New to Northern CA, Someone teach me about upland hunting!

[cmogi10]

Hi everyone, I'm new to Northern Cali, pretty new to hunting in general,
and really want to know more about bird hunting. I don't really know where to start and was hoping for some pointers.
None of my dogs are bird dogs, and I don't have space for another at this point. But,
My Pit's got a ton of heart and loves to be put to work, and will fetch anything for me, but beyond that he doesn't really have a clue. Can I do any training to improve his help-fullness to me? I know he'll never be a lab or pointer, but it's gotta be better then nothing. The hounds are way too independent to ever want to work with me like that, too into chasin bear.

I am in Siskiyou county with an overwhelming amount of outdoors of all shapes and varieties. I don't know where too start! It is a problem I like having, but was still hoping someone here with more experience can help me get started in the right direction. Where to go, what to look for?

Any other tips or pointers will be appreciated. What gear I'll be needing is important, but not as important as everything else.

[lewdogg21]

In siskyou I'd take up waterfowl, not sure about what upland is good there. Big game and waterfowl. What town are you close too?

[cmogi10]

I'm close to Mt Shasta in McCloud,
I'm also interested in waterfowl, just very ignorant to well, everything about it. Not sure where to start...
Although I did just order a duck and goose call, along with a DVD. I'm sure it'll sound hilarious for a while, but I guess I am starting there, Hah. Just trying to learn what I can teach myself.
I'm trying to figure out how to convince the girlfriend/justify to myself another pup, a lab or a GSP, but we don't have room "No more dogs!" Don't blame her, but maybe in a year or two.

[Interloper]

Quail and Grouse are easy to jump right into and you don't need a lot of special gear. Grouse season is over but Quail runs into January.
There is a science to hunting these birds just like anything else but even a newbie can have pretty good success right away. Just get out in the woods and look for brushy areas that get good morning sun. You'll often find them sunning in the road and taking dust baths.
I'm not sure what the elevation is where you are but around here the birds are getting scarce. They're still out there, though. I was going to go out this weekend but it's supposed to snow.

[CACitUP]

Grouse and Quail, both valley and Mountain. You can head south on 5 and be into some good pheasant land as well. Head northeast for waterfowl.

[cmogi10]

thanks Guys, interloper, I'm at about 3500 feet, got tons of good land all over, I'm just going to start lookin and askin around. I am working on training my dog to hang out a bit closer to me so he isn't scaring everything way down the road before I get there.