Put him onto Chukar. I spent endless hours last year trying to track them down for breeding purposes. All to no avail. They are meatier and heavier then the red legged partridge.
He will get the run around from DOC and F&G with no one wanting to put their sack on the line to give a definitive answer. Deliberate releases for the purpose of hunting seem to be a clear no no without permits/consents etc.
Seems from my research keeping a small breeding group for your own enjoyment is fine.
I never got far down the red legged option, but the main Cali breeder is Woodlands, approx $20-25/bird from memory.
John
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