college. I'm looking for some spots for quail and dove. Is Los Padres good for these? Any particular spots up there? I'm not by any means trying to get secret spots, just a push in the right direction. ANything will help. any other spots in Ventura county? THanks!

 

[Pierpont]

Hi Marella, welcome to the forum, If you start hiking the hills, you're likely to find plenty of quail in los padres, quail need water so they'll never be too far from some source, even if it's just a trickle. Learn to recognize their calls http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/california_quail/sounds, you can hear the assembly call from a long way off, it will clue you in that you're in the right area. Our biggest problem locally is the thick chaparral it makes it tough to move around off trail, hard to see where the birds go after they flush, and you'll find your ultimate challenge will be finding a bird once hit.

 

[marella31]

Thank you. Should I head up lockwood valley road? Can I just pull over and start treking to find hunting grounds?

 

[Pierpont]

Thank you. Should I head up lockwood valley road? Can I just pull over and start treking to find hunting grounds?

Yea, lots of places to hunt around Lockwood valley if you put in a little boot leather you might even find a guzzler or two. Get a good map, national forest land is fair game. Be careful if you go out opening weekend there will be a TON of people out, wear lots of orange. If you find an area with spent shotgun shells scattered around you will know someone got into some birds, its probably a good area,...But don't be that guy, pick up your shells, they're trash, besides if you find a great spot you don't want to leave too big of a clue for the next guy.

 

[Rob P.]

Lockwood Valley Rd has lots of pvt property along there. You must have a good map and know where you are to avoid trespassing. Same with Ozena and the valley area along side the hwy (33) towards Cuyama.

There are some potreros on public land from Rose Valley northwards. Check them out before opener (nothing like a hike in the woods to make you feel better after a hard week at work). Potrero Seco is open fields but has pvt land in there too. It's well hunted with tons of people on opener weekend. Walk in a couple of miles to get there.

Fishbowls will be a Cluster F.... Ditto for Alamo Mtn. If it's like usual, someone will get shot again.

I was in Hardluck earlier this year and saw some good sign for birds in the meadows there on Buck Creek Trail past the campground. MTN LION WARNING applies as I saw sign and (almost) saw him. I haven't been back in there since May so I don't know if the birds are there or not. Should be because there is food and water right there but I don't know. Hard hike in (3 miles ones way) and not much parking space at the trailhead. Bicycling in gets you there fast but you'll need a good granny gear to get out again without getting off & pushing the bike uphill for 2 miles.

Lots of what I believe are mtn quail (big birds in any event) up on 7N23 (D11 at 5 & 138) but they are tight in the trees where I was and will circle back if pushed rather than fly over open areas. If they stick to this pattern there will be very few good shots without branches in the way. Might be better terrain further on towards Bear Camp and Sawmill Camp but I don't know. Really big coveys though.

The cold & wet weather this week could be a game changer too.