Southern AZ Quail Hunt
 

Our group of David DeFernelmont, John Brownell, Keavin Nelson and yours truly had a memorable 4 day desert quail hunt in Southern AZ. High winds and humidity below 20% made us work extra hard. My goal was a Quail Slam, cock of each species, Gambel’s, Mearn’s and scaled. I was blessed to accomplish that feat. Also added hen Gambel’s and scaled to the mix. Birds are at the taxidermist and the “meat birds” were supper last night. Seasoned, wrapped in bacon and grilled. Nix besser!! We’ll go back and hope to have some moisture for better scenting conditions. Dog work was great. Legwork was definitely a workout.

Some pics of the terrain

Congrats Mike!! That's a bucket list for me. Did you drive your dogs out? And the only other question I have is about cactus and snakes. I fly fished in the Bahamas with a guy who lives in Arizona and he said that was the toughest things for easterners to get used to was the critters and vegetation. Travel safe.

Congratulations �� ! Those two in the middle are a little shady looking :whistle::rotf:

You dog you.:bowdown: I wouldn't be surprised if the Border Patrol detained you guys. Brush up on your Spanish. What we really want to know is the choice of sporting guns in play there.

One pup handled all that terrain? Another poster asked "How did you get him there?"

Sounds like a great trip. Did you boot your dogs?

Si ! :rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf:

That is something I want to do!

Left to right. LC LC Parker Parker

Is that cause you recognized the shooter or the gun? Now tell me the grades.:)

Koneski did some cross dressing with his firearms to.Not all hinge pins

I’m pretty sure the little Polish lad carried an AH Fox 16 and an AH Fox 20 :whistle::rotf::rotf::rotf: :eek:

He has been know to do that. If he is carrying a couple of Fox guns there is a good reason for that. They are just slimmer, trimmer especially in the 16 and 20. Ask me how I know.:rolleyes:

Mike, years ago i took a freshly taken grouse to an old timer taxidermist in Waymart and he asked me. Do you eat these things and I replied absolutely. He said, come back a little later and pick up the meat. I got the mount and the good eating!

We used our outfitter’s dogs. Our dogs don’t to cactus, rocky desert terrain or snakes. There was cactus everywhere as well as acacia and cats-claw. I didn’t realize how “pokey” yucca was until I brushed against it.

As for guns, David used an LC Smith 20 and a DeHann 28. John Brownell used an LC Smith 20 and a Browning 20 O/U. Keavin Nelson used a Parker 20 and a Fox Sterly 20. I used a Parker VH 20 and a Lefever DS 20. Took 5 birds with the Parker and 5 with the Lefever.

The guide that took Dave and I out had 6 Brits. Two were French Brits, larger and tri-colored. If they had tails they could have passed for Setters. The guide that took Keavin and John out had GSPs. At least two.

Friday we visited Tombstone and Suagaro NF. Both worthwhile.

Sorry Craig, this guy has zero Fox guns. Got rid of them years ago.

Parkers and Lefevers for me. :cool:

LC, DeHann, Parker VH, Parker VH

Thanks, On our trip to SW Kansas this year the sand burrs did in both of my dog's paws after a day and 1/2. Temps were cool enough (25-50) that the snakes were underground. Did you encounter any snakes? I am not a fan of poisonous snakes, especially with my dogs on the ground.

Temps were cool where we were too. Topped out one day in mid-60s. Night was high 20s to mid 30s. John and Keavin did find one snake. Must have been out too long as it was dead. Freshly dead. We were on the lookout for javalina though. Guides hate them too as they can tear up a dog.

Wow that's very cool - did you have any issues with cactus and dogs paws?

The guides dogs are desert hardened. They hunt all season and are accustomed to the various cactus.

