ARIZONA QUAIL HUNTING 101 | by AZ Quail Biologist, Kirby Bristow
I love quail hunting in Arizona and, given my background, it’s not hard to see why. I grew up in the Tucson area in the 1970’s and from the first time I hunted quail over a pointing dog I was hooked. In 1979, when I was fourteen, I trained my first bird-dog, a German shorthaired pointer named “Dudley”. The winter of 1978-79 had brought record breaking precipitation and flooding to Arizona and the subsequent flourishing desert forbs resulted in a bumper crop of Gambel’s quail across the state. The statewide Gambel’s quail harvest record was set that season
Quail hunters in Arizona have the privilege of pursuing three species of quail-four, if the few California quail found along the Little Colorado River drainage in Apache County are included. These are the Gambel’s quail, scaled quail, and Mearns’ or Montezuma quail. Arizona’s quail season lasts from mid-October (mid-December for Mearns’) to early February and the great weather makes for plenty of quail hunting opportunity. Specific season dates as well as bag limits and other information can be found on the web site www.azgfd.com or in the latest fall hunting regulations available at Arizona Game and Fish Department offices and all license dealers.
Where to go
Arizona has thousands of acres of public land available to the quail hunter, and some areas are remote enough that they receive low hunting pressure. This makes for good opportunity but not all areas of public land will be good quail habitat. As always, quail hunters should be aware of land ownership in the areas they intend to hunt and be respectful of other users of public lands.
- Gambel’s Quail– Gambel’s quail can exist in a wide variety of habitats from pinyon-juniper covered hills and mountains down to creosote-bursage flats and desert pavement. Their range covers a majority of the state excluding only the highest elevations (>6,000 ft) and the drier areas of northeast Arizona. Sonoran desert scrub habitats are often the most productive although in good rainfall years hunting can be excellent in pinyon-juniper, scrub oak chaparral, and semi desert grasslands. Birds will often concentrate along desert washes in dense scrubby vegetation and near water sources. Some dense vegetation habitats are more difficult to hunt despite good quail numbers because Gambel’s will run, refusing fly except behind screening cover. Gambel’s numbers are affected by winter precipitation (October-March) so information on localized winter rainfall from the previous year will help to narrow the hunters search. The Department website will have area specific predictions about Gambels quail numbers each year, largely based on the previous winter precipitation patterns.
- Scaled Quail—Scaled quail are a grassland species of the Chihuahuan desert that are restricted to the eastern part of the state. Throughout their range in Arizona, scaled quail habitat overlaps that of the Gambel’s quail and mixed coveys are not uncommon. Generally scaled quail will be less concentrated along washes, preferring more open upland areas, although they will seek out the dense scrubby vegetation within these areas. Yuccas and mesquite scrub are good habitat indicators, although areas with dense trees should be avoided. The heart of Arizona scaled quail country lies in the southeast corner of the state in the semi-desert grasslands near the towns of Wilcox, Safford, Douglas and Sierra Vista. In these areas the scaled quail/Gambel’s quail ratio will be about 10:1 as apposed to 1:10 on the edge of their distribution. Scaled quail are able to take advantage of both summer and winter precipitation, and their numbers are therefore often harder to predict. For this reason, predictions may be less accurate unless based on field observations and hunter reports after the season opener in October.
- Mearns’ Quail—Inhabiting the mountain ranges of southeast Arizona, the Mearns’ quail are probably the most specialized of the huntable quail species in the state. While the Santa Rita, Huachuca, and Atascosa mountains are probably the most popular Mearns’ hunting areas, any oak woodland and savannah habitats on the Coronado National Forest in southeast Arizona can hold birds. Look for oak woodland areas with good grass cover and concentrate efforts on the forested hillsides and drainage bottoms. Like Gambel’s quail Mearns’ numbers can be high in thickly vegetated areas that are difficult to hunt. Some Mearns’ quail habitat is so remote, thick, and steep that it gets little to no hunting pressure. Mearns’ quail numbers are determined by Summer rainfall, which tends to be more sporadic and localized each year. For this reason Mearns’ quail numbers can be good in one mountain range and poor in another. Except in the best summer rainfall years, predictions about Mearns’ quail numbers are less reliable without site specific field observations and hunter reports after the beginning of the season in mid November.
Equipment
There are only a few equipment items that a quail hunter really needs, these are; a shotgun, good boots, and a vest. Enjoyment and success can be greatly improved with a good dog but they are not necessary, similarly a call can be useful but not crucial. Consequently, the new quail hunter can probably get by with a smaller initial investment than almost any other outdoor sport.
