With The Arizona Mearns Quail Season set to open on Friday December 6th we have a little excitement in the air here in beautiful downtown Patagonia AZ A.K.A.- Mearns Quail H.Q. of the World.The word on the street is Mearns #’s are spotty at best.For those looking for the ultimate shoot’em up Hunt this won’t be it.Birds will be hard earned.
Crush pointing Mearns Quail
On that note here are a few things to consider which will enhance Your Arizona Mearns Quail Hunting experience.
Don’t be an Asshole
By hunting ontop of other hunters.If someone is in “your spot” leave and find a new spot.Most Hunters I know roll with the first one there gets the right of way.Sometimes things happen namely running into other Hunters and their dogs, the unwritten rule is to turn around or head off in another direction and avoid contact.
Pick Up Your Shells
For whatever reason some of us out there feel that shotgun shells don’t count as litter, therefore it’s Ok to leave them scattered all over the countryside.Well here in the Grand Canyon State leaving your shotgun shells on the ground is littering and you could be fined for it.It also makes the rest of us (hunters ) look bad to the non -hunting public.
Pick Up Garbage
If you really want to impress the Quail Gods via good “karma ” pick up garbage as you walk along.This also includes the shells that some dickhead left on the ground.
Leave Gates how you found them
This is ranching country so there are Cows that sometimes think the grass is greener in the next pasture.But thats up to the Rancher to decide not Hunters or Cows for that matter.Leaving gates open when they should be closed is a big no no.
Cows
Skirt Around Cows.
As the season progresses a lot of the Cows will be “Calfing” Its best to stay away from them so you don’t piss off Mother Cows.Move around them, also don’t let your Dogs chase Cows.
Mearns Country
Enjoy Your time here.
Mearns Country is a very remarkable place that a lot of Folks don’t ever get the chance to see.Enjoy the views and the people that call this amazing area home.
Support Southern Arizona Quail Forever.
S.A.Q.F. has been going hard to help Quail and Quail Hunters.If you are not member maybe you should join ? or throw them a few bucks for the good things they do to help you have a better Experience.Click Here.
Be an Ethical Hunter
There is a lot of folks preaching hunting ethics,however they vary.Simply obey the law by adhering to bag and possession limits, shooting times etc.The Arizona Game and Fish Department is the go to source for all that info via The State of Arizona Hunting Regulations.
It’s good to be home in Arizona.With that comes a lot of preparation for the up and coming season which equates to driving around the S.E. Corner of the State and doing ‘Taste Tests” better known as Scouting which entails running dogs and seeing what is out there.
Sunny pointing Scaled Quail
Other areas of the State might be better off for Gambels Quail however the claim to fame to this area is the 3 Species that we can hunt which are Mearns,Gambels and Scaled Quail.
Gambels Quail
Due to really shitty scenting conditions,It’s been day to day,I’m encouraged on the “good “days when we find them however some days its a lot of walking or armed hiking chasing Birds that easily disappear.My observation is we a getting or harvesting young of the year Birds which is always a good sign.Its been hot and dry therefore when we get some rain this week conditions will drastically improve.
Young of the Year Scaled Quail
Mearns Quail Diggings
Kate is backed by Belle and Crush as BooBoo gets ready to go in to flush
The 2018/19Season was all about Mearns Quail,with a few Gambels and Scalies thrown in.We had to work for the Birds but as the saying goes “thats what wild bird hunting is all about”.Our Clients like that and so do we.
Mearns Quail
S.E. Arizona has had above average moisture over the Winter Months.Thats good news for Arizona Gambels and Scaled Quail !Hunters looking to book trips should do it now.Some weeks are almost sold out.We are confident we will have fair -good Desert Bird hunting this season.It’s still to early tell forecast Mearns Quail as Monsoon Rains where spotty, some areas look ok others not so much.We will be out doing our homework before the season starts.
Idaho Bill pointing Mearns Quail
2019/20 Arizona Quail Season Dates
Gambels and Scaled Quail- 10/18/2019 – 2/10/2020
Mearns’ Quail -12/7/2019 – 2/10/2020
For more information our our Arizona Guided Quail Hunts including The El Coronado Ranch Hunts Click Here.
As far as the trout hierarchy goes nothing beats Brown Trout.Cutties are cute,Rainbows fill a void and I would rather take a disobedient Labrador Puppy for a walk than catch a Bull Trout.Opinionated ? You bet.Targeting Big Brown Trout is a lot of fun, wether its a big floatable river or a tiny creek they are a blast.Enjoy the pics from this ongoing seasonI’m sure there will be more.
Good Friend Lindsey Channel hooked up on a streamer eating Missouri River Brown Trout
D.B.O. Guide Gavin Stookes with a Bow River Brown Trout
So far this has been another Season of The Mearns Quail.We are getting into decent numbers of birds which keeps things interesting.Even more interesting is the amazing Landscape which we find them in.We still have openings for January into February.Call Us @800-453-3991 Text us @520-604-2729 or email us dave@davebrownoutfitters.com
Fall is in the air ! Cooler Temps will get things moving even more.Depending on the river we are witnessing hatches of Nocturnal Stones,October Caddis,B.W.O.’s ,Hoppers and Other Terrestrials.During non hatch periods Streamer fishing has been good.Flows are low and Fall fishing is full on give us a call @800-453-3991 or email us !
