BAJA QUAIL

HUNTING

Baja Mexico

Baja, Mexico just south of the California border has some of the world's most prolific populations of California Quail. Coveys of 30-50 bird are common and a covey of 100 plus birds are sometimes seen during the hunt. The noise created by the wingbeats of a 100 bird covey is something you will never forget. California Quail are strong fliers, comparable to the Bobwhite, and are not notorious runners like scaled or blue quail. In addition to California Quail, there are hunting opportunities for Mountain Quail, Gambels Quail, anbd wild pheasant, but travel to other areas is required to find these birds.

The Hunt - California Quail, Mountain Quail, Gambel Quail And Wild Pheasants.

After meeting our clients at the San Diego Airport, our outfitter will provide transportation to an agricultural/desert area east of Ensenada, approximately 2 1/2 hours south of the border. The California Quail hunting takes place in scrub desert that borders agricultural cropland. Although there is some cactus and prickly pear type vegetation, the habitat is basically hunter friendly as far as desert quail hunting goes and the walking is relatively easy. My English setter didn't even need dog boots. Experienced bird boys do the flushing and retrieving but hunters are welcome to bring their own bird dogs. We would expect to move 10 to 15 coveys a day unless limits are filled earlier. Average coveys are 20 to 30 birds.

The Mountain Quail is the largest of the North American Quail species. Each bird is a trophy for the collector. Mountain Quail are hunted in higher elevations in an area about 1 hour from the California Quail hunting grounds. When hunting Mountain Quail, we expect to move 2 to 5 coveys a day, so this is a much lower volume hunt than the California Quail.

Gambels Quail and Wild Ringneck Pheasant Hunting is available in Mexicali, about 3 hours east of Ensenada. The agricultural areas surrounding Mexicali support strong populations of wild pheasants and Gambel Quail. In a typical day we would expect to see 200 or more pheasants and 5 to 8 coveys of Gambel Quail. The pheasant and quail hunting is excellent.

Current limits for California Quail are 15 birds per person per day, 5 Mountain Quail per person per day, 8 Gambels Quail per person per day and 5 pheasants per day..

Because of the variety of opportunities to take multiple species of upland game birds, we are offering the following suggested packages. We will also be happy to customize a hunting package to your specifications.

PACKAGE ONE

- California Quail (Nov.-Jan. 15th), Ensenada Area

A 3-day/3-night package California Quail hunt like the one photo essayed in Shooting Sportsman Magazine (July/August '03) is $1,650. This rate includes lodging in a newly built lodge, guide, bird boys, license, bird cleaning and storage, all meals and transportation to and from San Diego.

Not included is a $25 per day gun rental fee, shells at outfitter cost (usually $10 a box), gun permit fee if you bring your gun into Mexico, and tips. Minimum group size is 3 hunters.

- Combo California and Mountain Quail (Nov.-Jan. 15th), Ensenada Area

A day of Mountain Quail hunting can be substituted for a day of California Quail hunting at no extra cost, or an extra day can be added onto the 3-day California Quail Package at a cost of $550 per person per day.

PACKAGE TWO

- Gambel Quail and Wild Ringneck Pheasants (Nov. 7 - Dec. 21), Mexicali Area

A 3-day/3-night package is $1,650 per person. This rate includes lodging in the outfitters hunting lodge, all meals, bird cleaning and storage, guide, bird boys and transportation to and from San Diego.

Not included is a $25 per day gun rental fee, shells at outfitter cost (usually $10 a box), gun permit fee, if you bring your gun into Mexico, and tips. Minimum group size is 3 hunters.

BOOKINGS

In order to book a Baja hunt a 50% nonrefundable deposit is required at the time of booking with the remaining balance paid in full 60 days in advance of the booking. All payments are non refundable.