Shotguns for quail hunting should be light weight. Many quail hunters go afield with the same long barreled 12 gauge that “grandpa used for geese” but that is a mistake. A lighter shotgun will be easier to carry all day long and, more importantly, will quickly come up to the shoulder when a bird flushes from underfoot. There are some light weight 12 gauge shotguns that are perfectly suitable for quail hunting but generally the smaller gauge guns are lighter. Among flushing game birds quail have the fastest acceleration and seem to have an uncanny ability to put obstacles between themselves and the shooter. For this reason a light weight shotgun that is easy to bring up to the shoulder and points quickly is ideal. Similarly a shotgun must fit properly to ensure that the shooter can consistently and quickly mount the gun. Shop around and ask for help when purchasing a shotgun to ensure the fit is right, there are many factors affecting shotgun fit and a knowledgeable salesperson should be able to help guide your decision.
Any type of action will work for a quail hunting shotgun although few people hunt with single shots. Many single shots require an external hammer to be cocked just prior to firing and this can be difficult in the heat of the moment when a bird flushes. Double barreled guns (side by sides, and over and unders) are popular quail hunting guns especially among the purists, but these can be expensive. Semiautos are probably more popular and it is hard to beat a good pump gun in terms of price and performance. Reliability, weight, and fit are probably more important than action type for a quail hunting shotgun.
Chokes for quail hunting should be open, another reason to leave Grandpa’s goose gun at home. Many hunters use guns that are too tightly choked, modified, improved cylinder, or even skeet chokes will work best. Lighter loads (1oz and lower) are sufficient and will kick less than heavy loads, although many hunters use heavier loads to reduce crippling loss. Shot size is probably more critical to ensure clean kills and #71/2s, or #8s are commonly used. For late season birds I will even use #6s; #9s will result in more crippled birds and are really best suited for clay targets only.
The second most important piece of quail hunting equipment is a pair of good fitting light weight boots. Generally your success at finding quail will be proportional the numbers of miles walked, which can be brutal in poor fitting heavy boots. I prefer to try on boots before I purchase them; I’ve been disappointed with mail order boots that didn’t fit properly. Boots that are uncomfortable in the store will be tortuous in the field. Be aware of any “hotspots” where your feet rub inside the boots and be especially attentive to the heel. If your foot slips inside the boot you will develop blisters. Some brands will fit you better than others so shop around to find the perfect fit. I prefer medium to high top (8-12 inches) boots for ankle support and to keep the grass seeds out of my socks. All leather boots will fend off cactus spines common in Arizona, and while waterproof boots are nice, they’re not necessary. Heavy insulated boots should be avoided for Arizona quail hunting.
Unless you intend to carry your birds and shotgun shells in grocery bags (don’t laugh, some hunters do) a good shooting vest is a necessity. I prefer strap vests where the game bag and shell pockets are suspended from your shoulders with crisscrossing straps. Having less fabric, these vests are ideal on the warmer days of the early season and you can always wear a light jacket underneath when the temperatures drop. I like roomy pockets up front so I can carry at least a box of shells. Shell loops are handy but they seem to wear out quickly and shells fall loose in your pockets anyway. Flaps over the pockets will help to keep out some of the small branches, and leaves that always seem to accumulate as you wade through the brush. Many light weight vests are made of mesh material that is nice and cool but can often be shredded after one season in Arizona quail country. I prefer sturdier material and hunter orange is best for enhanced safety. The game pocket should have a lining impervious to blood and those that zip or snap completely open allow for easier cleaning.
As with all hunting equipment, recent innovations have resulted in some pretty fancy high-tech vests with internal hydration systems and various configurations of pockets and game bags. These features can be more convenient but are not really needed and may be unnecessary added cost and weight. Other convenient but not necessary pieces of equipment include snake chaps and brush pants. These specialty clothing items can be helpful, and if you’re stuck in a thick patch of catclaw acacia may seem absolutely essential, but many Arizona quail hunters do just fine with jeans and a t-shirt.
Quail calls designed to elicit a response from Gambel’s and scaled quail can help the hunter locate coveys. There are a couple styles available, and all Arizona quail hunters should familiarize themselves with the Gambel’s quail call. You can search the internet for bird calls and hear recordings of all of Arizona’s quail species, or call the Game and Fish office and ask to be put on hold and you’ll here a Gambel’s quail eventually. I remember once hunting with some friends in college; we had split up agreeing to meet back at the truck at noon. I’d had some success by lunch time but my companions hadn’t flushed a bird. I suggested that we might try the area I’d hunted in the morning and as we headed out I paused and blew on my call to try and locate a covey. My partner, who hadn’t seen a bird all morning, said “Is that what they sound like? I’ve been hearing that all morning.” This guy must have felt like Homer Simpson, “D’oh”.
