Arizona Quail Hunting

[GutshotApe]

Arizona has 4 species of quail...Gambel's, Scaled, Masked Bob-white (not hunted), and Mearn's or Montezuma quail. Since the mid-'80s I've made about fifteen 7- to 9-day trips to hunt Arizona quail...from early December thru early February. When the weather is favorable (about 3/4 of my trips), southern AZ in winter is much like early fall in eastern Oregon...freezing at night but dry with sunny blue sky and afternoon temps up to 70 in the mountains where my favorite species, the Montezuma quail, is found. Its a bird of the Mexican Highlands area of Sonora and extreme southern Arizona. These birds are found in coveys of 6 to 10 birds and are very closely tied to oak forest habitat, most of which is located on north-facing slopes in the Coronado National Forest between 4500' to 5500' elevation.




This is one of the main USFS roads into one of twelve large blocks of land comprising the Coronado NF...this area is north of Patagonia, AZ, and that is the Mecca of Montezuma quail hunters...but IMO, good but not the best area.




This is somewhat typical habitat...the birds are almost always found beneath oak trees on steep north-facing slopes...but sometimes come out into the creek bottom/wash (and Gambel's quail are in the grassy flats). The Montezuma quail dig with their feet for bulbs, seeds, etc. A dog is a necessity as the birds hold very tightly in grass clumps and won't flush unless almost stepped on. When they flush there will almost always be a straggler or two who leave late...late enough to reload your double gun and get off a third or fourth shot. The covey flushes strongly and they have the knack of putting a tree or bush between them and you in no time at all...but they don't fly far...100-150 yds...so they can be worked over again.



Here are two Montezuma (Mearn's) quail. These birds are 2nd largest in size (after mountain quail) of all US quail species. Their wings are noticably larger/longer than other quail...enabling their rapid get-away...you won't believe how fast they can take off...snap shots, open-bored guns are the rule. Montezuma quail don't have a topknot...they do have a sort of golden pompadour hairdo on top instead. They, like all quail, are excellent table fare. The blue arrow on the map shows where I shot these birds and the photo...about 3 miles north of the Mexican border.

Now that I'm back in the bird dog business with a young pup, there's a very good chance I'll be making another Arizona quail trip this winter. Three-day non-res bird licenses cost $38...its about 1300 miles from my house to my campspot in the Coronado NF...well worth the drive!

Anybody interested in more info, shoot me an email...I've hunted almost all 12 units of the Coronado...some parts are much better quail prospects than others.

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Note: I finally learned how to post pics...and tonight I've apparently learned to scan photos and make a multiple scanned-pic post. I'll probably repost this info & pics later this year...when quail season is winding down here...but still going strong in sunny Arizona.

[ 07-23-2003, 10:28 PM: Message edited by: GutshotApe ]

[Gun Rod Bow]

I grew up hunting quail over Visslas (sp?) the old kind, square built heavy muscled dogs that were 2 generations out of Hungary.

When I was a kid, our family vacations involved chasing Gambels Quail around the Arizona desert near Blythe.

Our family ranch was near Hemet CA. After chores I'd stuff my front pockets full of .410 shells and "Red" and I would wander the sage brush and shoot a dozen or so quail with a High Standard .410 pump with skeet choke. Qick shots at 10-20 yards were the rule. Those were Valley Quail, big coveys, 100 or more. I remember sitting on hillsides in the morning and watching little lines of quail marching through the brush covering a half acre like little ants.

I have never seen Mearns quail. That looks like awesome country and a great way to spend the late fall.

I just found out I'll be in AZ chasing elk in September with my bow.

Thanks for the pics and the story GSA. Brought back memories.

[Beaver93]

Thanks for the story and pictures. I've always wanted to do a Quail/Dove hunt in Arizona. Maybe some day...

[corrirod]

There's good quail hunting all over that state. I spent 13 years there in Chandler and did most of my hunting within 50 miles. Almost exclusively for Gambles quail though, and doves. It's a lot of fun and there are birds to be found almost anywhere in the desert. During the breaking hours of the morning you'll hear them calling, letting you know exactly where to find the covey.

Lots of fun. I may head down there over the Christmas holiday and will have to check into doing some hunting.

[Bounty Hunter]

I grew up in Silver City (southwestern) New Mexico and this was one of my favorite seasons. We focussed on Gambels and Scalies. My dad still has the house so I need to get back down there and take advantage. He still hunts them a lot, but he only shoots 1 or 2 birds out of each covey because I am not down there to help him eat them. :smile:

Good times...

[GutshotApe]

Oh yeah...someone asked if there was any problem due to illegal immigration in the area.

When I first started hunting in so. Arizona you would see border patrol rigs on the I-19 & I-8 freeways but few out in the woods. But that was when most illegals were crossing in so. Calif. Now there is a lot more illegal immigration activity in Arizona and in the Coronado NF which runs right up to the border. If you hunt southern Arizona you will see border patrol aircraft and vehicles frequently...you will be visited by BP agents in your camp daily...there is a radar/optical surveillance balloon on a 10,000' tether at Ft. Huachuca that overlooks most of the area. Big brother is watching!

A few years back there was a shootout in one of my favorite areas for Montezuma quail...about 3 weeks after I'd been there. A squad of US Marine reservists staked out a cross-border trail
with some Border Patrol agents and a 12-burro pack train came across...shots were exchanged and the people and all but one burro got away, back into Mexico. The captured burro had several hundred lbs of marijuana on its back.

I was told by a BP agent that there is little risk to hunters if some common sense is used...i.e. stay in camp and don't drive around at night...if you meet another rig on a backcountry road day or night pull aside to let it pass...don't block their path...camp in sites off the main road where your camp is visible but easily avoidable...smugglers & illegal immigrants will go around rather than thru. Lock up valuables (hidden in trunk) when not in camp...etc.

Hey...I wonder if the hunting is so good in that area because local hunters are afraid to go there? :whazzup:

[ 07-24-2003, 12:34 PM: Message edited by: GutshotApe ]