This may seem like cheating but to shorten the curve, drive the dirt roads and washes at dawn and dusk looking for covies. Drop dogs (or just hunters) and follow them until they flush or they seem to vanish, they will run a lot, and then hunt back the same route you followed them on and you'll find singles and pairs that peeled off and hunkered down during the chase. The desert is BIG and the quail will be scattered by that time if there is moisture. You can also listen and use a call if you have one, they sound almost identical to California quail but have an extra syllable, "chi- ca- ca- go" instead of "chi- ca- go". They may not be vocal by then but if you scatter a covey they'll start calling. Good luck, the desert is a beautiful place and so are Gambel's quail.:cheers: