Quail in AZ?

yomama · January 19, 2008, 11:58 PM

Where did they all go? We went today for hours, and didn't see one. Anyone having luck finding them?

tomh1426 · January 20, 2008, 12:02 AM

Only in places you cant legally shoot em.

Fat White Boy · January 20, 2008, 06:04 PM

Where were you hunting?

UniversalFrost · January 20, 2008, 11:40 PM

I was out hunting on ft. huachuca and saw about 10 birds in all and got one when I stepped on him.

I was hunting for rabbits, but did take a shot at a couple that were flying away with an off hand shot. I was using a bolt action 16ga with no6 shot so they were out of range and I missed. If I had been using my 12 ga citori or 1187 or 835 with 7 1/2 or 8 shot I would have bagged them.

Will go out next weekend in the same place and take along a "bird gun" instead of the rabbit gun.

The one I stepped on because he waited to flush too late (like a hen pheasant) and I actually stepped on him with my boot and never saw him (too busy looking for rabbits) and finished him of with the other foot.

still 1 rabbit and 1 quail was a good meal this evening.

UniversalFrost · January 20, 2008, 11:42 PM

also foregot to mention I have a covey of the merriam quail that like to inhabit my yard and I am tempted to buy a bb gun and pick off a few (i live in town in)

roy reali · January 21, 2008, 08:43 AM

This is my second season hunting here in Northern Nevada. Everyone here is complaining about not seeing as many birds as usual. I have noticed fewer birds then last year. The theory I am hearing the most says that our weather can be blamed.

This area had very little rain and/or snow last winter. Our game biologists say that caused a poor hatch, therefore the number of birds are down.

I guess that may be the reason. But, whatever the reason, the number of birds, and for that matter small game animals, is down from last year around here too.

yomama · January 21, 2008, 12:58 PM

I was thinking about the bb gun to! I also love the comment only where you aren't allowed. Went to the mountain preserves today, and there were tone of them.

I went down to Tucson around Picacho peek.

jonjon1885 · January 25, 2008, 03:26 PM

i was wondering this my self, but more along the lines of i want to go on a quail hunt but never have and have nto hunted in az since i moved here. where would good places be to do this

SamHouston · January 25, 2008, 08:42 PM

Don't see near as many Quail in TX that we used to see. Not sure if true but many blame it on the aggressive Fire Ants killing the chicks when born. Do you have Fire Ants in AZ?

44 Deerslayer · January 25, 2008, 10:34 PM

While I'm not a quail hunter, I do spend every winter in AZ and my wife and I do a lot of desert hiking. We were just talking yesterday about not seeing any quail this year. There weren't too many last year either but this year they seem to be gone.

The coyotes seem to be way down too, we've seen a few but they are getting scarce. Same for jack rabbits. I think it's probably the result of the long term drought that's been going on for a number of years now.

UniversalFrost · January 26, 2008, 02:56 PM

yes there were fire ants in the vicinity of where I was hunting (large areas that were bare near their holes, but the quail were in abundance the other day when I was out hunting and I am going out again sunday with either my citori or 1187 loaded properly for quail.

Will let you know how the hunt turns out.

BIGR · February 3, 2008, 12:31 PM

Years ago as a young hunter I could jump a covey of about 15 quail about everytime I went out into the fields. Now days I very seldom see any. Must be the predators or the enviroment thats working on them, because I know its not my shotgun.

Frankyoz · February 8, 2008, 01:12 AM

I think its a combination of things I posted the same thing about quail a few months back. I heard there was some decent hunting up in wickenburg. I think this year will be much better with all the moisture we have gotten will make for a nice spring with a big boost to the eco-system out here.

longboard · February 24, 2008, 12:18 PM

Isn't poaching:barf: against the law.
And it ain't right.

Longboard

UniversalFrost · February 24, 2008, 05:21 PM

who said anything about poaching.

back when the thread was new the quail were in season.

Also, it does not saying anything about not using a bbgun in AZ. Some of the BB guns no days are more powerful than 22 shorts and 22 longs.

UniversalFrost · February 24, 2008, 05:23 PM

also, in town there is no law against shooting a BBgun, but you can't shoot a "normal" gun in town.

