SEMINARS
Find More Birds
2020 seminars
schedule up soon
Learn
Essential
Hunting
Skills
Just for Upland Bird Hunters
Information
The Western Birds seminar program is about teaching hunters in Southern California WHERE to go on public lands for upland birds - doves, quail, and chukar. Most seminars are broken down into three parts: 1) Resources: Mostly about public land maps and how to use them and where it's legal to hunt; 2) Four Keys: Focus is on the importance of water for gamebirds in Southern California and how to find water sources; 3) Where: We provide detailed where-to-go information, and all fee seminars include a two-issue trial subscription to the Western Birds newsletter. Our longer, three-plus hour seminars include information on scouting and calls.
1. RESOURCES MAPS AND MORE MAPS
Public Land Maps, US Geological Survey Maps, Mapping Software, and GPS Units and how to use them for your hunting
The seminars provide detailed information on the different types of maps -- printed, digital, and Internet -- that you need to use to become a more successful bird hunter. We talk about how to use maps for both hunting and scouting and making sure you are legally hunting on public lands. We also cover ordinance information so you don't run afoul of city or county law enforcement officials. We also tell you where you can get all this information.
2. THE 4 KEYS WATER, WATER, WATER is No. 1. Guzzlers, springs, and stock tanks provide important water to Southern California's gamebirds and knowing their locations is a key to hunting success in this region
Knowing the water sources is by far the single most important factor in successful quail, chukar, and dove hunting in the southern half of the state. Our seminars explain how to find springs, stock tanks, and guzzlers. We talk about how close the various species of gamebirds must stay to water and how to focus your efforts to become a more successful bird hunter. We also give you the other three keys to being a successful bird hunter in this region.
3. WHERE TO GO Last, the seminars give a broad overview of the best hunting areas in the Southern California region for quail, chukar, and doves. And then we give you the specifics!
We have no problem telling you exactly where we hunted last week because there are more good places to hunt game birds in this region than there are bird hunters left in the state. So we cover what we believe are the four best areas in the region in broad terms -- the Mojave National Preserve, the Red Mountain region, the West Mojave, and the Carrizo Plain. But then we talk about specifics within these areas -- including specific canyons and water sources in those canyon. We know your secret spot and 15 places nearby you probably don't know about.
2020 SEMINAR SCHEDULE IS
CURRENTLY ON HOLD
Scheduling of the 2020 seminars has been delayed because of the Coronavirus restrictions. I am still hoping to schedule a few sessions in late July, August or September. Please keep checking this page for updates.
The information below and PDF Registration forms posted on the right are from 2019, so you can see locations I use, content, and pricing -- which will not change for 2020.
My seminars will again be a three hours long and cover all of the usual detailed where-to-go material for quail and chukar, but they also have segments on scouting and correct use of calls. Dove information will also be provided on the seminars held before Sept. 1.
Here is the date-time-location information for last year's events:
Saturday, July 13 - 9 a.m. to Noon at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Corona.
Sunday, July 21 - 9 a.m. to Noon at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Corona.
Saturday, July 27 - 9 a.m. to Noon at Bass Pro Shops, Rancho Cucamonga.
Saturday, August 3 - 9 a.m. to Noon at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Corona.
Saturday, August 17 - 9 a.m. to Noon at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Corona.
Saturday, August 24 - 9 a.m. to Noon at Bass Pro Shops, Rancho Cucamonga.
There are three registration options for this year's seminars:
$60 option includes the seminar, and a two-issue trial subscription to Western Birds, our where-to-go bird hunting newsletter. You will get the first one at the seminar.
$235 option includes a special reprint package from Western Birds that has 280-guzzler locations in four of the best bird hunting areas in Southern California. You will also receive a full six-issue subscription after the seminar, and the two most recent issues at the seminar.
$315 option includes everything in the $235 package along with a Jim Matthews Signature Chamber Quail call.
Everyone who attends any of these seminars is encouraged to bring their own quail calls (if they don't do the $315 option). We will also have a 15-minute break in each seminar.
If you have any questions you can call Jim Matthews at 909-887-3444 or send an e-mail to him at .
THIS PAGE WAS LAST UPDATED May 18, 2020
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The PDF registration forms for the 2019 seminars are below. Click in the image to download the PDF form.
There are five Thursday evening seminars at Turner's Outdoorsman stores across Southern California for 2019. These may NOT be held in 2020 due to Coronavirus restrictions.
These were free seminars, but they are not as comprehensive as the $60 seminars listed on this page and do not include a trial subscription to Western Birds.
Thursday, July 25, Norwalk store, 562-929-4056.
Thursday, August 1, Lake Forest store. Phone 949-523-6370.
Thursday, August 8, Corona store. Phone 951-736-8007.
Thursday, August 15, West Covina store, 626-858-8948.
Thursday, August 22, Orange store, 714-974-0600.
All seminars run from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
Seating is very limited for these seminars and pre-registration is recommended. Seats are reserved by calling the individual store.
