Last Year Mark Peterson and his Father set out to hunt all the Upland Species in North America.We helped Mark out on The Desert Bird Front and he was able to shoot an Arizona Quail Slam.Mark owns World Trophy Adventures and you can book your Arizona Quail Hunt with them.
Covering a Chili Point
The Arizona Quail Season has now ended and by all accounts it was decent.We saw a little bump in Desert Bird #’s and depending where you hunted Mearns seemed to be OK overall.The good news is that at time of writing its raining, and we had a lot of it this winter.Winter Rain in Arizona usually transpire to more Desert Quail, we are long overdue for a good bump in Gambels and Scaled Quail numbers and a lot of fingers are crossed that happens.Stay tuned Amigos and keep doing the Rain Dance!Check Out our El Coronado Lodge and Arizona Quail Hunting Pages.
Mearns Quail
Sunny on Point
Kate and Chili
Millie on Point
SxS and a Male Mearns
Crush on Point
Gambels and Mearns Quail
Male Mearns Quail and a Hammer Gun
covering a Point
Arizona Quail Slam
Lift Off
Kate backs Chica
For a Bird Dog person nothing beats seeing a dog on point especially if its yours.There is something mesmerizing about it,For few seconds seems everything freezes for a few seconds before the Covey flush,You seem to be in slow motion as you move past the dogs.It’s a beautiful thing.The back drops are not to shabby also, especially down here in the Arizona Desert.The Dogs obviously love its do the Hunters and regardless of the Breed there is something cool about watching a dog do what it has been bred to do.
Millie and Betty pointing Scaled Quail
The Honey Badger backs Crush
Kate backs by Chili
Dogs Stacked up on a covey of Gambels
Kate and Chili
Crush pointing Mearns
Sunny pointing Mearns
Millie and Patch
Crush pointing Mearns Quail
Chili points a single Gambels Quail
Mearns Quail
I can’t think of a more picturesque place to hunt Quail than right here in Arizona.Luck Us !yThe landscapes are breathtaking and the Gambels,Mearns and Scaled Quail are pretty darn photogenic in their own right also.Right now there is snow up on the mountains and due to all the rain most of the little creeks are running.Longtime Arizona Quail Hunters say it reminds the of the winter conditions in the 80’s and 90’s well before the ‘big drought ” that has plagued the State for the last several years.With all the moisture we have been receiving comes a lot of optimism for ‘next season”.Will it be a banner year ? who knows but it certainly is shaping up to be a much added improvement for The Gambels and Scaled Quail.A lot of fingers are crossed.
Heading Back
Mearns Country
Desert Point
Arizona Quail Slam
Gambels Tracks
Storm Clouds
Arizona High Country
Mearns Quail Point
Side Plated Berreta O/U
Kate and a Mearns Quail
Mearns Quail Hunting
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.
Mearns Quail
Mearns Quail Hunting is tight and fast shooting requiring open choked guns
With the variety of Quail we have and the different habitats that they are found in I.M.H.O. requires different chokes to meet the challenge of Hunting Quail in Arizona.A tightly choked gun might be ok for Scaled and to some extent Gambels Quail but could be a disadvantage hunting Mearns Quail.
Mearns Quail Hunting
Mearns Quail hunting is usually in tight cover where the birds have a tendency to fly behind trees quickly which requires a more open choked gun.For Arizona Mearns Quail hunting I like a gun that is choked Cylinder and Skeet,and shoot 7.5 shot out of the first barrel and sometimes a #7 shot out of the second.The first shot is open and although the 2nd barrel is also open its still a little tighter than the first shot as generally the 2nd shot is a little longer therefore I want a tighter pattern -but not by much !
Mearns Quail
My designated Mearns Guns are ether 16 gauge or 20 gauge SxS’s and all weigh less than 6 lbs.
Crush Points a Covey of Scaled Quail
Of course I could and sometimes do use the same guns for Gambels and Scaled Quail Hunting which generally takes place in more open country but I prefer or I am more confident with a tighter choked gun plus its a good reason to justify purchasing more shotguns.
One of My go to Scaled Quail Guns a 12 gauge (or Bore) Sidelock
For Scaled and Gambels Quail the guns I have 2 12 Gauge SxS’s that are both choked Skeet and Light Modified.My “Travel Gun” is a little AYA 20 Gauge that I had choke tubes installed I use the same choke configuration in this gun.Although some may think that a 12 Gauge is overkill however both guns weigh under 6.5 lbs and pattern well when shooting 1 1/16 oz loads.Both Scaled Quail and Gambels Quail are extremely tough birds and I find shooting a 12 Gauge flat out drops and kills them, probably because of the larger shot pattern.So its a confidence thing based around my shitty shooting skills and I want don’t want to be burning up precious dog energy looking for cripples.
Arizona Scaled Quail
The Loads I use for Arizona Quail Hunting are 7.5 and 7 for Mearns.For Scaled and Gambels Quail I shoot a #7 followed by a #6.Out of a 16 Gauge gun the loads are 1 oz, for the 12 Gauge guns they are 1oz -1 1/16 oz and out of my 20 Gauge im shooting 7/8th oz loads.This choke and shot configuration seems to work great for me and the guns I’m shooting.Give it a go see how it works for you.
Gambels Quail and a 20 Gauge SxS
