How to Scout Public Land for Upland Birds Without Leaving Your Couch (Then What to Do When You Get There)
Field notes for California upland hunters — chukar, valley quail, pheasant, and the country and dogs that put them in the bag.
Planning a Modoc Plateau Chukar Hunt: A NorCal Scouting Guide
Modoc Plateau chukar planning for NorCal upland hunters — public land, water sources, basalt rim country, and how to scout the spring before the October opener.
Mapping Chukar Water in the Off-Season: A NorCal Hunter's Approach
Mapping chukar water in California's off-season — a NorCal hunter's approach to springs, seeps, and guzzlers across the eastern Sierra and Modoc Plateau.
Sacramento Valley Dove Field Prep: A Pre-Opener May Drive-By Method
Sacramento Valley dove field prep starts in May — what to look for in sunflower and sorghum plots four months before the September 1 opener.
California Pheasant Genetics: What DNA Research Means for the Sacramento Valley
California pheasant recovery hinges on DNA research showing isolated genetic pockets — what NorCal upland hunters should know about translocations and habitat.
Your Upland Stamp at Work: California's $10 Validation Funds Wild Bird Habitat
Your $10 California upland game bird validation funds real habitat restoration. Here's exactly where that money goes and why it matters for quail and pheasant.
Sooty Grouse Spring Scouting in NorCal: Hooting, Habitat, and a Plan for Fall
NorCal sooty grouse spring scouting peaks in May when males hoot from Douglas-fir ridgelines — how to locate the birds now and bank waypoints for fall.
Planning a First Trip to Owens Valley Chukar Country: What We Found, and What We'll Find Out in October
We haven't been there yet.
What we have done is spend the better part of a winter evening going deep on the Owens Valley — topo maps pulled up on one screen, CDFW regulations on another, a half-dozen trip reports from forums we trust enough to read critically.
California Wildfire Burn Scars and Upland Bird Habitat: A 2026 Hunter’s Planning Map
California wildfire burn scars and upland bird habitat in 2026: how to read 1-5 year burn ages across NorCal for quail, chukar, and pheasant scouting.
The Presidio Quail Reintroduction: A NorCal Conservation Win Worth Watching
The Presidio quail reintroduction begins in 2026 — what California upland hunters and NorCal habitat advocates should take from this Bay Area conservation effort.
Reading May Greenup: What Bunchgrass Tells You About Fall Valley Quail in NorCal
May greenup is the strongest forecast you'll get on fall valley quail in NorCal — what bunchgrass, forb cover, and brood habitat tell you about October coveys.
Brush Pants and Chaps for California Chaparral: A NorCal Upland Hunter's Gear Guide
Brush pants vs. chaps for California chaparral: what NorCal upland hunters actually need for buckbrush, chamise, and manzanita on public land coveys.
Nonlead Ammunition for California Upland Hunters: 2026-27 Supply Planning
Nonlead ammunition California upland hunters need for 2026-27 — bismuth, steel, and tungsten shot sizes, supply timing, and the condor-era conservation story.
Band-tailed Pigeon: California's Overlooked Upland Migrant
California's only native wild pigeon: band-tailed pigeon habitat, hunting seasons, acorn and mineral spring ecology, and why it matters to NorCal hunters.
Planning a Sacramento Valley Dove Opener: What NorCal Hunters Should Do Now
Sacramento Valley dove hunting for the Sept. 1 California opener — scouting safflower, sunflower, and public land, plus conservation context for NorCal hunters.
Spring Rainfall and California Valley Quail Chick Survival
California valley quail chick survival hinges on spring rainfall — how April-May rain shapes NorCal forb, insect, and brood cover before fall upland season.
Hands-On Habitat Month: California Hunters Show Up for the Uplands in May
May is Hands-On Habitat Month. Here's how California upland hunters can plug into Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever chapter work in the off-season now.