Arizona is not California! We are not as bassackwards as the folks in your state.

joe

Tombstonejim · February 24, 2008, 05:51 PM

"yes there were fire ants in the vicinity of where I was hunting (large areas that were bare near their holes, but "

Huhhhhh Those are not fire ants. There are no fire ants in Cochise county. Those big red ants are carpenter/farmer ants absolutely nothing similar to fire ants. They do not attack living birds or animals. They live off of a fungus that they grow in there nest. If you ever step in a real fire ant nest you will learn the difference.

UniversalFrost · February 24, 2008, 11:56 PM

ok, not a native arizonan. where I grew up in SD and OK any large any mounds were fire ants.

learn something new.

williamd · February 25, 2008, 02:40 AM

SoCAL quail are decimated the last several years. Dry, dry, dry .. and birds require a lot of water.

Of course, in SoCal Barbara Boxershorts has led an effort to put millions (literally) of acres in conservancy - no vehicles, no guns, no camp fires, ...... so maybe no quail matters little! Even fenced off an area in which I have maintained a couple of quail guzzlers for years! :barf::barf:

Of course if you are an illegal crossing the area, go for it!

azsixshooter · February 25, 2008, 02:51 AM

The AZGFD seemed to be saying that this was supposed to have been a real firecracker season for quail down around the Tucson area since I guess they had a lot of rain down there last summer.

Personally, I haven't seen many quail up around the New River area so I didn't bother chasing them this year. I think FrankyOZ is right though, they will probably be out in better numbers next season with all this rain we've been getting up here. Especially if it continues and we get a really wet monsoon.

UniversalFrost · February 25, 2008, 06:37 PM

well, as long as I wear my same boots I will have no problem stepping on a few again.

Sure saves on the cost of ammo, when all it takes is a size 11 boot

Anyway, like I said before the doves and quail are in abundance in my back yard. now, just wish they were half as abundant in the fields I hunt.

JOE

DMacLeod · February 25, 2008, 07:08 PM

UniversalFrost, If you want to get them without firing a shot just use some sno-cone cups, a little contact cement and some dried corn. Put the contact cment on the lip of the sno cone and lay it on its side. Then place a piece of dried corn in the end of the sno cone. Then a couple of more pieces leading up to the sno cone. The quail will eat the dried corn and try to get the one piece in the end of the sno cone. When it does the sno cone will stick to its feathers. Thus all the bird can then do is stand up with a sco cone on its head. Once you have a few bobbing around just go over and pick them up.

MRL21 · February 26, 2008, 03:56 AM

I can't say I have seen a lot of quail myself this year. Back in Safford, I could find all the doves I wanted to shoot. Never have cared for the meat, so I don't shoot them. Jackrabbits were in abundance as well, took down quite a few with the H&K Tactical.

I haven't gotten out a whole lot in the Sedona area so I really can't say what the quail and dove population is like around here. I can tell you there are some really nice bucks running around the east side of town, too bad you can't hunt in the city limits even with a bow.

I can tell you that to my knowledge shooting quail with anything other than a shotgun is illegal. Sorry to say it but a BB gun doesn't count as a scattergun. At least that is what the game and fish officer for unit 27 told me when I was in hunter safety class and at his house, since I was good friends with his grandson. Of course he has since retired and that was about 10 years ago, so maybe it has changed.

January 19, 2008, 11:58 PM	#1
yomama Junior member Join Date: February 28, 2006 Posts: 509	Quail in AZ? Where did they all go? We went today for hours, and didn't see one. Anyone having luck finding them?

January 20, 2008, 11:40 PM	#4
UniversalFrost Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,300	I was out hunting on ft. huachuca and saw about 10 birds in all and got one when I stepped on him. I was hunting for rabbits, but did take a shot at a couple that were flying away with an off hand shot. I was using a bolt action 16ga with no6 shot so they were out of range and I missed. If I had been using my 12 ga citori or 1187 or 835 with 7 1/2 or 8 shot I would have bagged them. Will go out next weekend in the same place and take along a "bird gun" instead of the rabbit gun. The one I stepped on because he waited to flush too late (like a hen pheasant) and I actually stepped on him with my boot and never saw him (too busy looking for rabbits) and finished him of with the other foot. still 1 rabbit and 1 quail was a good meal this evening. __________________ Lifetime member VFW and NRA "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (when all else fails play dead) -Red Green

January 20, 2008, 11:42 PM	#5
UniversalFrost Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,300	also foregot to mention I have a covey of the merriam quail that like to inhabit my yard and I am tempted to buy a bb gun and pick off a few (i live in town in) __________________ Lifetime member VFW and NRA "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (when all else fails play dead) -Red Green

