Quail Unlimited's Haldeman agrees: "Both Sand Diego and Riverside counties are looking really good. In my area, around Temecula, there's not a brush pile I can't find a covey in."

Scott Sewell of the DFG's Region 5 is optimistic regarding prospects in the Southern California mountain ranges, including the Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres and San Bernardino national forests. As early as last May, he reported, quail in many areas had already hatched two clutches -- and were working on a third.

DFG biologist Andy Pauli, who covers much of San Bernardino County, also expects a great season. "This year, we're even seeing valley quail in the western desert, where typically the chukars have out-competed them in the past," he says. "There should be lots of holdover birds this year and lots of reproduction. We've had three years in a row with relatively good precipitation in this region. The problem before was we had eight to 10 years of very low precipitation. The numbers were down, and they're finally getting back up to where they were in the 1980s."

He also expects improvement in Gambel's quail populations. "I'm finding them in areas where I haven't seen them before -- ever. I think they've expanded their range somewhat. I'm talking mostly on public BLM land or in the Mojave National Preserve.

Likewise, Gerald Mulcahy, a DFG Region 6 biologist, sees promising signs for Gambel's quail recovery along the lower Colorado River after several lean years. "The population got so low, but we had some recovery last year," he says. "Groups went from six to about 20 birds. This year, we'll have birds, but it won't be 150-bird coveys. It will probably be 30- to 35-bird coveys.

"The desert's in the best shape I've seen in 25 years," he adds. "Because the rain was so uniform, the birds will be where you find them." He stresses that hunters should obtain maps from the BLM in advance because many of the desert washes and mountain ranges are now designated wilderness areas where vehicular traffic is banned -- and the ban is vigorously enforced.

CENTRAL COAST RANGE
More Good Action On Tap
The coastal ranges provide some of the most predictably reliable upland gunning for California quail of any area of the state. That's especially true of areas nearer the coast, which generally receive ample precipitation due to their proximity to the ocean. Areas located farther inland can be hurt by drought conditions, but that wasn't a factor with last winter's heavy rains.

The green-up was perfect this year for food development and growth of nesting cover. The Big Sur coast received almost double the normal amount of rainfall, while other parts of the region received half again as much rain as in an average year.

"From Santa Barbara County all the way up through Monterey County, we're looking at a really good production year, and Mendocino County looks to be really good for mountain quail," says Haldeman.

"When it gets pretty green, as it did this spring, it can be pretty outstanding," adds Mastrup. "This should be a great year."

That's doubly true for hunters who can gain access to private lands in the area, which include much of the region's most desirable habitat. The bird populations on these lands, which generally have permanent water sources, remain very stable assuming no drastic changes in land use patterns.

"We've been seeing a lot more development -- a lot of vineyards and two-acre ranch homes," says DFG biologist Jeff Cann. "That's not necessarily bad if it's not all clean-farmed or clean-capped."

While hunting on private lands in the region can be fantastic, there are plenty of public-land hunting opportunities for those willing to deal with the thick brush that blankets a lot public areas. Good places to start are BLM tracts and the Los Padres National Forest, from Ventura County to San Benito County. Other places to prospect include the Temblor and Caliente ranges as well as military lands, including Fort Hunter-Liggett and Camp Roberts. Be sure to check ahead at the military bases, as accelerated training schedules may impose more frequent closures than usual.