Az Quail opening weekend

J

jmac

New member
Well got out for a couple hours on Oct 5, opening day. We got into the birds right out of the truck. First covey flush not 15 yards out from our parking spot. Small covey of five birds. We passed on shooting them. Next flushed several pairs, that were calling, on all sides of us. No shots fired on these too.
My buddy had to be at his doctors at 9:30, so we started back to the truck.
Thats when we flush a covey of 20 to 30 Gambels. I dumped two and my buddy dumped one. Then we had to leave.
I think that with all the rain we got in late August and Sept. That the Quail have not coveyed up, or are just starting to Covey up. Idk very strange to flush pairs, Hen and a rooster. Maybe they are trying to brood again????? AZgfd still has not posted the small game report for this year. I will say there seems to be more birds this year then last. How about the rest of you any reports...... hint hint QH.:)
 
Last edited:
Good report Jmac, I wonder if hens may still try for a brood this late?

Mountain quail numbers are very low this year, very very dry in the high country. In areas where I'm used to seeing 4 coveys of 8-12 birds I'm only seeing 1-2 coveys of 4-6 mature birds with no young of year. I haven't taken a mtn quail yet, when we flush a covey I'll fire into the air to let them know someone is hunting them, let the dogs push a single or two just to wise them up and move on.

Valley quail starts next weekend and while I dont expect a bumper year like last year I think we should have a decent crop. Lots of carry over birds and I was seeing pairs with broods of 4-8 chicks in June-July. A single hatch was most likely the norm around here but with the number of carry overs I saw during spring I think the coveys will be decent (20-40) sized.

Ca DF&G refuses to do any counts but I'm pretty confident in my science. Another dry year could be very bad for us but I'm holding out hope for a long, wet, snowy winter.:cheers:
 
Good report Quail Hound. Let us know how the Valley hunt goes. I'll let you know how the next hunt goes with a little longer time spent a field.
 
I will let you know how it goes. My opening morning spot borders irrigated farm ground so its usually a poor indicator but once the weather cools we will be in the foothills where the birds rely on the weather.
 
Hot enough! I've been out south of PHX toward Florence Thursday and again yesterday. Seeing lots of birds, several BIG covies, dropped six, lost one. I'm done by 10 or 11 - dripping sweat by that time.
 
cokid said:
Hot enough! I've been out south of PHX toward Florence Thursday and again yesterday. Seeing lots of birds, several BIG covies, dropped six, lost one. I'm done by 10 or 11 - dripping sweat by that time.
Click to expand...

I know where you are talking about. Good to know. And shshshsh. LOL :D

It's still hot down here. Todays high 99. Cooling down but can expect high 90's for the rest of this month. Mornings aren't bad but heats up fast. Half day hunts are plenty this time of the year. Unless you Qh's age. LOL:D
At 26 I was lean and Mean, could chase birds all day long. Now I'm Not so lean and Twice a mean ( grumpy any way) and looking not to get to far from the truck. Not that bad just kidding.:D
 
jmac said:
I know where you are talking about. Good to know. And shshshsh. LOL :D

It's still hot down here. Todays high 99. Cooling down but can expect high 90's for the rest of this month. Mornings aren't bad but heats up fast. Half day hunts are plenty this time of the year. Unless you Qh's age. LOL:D
At 26 I was lean and Mean, could chase birds all day long. Now I'm Not so lean and Twice a mean ( grumpy any way) and looking not to get to far from the truck. Not that bad just kidding.:D
Click to expand...

Wow how do you guys even hunt in that heat it has to be 70 in the morning that would be miserable!! Heck i think 60 is to hot man you guys are tough!!
 
only a pointer said:
Wow how do you guys even hunt in that heat it has to be 70 in the morning that would be miserable!! Heck i think 60 is to hot man you guys are tough!!
Click to expand...

You pack lots of water and you learn not to get lost. We don't use dogs this time of the year, for two reason. One it's the desert and every thing, in the desert has needle, spins, or other dog killing parts. Cholla, cacti,..... And thats where the quail are. Two gambels quail are runners and will not hold for dogs. I love to watch guy's that try to use dogs to hunt Gambels. The dogs flush the covey 75 to 100 yards out and no shots can be made. Singles flush at the first sign of dogs. It's really quit funny to watch.

That said, Mearns quail in the Southern eastern part of Az., can be hunted with dogs, they will hold for pointers and the area they live in are much more dog friendly than Central Az etc.

The heat down here is some thing you get use to, 100 to high 90 temps are nothing in June, though August 110 to 122 degree temps, you get used to it. Kind of, and dang it, amasing what you can get used to.

The cholla fields are a key, You find one near water, you will find Gambels near them Yotes, Bobcats, and most Birds of Prey will not chase them in these patchs and the quail know it. Last year the first Quail I took Impaled its self on Cholla tree, after I dumped it. It was not easy to remove it. I carry to large combs for this very thing. They are also great to remove Cholla balls froms other peoples Dogs. You know the ones that should have found a better place to hunt for there dogs sakes.:)
 
Last edited:
I don't know if the cactus is worse down there but my dogs wouldn't stop until they had it in 3 of their 4 paws.:eek: One time JP came out of some sort of cactus with a quail in his mouth and a cactus log on his forehead. I pulled it off with my leather gloves and tried to throw it. It stuck to my glove and went straight into my arm.:mad: Ouch!
 
quail hound said:
I don't know if the cactus is worse down there but my dogs wouldn't stop until they had it in 3 of their 4 paws.:eek: One time JP came out of some sort of cactus with a quail in his mouth and a cactus log on his forehead. I pulled it off with my leather gloves and tried to throw it. It stuck to my glove and went straight into my arm.:mad: Ouch!
Click to expand...

