Well October is just around the corner. We have had some really good rainfall lately, all the ponds are full of water and the fall forage is starting to grow. I hope that you are able to get a little dove hunting done in September. While you are out and about hunting dove near a stock pond or next to a farmers freshly cut grain field, more than likely you will see a few coveys of quail. Just remember that it is dove season. Too many times while traveling from stock tank to stock tank I find the remains of a hunter’s successful day. Not only do I find the results of a good days dove hunt; I find a few of the signs that a crime has taken place. There are also feathers and remains of a few quail. I know I have heard a few people of questionable integrity talking about their successful "dove" hunts and talking about how well the quail tasted for the evening meal. People if you are that hungry for quail, raise your own or wait till the season opens. For those people killing quail during the dove hunt or any time other than quail season, I label them as not hunters but thieves.

O.K. I’ll get off that tangent. Arizona has a decent quail population. Now this all depends on your geographical location. In the west central area where I live the quail have not been doing so well. This of course has to do with the drought we all have been experiencing. I have a couple of long time rancher friends in this great state who say this is the worst they have ever seen it. It seems that we do get the rain but we are getting it at less than optimal times of the year. Now I have good friends down in the southeastern part of the state where they have had decent rains evenly throughout the year.

I have spoken to a few people down in that country and they have reported decent populations of Mearns, Scaled and Gambel quail. You will find the Mearns quail in your upper elevations of that southeastern country on the grassy slopes and mesa’s where you would find the oak and juniper thickets. It does not hurt to be near a good constant water source. Now finding out where there are really strong populations of these birds is going to take doing a little homework. You might get a little information from some of the local hunters but it might not be the best information. I am not saying that they will send you on a wild goose hunt. Now think about it, would you tell just anybody about your local gold mine of where the quail are so thick you have to kick them out of your way? Probably not! Break out your topographical maps and speak to Game Wardens or Forest Service personnel. Also when you are hunting these little guys it will be very beneficial to hunt with a good dog. These birds will set pretty tight to cover and you need to get them kicked up. As far as a load for hunting them I suggest using a 71/2 shot size with an improved cylinder choke. Your shots are not going to be far and the Mearns quail is not a big quail.

The Scaled quail is one of my favorite quail to hunt. The Scallies are just a little bit bigger than the Gambel’s. They look more like a partridge than a quail. These quail will site tight to cover like a Mearns and they also will run and fly like Gambel’s. The population here is fair. You will find the best populations in the east central part of the state. Look for them in the mid elevation areas in the tall grassy slopes. I have found hunting them on ridge tops adjacent to cover such, as manzinita or scrub oak has been most productive. When picking a load and choke to use I would go prepared with both 6 and 71/2-size shot. Using a modified choke with 6 shot if they are on the move and using an improved cylinder choke and 71/2 shot if they are sitting tight to cover.

The Gambel’s quail is the most wide spread species of quail in our state. They also get the most pressure from the hunters. I believe that when people talk about the low quail population in the state they are referring to the Gambel’s quail. Their existence in the desert depends on the rainfall in the late spring and early fall. Now that is something we have not been getting a whole lot of in the past 5 years. Without those rains for the bugs, new grass and new cover growth most of the chicks perish.

The areas that remain pretty consistent through out the state where Gambel’s can be found are in the bottomlands near good water sources. Here in the west central part of the state I find good coveys in sand washes. I have also hunted them in the bigger draws of the mountain country. I can not reiterate enough that you have to be near the water source. The quail will be usually with in a quarter mile of the water source. Now when I choose a load for Gambel’s quail I will step up to a 6 shot size with a modified choke in my 12 gauge.

As you know hunters were the worlds first conservationists. So when you are out hunting quail this year pay attention to your bag limit. When you do find that gold mine of a covey, don’t camp out on them and shoot all the birds, leave some for your grandkids. If you have any questions in regards to this article feel free to drop me a line at Hunting@outdoorsman.com. Good luck folks hope you enjoyed the information.

Louis Urquides

Hunting Editor for the Arizona Outdoorsman.