Anyone scoring on quail?

WaylandCanyon · Nov 17, 2017

I see the season opened Wednesday. Just thought I would ask if anyone has had a chance to hunt them yet.

cmac13 · Nov 17, 2017

Going tomorrow to hunt mearns. A friend in the eastern part of the state has been out everyday and said the Texans are out in full force. Very crowded and no where near the birds of the last couple seasons. I think I will be spending most of the season up high where the fatboys are to lazy to hike!

WaylandCanyon · Nov 19, 2017

Good luck, cmac. I was chatting with some fellas at a Mesilla Valley Flyfishers get-together yesterday near El Paso and the word seemed to be that numbers are down in this part of the state, too. I'm sure there are pockets of birds for the experienced hunters who know where to look, but it will likely be a slow go for a rank newcomer like me.

muleybeast · Nov 20, 2017

Took my 10 year old daughter and 9 year old son out yesterday down here by La Union south of Las Cruces. Headed out towards the West Potrillos. Got into 4 coveys one of about 50 birds. Had a blast. Called in and killed two coyotes as well. Was a great day. Kids were shooting any thing they could shoot at with their Daisy Red Rider BB guns. My son said it's way better than video games. LOL

WaylandCanyon · Nov 21, 2017

Congratulations on finding birds -- and for taking your youngsters with you!

cmac13 · Nov 21, 2017

Put in 10 miles hiking canyons with 4 nice bird dogs on Saturday and only saw one 3 bird covey of mearns. Also had some reports out of other mountain ranges and they didn't even see a mearns..... gonna be a tough year.

Muley_73 · Nov 21, 2017

Went in a couple days early to scout for coues and look for a few quail with my son.

Ran into a few coveys of mearns and knocked down a couple out of each. We've ran into 6-7 coveys this week but we've put in 38 miles on our boots in 4 days.

WaylandCanyon · Nov 22, 2017

I'm a retired guy still recovering from back surgery, and doubt I can go 2 miles, so I guess I am out for the season! Really good to hear you fellas are scaring up a few birds.

Reuben_Soady · Nov 27, 2017

We kicked up a couple of ... covey? ... on Ft Bayard, but we were looking for deer. I get it now, what someone said about hunting them for revenge.

WaylandCanyon · Jan 22, 2018

Thought I would kick this back out one more time. If anyone can point me in a general direction within a couple of hours of Alamogordo where an old, dogless hunter might step on a few, I'd be a friend for life.

mossback50cal · Jan 22, 2018

Ive seen quite a bit around cruces. Just in the hard to hunt areas now.

*We are all in the same boat, just
wishing to be hunting right now!*

TLowell02 · Jan 26, 2018

It has been real tough hunting in eastern NM this season. The population is reduced from the previous three years but still plenty to be found. The dogs just can't find scent because it is so dang dry!

I keep praying for a little snow or passing rain, heck even just a morning with frost would be a welcome change but appears it won't be happening before season's end.

That said, just get out there and kick some bushes! Never know when you will be surprised with a heart attack-inducing covey flush.