Mike it was a bad season for Mearns quail. The toughest season most of us have ever experienced. Unfortunately next year is headed in the same direction.
Our desert bird population was very good.
Unfortunately due almost zero rain for the last 3 months it will hurt reproduction in 2025.
Congratulations on your quail slam. Even in a very good year most go home without getting it done.
I wish our paths would have crossed this trip as I would have bought you a Scale Quail ale.

I started hunting quail in 1975 In Southern Arizona while in grad school in Tucson. Mearns Quail hunting is the ultimate challenge for the upland bird hunter and as your feet will really be level ground and must likely on rocks on the side of a remote steep canyon. Our joke used to be we rarely saw a "old" Means Quail Hunter. You are "going" to fall it's just a matter of time and how far. Three years ago on my 70th birthday I took one of those long distance trips down the side of a steep canyon. (Yes dings in the barrels, stock needed to be repaired and 23 stitches, thank goodness for the NP in the Patagonia Clinic.).
I would suggest if you are planning trip go soon. Their are multiple outfitters and about dozen guides working out of Patagonia alone (of course they are not licensed by the State of Arizona but hunting consultants to get around the law). Southeastern Arizona has been in a drought for ~ 10 years and the Mearns Quail population is DOWN!!!!!!
If Arizona Fish and Game had any employees of normal IQ, which they don't they would shorten the season and lower limit. Additional many of us reported the "Hunting Consultants" to the state for years and we get the same answer, no enough manpower to enforce the law.
One of may long time friends will be guiding in Southeastern Arizona this season for 120 days and he's one of many. The population is just getting hammered.

Southern Arizona Quail Hunting is "magical" as the scenery is spectacular for three different quail species and additional if you are lucky you might see Gould Turkey (Arizona & Mexico only) & Coues Deer (AZ, NM and Mexico only).

PS: If you are really hunting Mearns Quail you will shoot more Oak Leaves than Birds in a Day)

PS: If you are really adventurous Mearns Quail Hunting in Mexico is excellent.

Thanks Scott. I’d like to go back next January. We’ll see what the weather does. Our outfitter also does Argentina quail hunts. I really have no desire to leave the country so Mexico and Argentina are out for me. We saw javalina and coyote but no turkeys. I did pick up a good Coues shed on Tuesday. It was a special hunt.

BTW, I shot a lot of trees all week! BWAHAHAHA!

Our outfitter and guides did say there has been no precipitation since September. There was supposed to be rain two weeks ago but it went north. Guide also said as cold as it’s been overnight they would normally have frost which would also help. However, with under 20% humidity there’s no moisture in the air to make frost. It is what it is.

As for the brew, I’d be happy with a Moxie or Kutztown Birch Beer.

It’s as dry as I have ever seen it. Az Game and Fish says hunting don't effect quail populations, they have the same mentality as the old Bison hunters. You can't possibly kill them all.
Mike Tucson Beer House has over a 100 different beers, I bet we could find one you would like.
Season ends February 9th for all quail species. Now my heart issues are behind me I will try to get out 3 or 4 more times, but will target Scale, and Gamble quail.

Great! Having hunted in that area for Gambel's I am sure y'all had a big time!

Do you use tight chokes for trees, too???:)

Of course. One can’t shoot through those trees and kill a bird with open chokes. Just sayin’.:corn:

I forgot to add we saw a boatload of jackrabbits! Some were bigger than our guide’s Britts.

Mike also forgot to post his pic with the cowgirl. :rolleyes:

It’s a curse. I was told I have that “je ne sais quoi“.

I never studied French. Is that like the episode on Seinfeld when Kramer had the Latvian "Kavorka"? Maybe Mike will want to wear a garlic necklace when he's out and about? :rotf:

Ahem..... That translates to "I don't know what."...:corn:

I'll bet she didn't see him with his hat off...



.

Je ne sais who???

If I remember my French correctly it's an appealing quality that can't be explained. I won't argue with that. Be careful, she is as deadly as a desert rattler.:nono::nono:

"I don't know who?"

merci

A quality that cannot be described or named easily