Wet conditions are great for quail hunting with bird dogs

Wet weather and high soil moisture mean scenting conditions will be great for hunting quail with your bird dog, says Mark Zornes, but there is a flip side: those same conditions result in quail holding tighter than normal, making it more of a challenge to locate them without a dog.

Zornes, who is the small game biologist for the Arizona Game and Fish Department, says dog-less hunters may want to slow down so they can make tight-setting birds nervous enough to flush.

“Expect birds to be more widely dispersed in response to green up and water availability. Focusing on water holes will not be the best strategy right now,” says Zornes.

Zornes says hunters should also avoid causing resource damage with their vehicles. “Stay on the roads. It’s pretty slick out there right now, and some areas are bottomless— you can get stuck up to your axles. Remember, tire tracks can last forever in the desert. Despite the inconvenience, hope that the rain continues: more rain equals more birds next year.”