Arizona Mearns outlook.

[Phil C]

Yesterday was tough. Went to a place a friend had hunted before with good success. Jumped a covey of 8 Gamble quail about 10 minutes from the truck. They scattered like the wind once they hit the ground. Never got a shot.
Hunted another hour and a half and never moved another bird.
Decided to drive up the road about 5 miles into some of the nastiest Cholla cactus covered ground in AZ.
While driving in we spotted a couple of birds feeding. They hung around while we got out and got our shotguns. As soon as we stepped into the cactus patch about 20 birds took off running. We chased them for 100 yards but could never get them to fly.
By then it was 90 degrees and they gave us the slip.
Called it a day and headed to LUKES for a Chicago dog and a large lemonade.
I will head out to a few of my areas I have hunted in the past with success, early next week.