Arizona quail 2024-2025

[BBob]

I’ve been seeing good numbers of Gambel’s broods and brood size the last couple of weeks down here in S AZ. Lots of broods from days to a couple of weeks old. Half a dozen or so broods yesterday. I need to get out east and see what the Scalie’s are doing. Hoping for good rains to keep them going.

Anyone else been out? What are you seeing?

 

[desertdwellerdyl]

Anyone in the southeastern AZ area going out this year? I just moved to the Tucson area and am planning on taking my shotgun for a walk a few times this season, pretty novice when it comes to quail but hunted them a few times in southern NM with success.

 

[BigE]

We go every year. It's a fun hunt and we always get into the Gambels. We did see quite a few early this year out in the deserts, should be a good year for them with all the rain.

 

[BBob]

Anyone in the southeastern AZ area going out this year? I just moved to the Tucson area and am planning on taking my shotgun for a walk a few times this season, pretty novice when it comes to quail but hunted them a few times in southern NM with success.

Not from there (SE AZ) but likely head that direction at some point. I'll note that towards that way in the higher grassy desert areas you can get into the Scalie's.

 

[Weldor]

Started drying up early north of Tucson. Birds look good. South of town got the lions share of rain. I have 4 harris hawks playing H__l on the covey's by me. I wish I could shoot as well as they hunt .

 

[BBob]

I’ve seen a few newish broods in the last few weeks around Tucson. Good long breeding season this year.

 

[BBob]

Another half grown brood this morning.

 

[Semiwrecker]

The number of quail I’ve seen up here around Phoenix has been great. While out Dove scouting I was very impressed what I was seeing Especially in the evenings when I was out. You got a dog?

 

[neverquit]

Def a lot of birds north of the valley

 

[tpicou]

I'll be in AZ in a couple weeks for a month or so due to a family member getting treatment at that mayo location. We'll be moving down there with the dog and figured it would be a good break to hit some quail on the weekends. That being said...these temperatures are insane! Any best practices on running dogs in crazy heat? Should we just do 30-60 mins at like 7:30-8 am?

 

[Semiwrecker]

Def a lot of birds north of the valley

Just be careful up there especially early season. LOTS of rattlers up there.

 

[Semiwrecker]

I'll be in AZ in a couple weeks for a month or so due to a family member getting treatment at that mayo location. We'll be moving down there with the dog and figured it would be a good break to hit some quail on the weekends. That being said...these temperatures are insane! Any best practices on running dogs in crazy heat? Should we just do 30-60 mins at like 7:30-8 am?

Morning hunts. I’ll hunt until it reaches 68-70 degrees then it’s time to pack up. Also Rattlesnake Ready here in Phoenix offers Rattlesnake aversion training if you haven’t done it yet, do it. Book early their scheduling can be tight this time of year. Early season think “desert meets agriculture” and you should be successful. During season if you are having trouble let me know.

 

[tpicou]

Morning hunts. I’ll hunt until it reaches 68-70 degrees then it’s time to pack up. Also Rattlesnake Ready here in Phoenix offers Rattlesnake aversion training if you haven’t done it yet, do it. Book early their scheduling can be tight this time of year. Early season think “desert meets agriculture” and you should be successful. During season if you are having trouble let me know.

Awesome, thank you! He has had his rattlesnake vaccine and has done snake aversion but they didn't have a rattler... so I'll definitely sign up for that in phoenix as soon as I know the dates we're heading down.

 

[Cannonball]

Morning hunts. I’ll hunt until it reaches 68-70 degrees then it’s time to pack up. Also Rattlesnake Ready here in Phoenix offers Rattlesnake aversion training if you haven’t done it yet, do it. Book early their scheduling can be tight this time of year. Early season think “desert meets agriculture” and you should be successful. During season if you are having trouble let me know.

looks like we would get about 10mins of hunt time on opening day here in Cave creek. This heat has been brutal

 

[Semiwrecker]

looks like we would get about 10mins of hunt time on opening day here in Cave creek. This heat has been brutal

No kidding. There are some low elevation pockets outside the valley where it actually stays pretty cool. Also with that being said I’ll be in Northern Nevada for this opener lol.

 

[BBob]

If you’re hunting Gambel’s or Scalies you can hunt them effectively all day without dogs. I actually prefer that a lot of the time. Run and gun!!! Save the dogs for Mearns

 

[NEhunter]

Possibly making my way down there in January. Are rattlesnakes much of a concern that time of year?

 

[tpicou]

If you’re hunting Gambel’s or Scalies you can hunt them effectively all day without dogs. I actually prefer that a lot of the time. Run and gun!!! Save the dogs for Mearns

That sounds fun. I'll give that a shot as well