Other equipment that quail hunters should have include the standard canteens, hats, and sunscreen necessary for any outdoor activities in Arizona. Extra water is especially important and a must for those hunting with dogs. I usually carry a liter of water and hunt for half a day before returning to the truck for a refill. Vests or backpacks with internal bladder bags are especially handy for rehydrating your dog, I know many guys whose dogs have learned to drink straight from the spout eliminating the need to carry a bowl. Of course you run the risk of getting dog cooties if you share the same spout. There is a myriad of equipment that the dog handler may or may not want to include in their quail hunting kit but that would be an article unto itself.
Quail Hunting Techniques and Tips
The hunter should be familiar with the habits of his quarry, much of which we’ve covered, and especially the calls. Gambel’s and scaled quail have distinctive calls that can be heard from great distances, being familiar with these calls and being able to imitate them can be invaluable in locating coveys. Hunters should concentrate efforts in the commonly used habitats (mentioned above) and if hunting with dogs trust the dog, their ability to locate birds is often better than yours.
Once a covey has been found the next problem is getting in position for a shot. With Gambel’s and scaled quail this can be quite difficult as the birds have a tendency to run and flush at long distances out of range. Once the covey is broken up into singles Gambel’s and scaled quail will often hold very tight flushing in a startling whir of wings as you approach the cover they’re hiding in. For these reasons it is often more important to carefully watch where the flushing covey flies to, rather than wasting ammo and distracting your attention on questionable long range shots. This is difficult to do though, as the desire to bag birds after a long search often overrides logic in the heat of the moment.
When following up on a covey, the hunter should look for likely cover where birds may settle, even if you don’t witness birds landing. Often coveys will settle just over the top of a ridge when flying uphill. Tight holding singles will let the hunter walk by if every piece of cover isn’t investigated. Large coveys seem to evaporate as individual birds can hide effectively from the hunters. Be persistent, when birds are holding tight hunters often have to kick cactus and other cover to flush birds, and these are some of the most exciting moments in quail hunting.
For Mearns’ quail the covey rise is often the only shooting opportunity. Mearns’ coveys are usually small (5-15 birds), and the wooded steep areas where they are found often makes following up on single birds difficult. Also, you are almost entirely dependent upon your dog to find Mearns’ quail, and since one bird gives off less scent than ten, even the best Mearns’ quail dogs have difficulty finding singles. It is often best to search for a new covey rather than waste time searching for singles.
When a shot opportunity presents itself the hunter must capitalize on it, which requires being prepared. When a bird flushes the hunter must mount his gun, acquire the target, swing and shoot, often with only a few seconds available. Because of the quail’s speed, the hunter who is prepared for the flush is at a great advantage. This is one of the biggest assets of hunting with a dog; even if the bird is not pointed the alert hunter can often read his dogs behavior and know when a bird is likely to flush. Hunters without dogs should also try and predict when a bird is likely to flush and be prepared to make the shot. Carrying the gun at port arms with the muzzle pointed at the ground or in the air will enable the hunter to mount the gun quickly and take advantage of shot opportunities.
When a bird is hit the hunter should mark it down and continue to retrieve it as soon as is safely possible. Birds can move after they land and often times your bird will be found 5-10 yards past where you’d marked it down. Be persistent and look for feathers to help locate the kill. Sometimes marking the spot where you were standing at the shot will help you line up with landmarks and locate a downed bird. Wounded birds will often run after landing and shooting a wounded bird off the ground, when done safely, is not considered bad form. Avoid being distracted by other shooting opportunities until the downed bird is located, you’ll bring home more birds and less frustration.
Perhaps, the best thing about quail (and most upland bird) hunting is that the hunt is pure pursuit. There is no sneaking, stalking, or crouching in camouflaged concealment. No need for expensive optics, blinds, decoys, boats, bait, trail cameras, ATVs, rangefinders, tree stands or any of the seemingly endless list of gadgets and gizmos that have become such a big part of hunting other game animals. The quail hunter doesn’t have to perfectly imitate his quarry with calls promising companionship in order to entice it within range, or try and predict its every mood and movement in hopes of ambushing it along a trail. The quail hunter stands tall when going afield unashamed and confident that if he’s willing to walk and hunt hard opportunities will present themselves.
Another thing about quail hunting I like is that there is less luck involved in success. I’ve been blessed with what I consider big-game hunting misfortunes which, while frustrating, have saved me a lot of money at the taxidermist. We’ve all heard stories about the fortunate neophyte (lucky idiot) who stumbles into bagging the biggest buck in the county, but no one stumbles into bagging a limit of quail. Generally the hunter who walks the most, has a good dog, and shoots well is the most successful. And finally, at the end of a day of quail hunting there is no one with a tape measure there to pass judgment on your success. Quail hunting trophies are measured in experiences, miles walked, dog performance, and birds bagged, not inches.