IDK but what your talking about is cholla, looks like cactus but its way mearner. There is several types of this Spinny PLant froms heck. Some drop, for lack of a better term, Branches. I think this is what JP had in his forhead. Very bad stuff for dogs. You can't see the end of the needles, with the human eye, And you can't pull the needle out completely, it causes infections in both humans and dogs. And at least once a year I get it Stuck Im Me Some Place. Even with Boots on the dogs, and vests Etc. your asking for a very big vet Bill. I would never put my dog in that place.

Qh , when it cools down. Prob in late or early dec. I think I've found a place to get you a few mearns. Idk but I've got a fork in the Fire.:)
 
jmac said:
IDK but what your talking about is cholla, looks like cactus but its way mearner. There is several types of this Spinny PLant froms heck. Some drop, for lack of a better term, Branches. I think this is what JP had in his forhead. Very bad stuff for dogs. You can't see the end of the needles, with the human eye, And you can't pull the needle out completely, it causes infections in both humans and dogs. And at least once a year I get it Stuck Im Me Some Place. Even with Boots on the dogs, and vests Etc. your asking for a very big vet Bill. I would never put my dog in that place.

Qh , when it cools down. Prob in late or early dec. I think I've found a place to get you a few mearns. Idk but I've got a fork in the Fire.:)
Click to expand...

The only thing i am hunting in arizona is elk man i would love to hunt there that is the hunt of all hunts right there if you want a monster bull. THANKS JMAC for enlightening me on how to hunt birds out there i had no clue wow that sounds really tough on dogs and humans as well, like i said you guys ae tough out there.
 
only a pointer said:
The only thing i am hunting in arizona is elk man i would love to hunt there that is the hunt of all hunts right there if you want a monster bull. THANKS JMAC for enlightening me on how to hunt birds out there i had no clue wow that sounds really tough on dogs and humans as well, like i said you guys ae tough out there.
Click to expand...

No problem OAP,

Some very big bull elk have been taken this year, during stick and string season. One that may be the new Pope and young #1. Very tuff draw, For Residents. I don't know about non-resident.
 
jsdriggs said:
Any snakes?
Click to expand...

Js,

Yes , Yes, and Yes. LOL
Arizona has 13 species of buzz worms. (Rattlesnakes). And we do run in to them from time to time. This year is said to be a bad year for them, meaning lots of snakes. snakes are always in the back of my mind, when hunting the desert. I've run into them even in the winter, on sunny days, out side there dens, catching rays. This is the most dangerous time to run into them, because they are cold and less likely to rattle, but will strick, and several snake in a small area.

Lots of my friends have a shot on sight policy with rattlesnakes. I have a policy to not shoot unless we are hunting with dogs and dogs are danger of being struck. The snakes have a purpose too.
 
jmac said:
Js,

Yes , Yes, and Yes. LOL
Arizona has 13 species of buzz worms. (Rattlesnakes). And we do run in to them from time to time. This year is said to be a bad year for them, meaning lots of snakes. snakes are always in the back of my mind, when hunting the desert. I've run into them even in the winter, on sunny days, out side there dens, catching rays. This is the most dangerous time to run into them, because they are cold and less likely to rattle, but will strick, and several snake in a small area.

Lots of my friends have a shot on sight policy with rattlesnakes. I have a policy to not shoot unless we are hunting with dogs and dogs are danger of being struck. The snakes have a purpose too.
Click to expand...

Good for you! I have the same policy, I include porcupines, but some dogs find them irresistable!
 
Yeah, good for you - they definitely have their place, along with the scorpions and black widows! I've only been here (PHX) a couple years, but I've had more than my share of those little beasties. With two small kids, my policy is, 'inside my fence (or house), you're dead', but leave them alone elsewhere.

That said - I have yet to run into ANY snake since I've been here, except for road kill. And I've done a lot of desert hiking/hunting in that time. I've see a lot more snakes per mile walked in lower-elevation Colorado than here. I can only assume it's "beginner's luck" or something, because I know the snakes are out there.
 
cokid said:
Yeah, good for you - they definitely have their place, along with the scorpions and black widows! I've only been here (PHX) a couple years, but I've had more than my share of those little beasties. With two small kids, my policy is, 'inside my fence (or house), you're dead', but leave them alone elsewhere.

That said - I have yet to run into ANY snake since I've been here, except for road kill. And I've done a lot of desert hiking/hunting in that time. I've see a lot more snakes per mile walked in lower-elevation Colorado than here. I can only assume it's "beginner's luck" or something, because I know the snakes are out there.
Click to expand...

Cokid ,

You have been lucky. I ran into several this am on the job sight, at Palo Verde Nuke plant. Luckly the strom that came thought last night, droped the temps. They got colleced and move to a safe area.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top