Not really the right season for this, but I happened across some quail and huns yesterday here at the house, and made me think about upland bird hunting.

Transplanted to Idaho over 100 years ago, Gambel's quail are still around, but no longer have a hunting season.



Not generally considered an upland bird for hunting, the invasive Eurasian collared dove is fine sport and delectable table fare.



The blue grouse, now called the dusky grouse in Idaho, provides us with many meals. We try to avoid the adults, as their meat is a bit tough.



Chukars are still my favorite upland bird for hunting and, except for ruffed grouse, are my favorite to eat.



Blue grouse and a tired dog makes for a good picture.



Rock ptarmigan was probably our favorite upland bird in Alaska. Real fun with a decent dog.



Jack

Nice, thanks for sharing.

Cool Pictures. I have seen the Gambles near Salmon. There are some Valley Quail on the other side of the Lemhi Range in theLittle Lost.
Here are a few of the other Idaho birds, spruce, Sharptail and Sage.




I also got a few pictures the other day that were too good not to share. We found this moose hanging out in the deep snow.



I have not seen any color variation on moose before this one.

Great post, glade you made it back Gulo.

My live game bird pictures always turn out better than my hunting pics. They have a little more color in breeding plumage.

What beautiful shots, everyone. Tray, those colours in the grouse are great. Nature always sports the perfect colour combos, never clashing .



An addition that some like to hunt as well.

Last, but not least, my favourite grouse....found to be quite tame , and likes the backyard habitats.

To my way of thinking, the best thing about Photo Phriday is the variety of images that are posted. I always like the selection from Sharon especially, and Trey's photos are always astounding.


A Wilson's snipe to go with Sharon's artwork. I agree, a phenomenal game bird! Not a timberdoodle, but close.



Range - the only photo I have of a weird-colored moose, this one from Fairbanks. Also, love your picture with the humpback Auto-5.

That tail of the sharptail always reminds me of the sexing of those birds with the BAR CODING thanks for posting Tray.
Oh how do I miss handling woodcock and putting bands on them.

Always laugh when I see the "Cheers" episode when they take out Fraser on a snipe hunt.
That first full moon of Oct when they are in peak migration here is snipe time. If the box of shells is not enough for your 8 birds......then retire the gun

Nice pics everyone.

I grew up hunting ruffies and woodcock. Until I shot some quail here in Illinois I always considered ruffed grouse the best tasting bird going. Quail are neck and neck.

I also shot blue grouse a spruce grouse in Colorado in the 80's when archery elk hunting. They are right there taste wise.

Here's some country you may recognize Jack

That's up on the South Fork just above the second moraine?
Could be the lower Innoko?
Could it be upper Hoholitna?

Yes . On the north side of the South fork. Just downstream of the mouth of the Dillinger.

I wish I could make it bigger. That's a white bison calf in the center of the picture. May, 2017

Blues and sage grouse

I have Blue grouse here too. They are not common, but lovely. I have to go up in elevation, to see them in the conifers that they like, which those special trees are found at the 3,500 levels and on up to alpine .

I have ruffies everywhere, though. They love all the planted shrubs and trees I put in for them , berries in the summer and fall, and into winter.

They all love nipping buds of maples , aspen, cottonwood, and other shrub/trees in mid winter.

One of my favorites

Very nice pictures of a wide variety of winged birds .Here in PA we used to have a stable Ruffed Grouse population, a solid number of Bobwhite quail mourning doves ,woodcock plus a non native Ringneck Pheasant which had been introduced in the early 1900's Many favorer the Ruffed Gouse ;the state bird others touted the virtues of the long tail and chackling as they flushed pheasant .At one time the pheasant hunting in the farm country of PA was second to no other state on the East coast of the USA .Opening day of pheasant season was an even that as important as the first day of deer season .And the season ended the Sat after Thanksgiving . It was a family tradition for many many families that the hunters in the family hunters spent the morning hunting And the mixed bag of game including the species of birds mentioned plus rabbits and squirrels would be part of the meal served on that day . Gulo what kind of gun is the double barrel? Again thanks for the pics As a side note grouse ,pheasants, and quail are all declining to the point of being nonexistent in many parts of the state Woodcock also are not plentiful so we are left with doves and waterfowl hunting plus the rabbits and squirrels . But the 1960's ,70's and early 80's where some really good times to be out hunting And I always thought that the best way to enjoy my time out and about was to make the best of what was available to hunt

west side road 151 - My wife's gun is a Silver Pigeon in 28 gauge. In the photos, mine is a Bresciana 20, a cheap Italian import. Suits me just fine for the last 40 years, with many thousands of rounds through it. I remember the old days (early 1970s) in Adams County, Idaho, where between my older brother, Pa, and I, we ended the day with Valley Quail, Huns, chukars, pheasants, mourning doves, white-tail jackrabbits, mountain cottontails, green-winged teal, mallards, pintails, wigeons, snipe, Canada geese, and ruffed grouse. Fourteen species; I didn't write down the total number of birds we had.

Jack

YOur hunting partner is sure better looking than the old guy I hunt with. Thanks again for posting. West side i was a kid in NJ in the 50 & 60 and we had real good small game hunting too = HAD!!!.....jk

Whoa, great pics everyone! Love the moose Range! Jack, glad you made it back.

Tray
Your live bird pictures turn out better than my hunting pictures and my live bird pictures too. They are amazing. I’m proud of my live bird pictures when people can recognize the birds in the pictures. .


My dad bought that A-5 new in the mid 60s. He gave it to me last spring. I shot a few birds with it then told my son that it was his. It’s the light 20.