January 21, 2008, 08:43 AM	#6
roy reali Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2005 Posts: 3,248	Weather Related? This is my second season hunting here in Northern Nevada. Everyone here is complaining about not seeing as many birds as usual. I have noticed fewer birds then last year. The theory I am hearing the most says that our weather can be blamed. This area had very little rain and/or snow last winter. Our game biologists say that caused a poor hatch, therefore the number of birds are down. I guess that may be the reason. But, whatever the reason, the number of birds, and for that matter small game animals, is down from last year around here too.

January 25, 2008, 03:26 PM	#8
jonjon1885 Junior Member Join Date: July 10, 2007 Location: good ol' land of the free (for now) Tempe, AZ Posts: 13	i was wondering this my self, but more along the lines of i want to go on a quail hunt but never have and have nto hunted in az since i moved here. where would good places be to do this __________________ ACLU= Anti Christ Luciferian Union PETA= People Eating Tasty Animals Global Warming = Al Gore's invention JRW

January 20, 2008, 12:02 AM	#2
tomh1426 Senior Member Join Date: September 17, 2005 Location: Youngtown Arizona Posts: 1,135	Only in places you cant legally shoot em.

January 20, 2008, 06:04 PM	#3
Fat White Boy Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2005 Posts: 1,276	Where were you hunting?

January 21, 2008, 12:58 PM	#7
yomama Junior member Join Date: February 28, 2006 Posts: 509	I was thinking about the bb gun to! I also love the comment only where you aren't allowed. Went to the mountain preserves today, and there were tone of them. I went down to Tucson around Picacho peek.

January 25, 2008, 08:42 PM	#9
SamHouston Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2007 Location: DFW Posts: 247	Don't see near as many Quail in TX that we used to see. Not sure if true but many blame it on the aggressive Fire Ants killing the chicks when born. Do you have Fire Ants in AZ?

January 25, 2008, 10:34 PM	#10
44 Deerslayer Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2005 Location: MN Posts: 337	While I'm not a quail hunter, I do spend every winter in AZ and my wife and I do a lot of desert hiking. We were just talking yesterday about not seeing any quail this year. There weren't too many last year either but this year they seem to be gone. The coyotes seem to be way down too, we've seen a few but they are getting scarce. Same for jack rabbits. I think it's probably the result of the long term drought that's been going on for a number of years now. __________________ Ron NRA Life Member

January 26, 2008, 02:56 PM	#11
UniversalFrost Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,300	yes there were fire ants in the vicinity of where I was hunting (large areas that were bare near their holes, but the quail were in abundance the other day when I was out hunting and I am going out again sunday with either my citori or 1187 loaded properly for quail. Will let you know how the hunt turns out. __________________ Lifetime member VFW and NRA "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (when all else fails play dead) -Red Green

February 3, 2008, 12:31 PM	#12
BIGR Senior Member Join Date: June 13, 2000 Location: Mountains Posts: 1,385	Years ago as a young hunter I could jump a covey of about 15 quail about everytime I went out into the fields. Now days I very seldom see any. Must be the predators or the enviroment thats working on them, because I know its not my shotgun.

February 8, 2008, 01:12 AM	#13
Frankyoz Member Join Date: October 30, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 77	I think its a combination of things I posted the same thing about quail a few months back. I heard there was some decent hunting up in wickenburg. I think this year will be much better with all the moisture we have gotten will make for a nice spring with a big boost to the eco-system out here. __________________ Active duty USMC 97-06 Afghanistan/Iraq and Iraq again good times!

February 24, 2008, 12:18 PM	#14
longboard Member Join Date: October 3, 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 69	BB gun? Isn't poaching:barf: against the law. And it ain't right. Longboard

February 24, 2008, 05:21 PM	#15
UniversalFrost Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,300	who said anything about poaching. back when the thread was new the quail were in season. Also, it does not saying anything about not using a bbgun in AZ. Some of the BB guns no days are more powerful than 22 shorts and 22 longs. __________________ Lifetime member VFW and NRA "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (when all else fails play dead) -Red Green

February 24, 2008, 05:23 PM	#16
UniversalFrost Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,300	also, in town there is no law against shooting a BBgun, but you can't shoot a "normal" gun in town. Arizona is not California! We are not as bassackwards as the folks in your state. joe __________________ Lifetime member VFW and NRA "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (when all else fails play dead) -Red Green

February 24, 2008, 05:51 PM	#17
Tombstonejim Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2007 Location: Tombstone Az Posts: 202	"yes there were fire ants in the vicinity of where I was hunting (large areas that were bare near their holes, but " Huhhhhh Those are not fire ants. There are no fire ants in Cochise county. Those big red ants are carpenter/farmer ants absolutely nothing similar to fire ants. They do not attack living birds or animals. They live off of a fungus that they grow in there nest. If you ever step in a real fire ant nest you will learn the difference.

