Shooting Quail on the ground in CA?

[shaun748]

I have no quail hunting background in California, but a friend that bird hunts say's this is legal..I told him I thought he was wrong, but I did not find anything in the regulations prohibiting it.

Growing up in another state I remember shooting them on the wing only,mabye it was always more of an ethical thing than regulation, or the other states reg's.

Just curious if I missed something in the Ca reg's..thanks

 

[CaliDuckPro]

...Oh man. I don't know if this is the same thread as the one in the Upland Game forum, but people get pretty heated about this one! YES, it is legal. However, it is up to the individual to decide how he wants to harvest his game. Some will argue, I'm hunting to put food on the table, and if the opportunity presents itself, then they will shoot them on the ground. Others say it's unsportsman-like and it's not fair chase. And it goes on and on and on. But to answer the question, YES, it's legal. Is it right? That's up to you to decide if it's right FOR YOU. PERSONAL PREFERRANCE! End of story.

CDP

 

[shaun748]

Hey CDP,,yes it is the same post..You are right it was a can of worms..LOL

I just posted the question before going to work one day so I did not do a search like I should have..

I later found out there are a lot of post concerning this,,DOH..You are right though, it seems to boil down to each persons own idea of ethics..

I hate to put anyones legal hunting method down since that can lead to a very slippery slope for us hunters.

 

[Wild Turk]

Its not illegal in CA, but just as someone said above, people get really hot about this one. My thought is that with valley quail, I always flush them and if they wont fly, so be it. I will shoot a wounded bird that is trying to run away (he'll die anyway).

With Mountain Quail, all bets are off. They are so difficult to find as well as flush that if one wants to pop up on a log at 30 yards and look at me in heavy brush, he is going down.

It all comes down to how you feel about it. No one will be there watching and you are the one who has to live with how you choose to hunt.

WT

 

[California Hunter]

yeah it is legal; and if you shoot a shotgun like I do, it is the only way you are going to eat LOL.

 

[sean english]

A few years ago I was hunting dove on the opener in Imperial Valley. The place was packed with hunters. A dove came and sat not too far from me on the ground and I shot it. The guy hunting to me, reminded me politely that it was bad sportsmanship. I felt so small. I am so glad he did that. I realized there is more to hunting than just killing as many and as fast as possible. I learned something that day and I would thank him if I ever see him again. Dont do it.Not because the guy next to you might school you on the ethics of hunting but simply cause it just aint right and fair. Amen

 

[scottymack]

What it all boils down to is ethics, Some will take the shot, some won't it is legal but it's your choice. I had a guy tell me that if a pheasnat didn't take flight his dog would run it down, and wondered why I don't let my dog do that. I told him it was illegal to have your dog run down a bird that isn't wounded. but he felt it was okay. Needless to say I don't hunt with him any longer.

When shooting here in California you choose to obey the laws ( or risk not being allowed to hunt), you choose who to hunt with and you choose the shot you wish to take. It all comes back to your personal choice to take that shot. I may not but, would I get upset that the person next to me did? No I might be uncomfortable about their actions but if I enjoy their company I might ask why they did that but if it is legal who gives me the power to judge a person acting wthin the law?