February 24, 2008, 11:56 PM	#18
UniversalFrost Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,300	ok, not a native arizonan. where I grew up in SD and OK any large any mounds were fire ants. learn something new. __________________ Lifetime member VFW and NRA "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (when all else fails play dead) -Red Green

February 25, 2008, 02:40 AM	#19
williamd Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 801	Drought SoCAL quail are decimated the last several years. Dry, dry, dry .. and birds require a lot of water. Of course, in SoCal Barbara Boxershorts has led an effort to put millions (literally) of acres in conservancy - no vehicles, no guns, no camp fires, ...... so maybe no quail matters little! Even fenced off an area in which I have maintained a couple of quail guzzlers for years! :barf::barf: Of course if you are an illegal crossing the area, go for it! __________________ "Outlaw guns and only outlaws will have guns!" Unfortunately, we may be moving in that direction. NRA Benefactor, Conservative!, VN '64-'65. Never sell a gun or a car ... and retire rich!

February 25, 2008, 02:51 AM	#20
azsixshooter Senior Member Join Date: April 22, 2007 Location: Pinckney, MI Posts: 657	The AZGFD seemed to be saying that this was supposed to have been a real firecracker season for quail down around the Tucson area since I guess they had a lot of rain down there last summer. Personally, I haven't seen many quail up around the New River area so I didn't bother chasing them this year. I think FrankyOZ is right though, they will probably be out in better numbers next season with all this rain we've been getting up here. Especially if it continues and we get a really wet monsoon. __________________ "Which side are we on? We're on the side of the demons, Chief. We're evil men in the gardens of paradise, sent by the forces of death to spread devastation and destruction wherever we go. I'm surprised you didn't know that." --Saul Tigh http://sargesrollcall.blogspot.com/2...s-no-more.html

February 25, 2008, 06:37 PM	#21
UniversalFrost Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,300	well, as long as I wear my same boots I will have no problem stepping on a few again. Sure saves on the cost of ammo, when all it takes is a size 11 boot Anyway, like I said before the doves and quail are in abundance in my back yard. now, just wish they were half as abundant in the fields I hunt. JOE __________________ Lifetime member VFW and NRA "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (when all else fails play dead) -Red Green

February 25, 2008, 07:08 PM	#22
DMacLeod Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2008 Location: Maine Posts: 425	UniversalFrost, If you want to get them without firing a shot just use some sno-cone cups, a little contact cement and some dried corn. Put the contact cment on the lip of the sno cone and lay it on its side. Then place a piece of dried corn in the end of the sno cone. Then a couple of more pieces leading up to the sno cone. The quail will eat the dried corn and try to get the one piece in the end of the sno cone. When it does the sno cone will stick to its feathers. Thus all the bird can then do is stand up with a sco cone on its head. Once you have a few bobbing around just go over and pick them up.

February 26, 2008, 03:56 AM	#23
MRL21 Member Join Date: December 15, 2005 Location: AZ Posts: 60	I can't say I have seen a lot of quail myself this year. Back in Safford, I could find all the doves I wanted to shoot. Never have cared for the meat, so I don't shoot them. Jackrabbits were in abundance as well, took down quite a few with the H&K Tactical. I haven't gotten out a whole lot in the Sedona area so I really can't say what the quail and dove population is like around here. I can tell you there are some really nice bucks running around the east side of town, too bad you can't hunt in the city limits even with a bow. I can tell you that to my knowledge shooting quail with anything other than a shotgun is illegal. Sorry to say it but a BB gun doesn't count as a scattergun. At least that is what the game and fish officer for unit 27 told me when I was in hunter safety class and at his house, since I was good friends with his grandson. Of course he has since retired and that was about 10 years ago, so maybe it has changed.