Mearns Quail in Arizona
- Thread starter huntzall
- Start date
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DryFlyGuy
Guest
Good luck getting a good spot. I lived/hunted Arizona for eight years. People guard their mearns and scalies grounds like the holy land.
I'm sure there are plenty of honey spots out there, I never found a consistent producer. I will recommend the book, "Wingshooter's Guide to Arizona Upland Birds and Waterfowl". Beyond that, I can only tell you where not to go.
I'm sure there are plenty of honey spots out there, I never found a consistent producer. I will recommend the book, "Wingshooter's Guide to Arizona Upland Birds and Waterfowl". Beyond that, I can only tell you where not to go.
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bbgellerman
Guest
I went out on the opening weekend for a couple days. I am going back next weekend. This year doenst seem to be as good as past years but I saw on another website that Scottyboy really got into them. You want to go South of Patagonia. Also try East of Pena Blanca Lake. The closer to the border the better really. Pick wide washes to hunt and walk the edges. Hopefully you have dogs becasue these birds will let you walk right past them. They hold very tight. If you want to hunt them you should really go with someone that hunts them regularly. A lot of out of state hunters come to Sonoita and Patagonia and never jump a bird. They have to be one of the most difficult game birds to hunt. You could write a book about finding these elusive bastards.
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redrabbit
Guest
If you do not have a pointer, I would not consider hunting mearns. If yo do not have dogs, considering a guide would be a good option.
The AZGFD website gives some possible areas in their unit descriptions. Look at units 34A, 35B, 36B.
http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/hunting_units_34a.shtml
Generally, I hunt the base or 1/3 way up the slopes in oak lined grassy draws. Look under the oaks for fresh scratchings.
Some say to look at popular Hog Canyon NE of Sonoita to see what good mearns habitat is, and then hunt other areas that look similar. Look for about 50% oak coverage. Key on north-facing slopes.
The AZGFD website gives some possible areas in their unit descriptions. Look at units 34A, 35B, 36B.
http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/hunting_units_34a.shtml
Generally, I hunt the base or 1/3 way up the slopes in oak lined grassy draws. Look under the oaks for fresh scratchings.
Some say to look at popular Hog Canyon NE of Sonoita to see what good mearns habitat is, and then hunt other areas that look similar. Look for about 50% oak coverage. Key on north-facing slopes.
If you do get lucky and bump a covey please exercise some restraint. A good dog and a half way decent shot can eradicate a mearns covey in no time. Take a small bore and light loads. Your shots will likely be close. "Pheasant loads" just tear up a mearns quail.
Spot we go to a lot with GREAT success.... south of Wilcox on Hwy 181 in a place called Rucker Canyon. After you hit the public land on Rucker road go about 2 miles (before the first campground) especially on the north side of the road. Full of quail and a dog isnt necessary. Most people we see there are border patrol
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scottyboy
Guest
This season seems to be ALOT drier than in other years, but the birds seemed to have scratched out a decent hatch. Nothing to write home about though. I've seen WAY better years.
We had a decent opener and hit three diff areas over the first 3 days. Best day was the third day with 9 coveys found by the pups.
As others have mentioned, do all of us a favor and take a bird or 2 out of a covey and move on. They're all too easy to wipe out entirely. Small coveys that won't fly far and pitch back into the grass. The gentle draws get wiped out EARLY every year.
I'm headed out in the morning with the intent of taking all three species.. An AZ slam morning. I'll let ya know ho we do.
Took a handful of pics on the opener, but haven't downloaded them onto the laptop quite yet. Here's a few for ya from last season.
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We had a decent opener and hit three diff areas over the first 3 days. Best day was the third day with 9 coveys found by the pups.
As others have mentioned, do all of us a favor and take a bird or 2 out of a covey and move on. They're all too easy to wipe out entirely. Small coveys that won't fly far and pitch back into the grass. The gentle draws get wiped out EARLY every year.
I'm headed out in the morning with the intent of taking all three species.. An AZ slam morning. I'll let ya know ho we do.
Took a handful of pics on the opener, but haven't downloaded them onto the laptop quite yet. Here's a few for ya from last season.
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scottyboy
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LAST EDITED ON Dec-09-09 AT 10:59PM (MST)[p]LOL!! Gotta give'em a chance somehow!! Firstcoues took that pic late last season of me on our 11th or so covey of the day.. It was my limit bird for that day.
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scottyboy
Guest
Look for blues out in the classic Chihuahuan desert habitat.. Grass plains dotted with soapstone yucca.. Elevation usually runs in the 3K to 4500 tops.. Think NM pronhorn country.. long horizons with short grass to the ends of it..
Looks for Mearns in the oak country in southern AZ, NM that starts at the 5K and runs up to the 6500-7K mark.. Ive seen Mearns at over 8K out here in the pines.. But the majority will be at the 5500 range. 25% oak coverstory is the bare minimum to look for.. Rough draws and shady sides with deep, ungrazed grass.
While you won't find them together, you can find them in the same general areas.. especially where the sky islands meet the desert. In a few rare locales, you can get them all on one walk with a bit of boot leather burnt.. The San Carlos is a good area from this, if ya know where to go!!
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DRSS Chapuis 470NE
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Looks for Mearns in the oak country in southern AZ, NM that starts at the 5K and runs up to the 6500-7K mark.. Ive seen Mearns at over 8K out here in the pines.. But the majority will be at the 5500 range. 25% oak coverstory is the bare minimum to look for.. Rough draws and shady sides with deep, ungrazed grass.
While you won't find them together, you can find them in the same general areas.. especially where the sky islands meet the desert. In a few rare locales, you can get them all on one walk with a bit of boot leather burnt.. The San Carlos is a good area from this, if ya know where to go!!
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scottyboy
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I can get ya lined out on a few spots that'll produce some birds providing your pups can keep their end of the deal and find 'em. There's plenty of them if ya know where to look.
Chukar in the hills and maybe a ruffie and blue in the UT highcountry sounds fun!
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DRSS Chapuis 470NE
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Chukar in the hills and maybe a ruffie and blue in the UT highcountry sounds fun!
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we_B_huntin
Guest
Or this close.
Found quite a few South of Pena Blanca Lake about two mile from Mexico.
Found quite a few South of Pena Blanca Lake about two mile from Mexico.
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scottyboy
Guest
A few Christmas weekend birds.. The weather smiled upon us this weekend. It was perfect for quail hunting.
Got a single on LOCKDOWN..
a couple of mature males from a nice double from the Dakota 20ga..
a fresh covey..
"take your time Pop, I've got 'em pinned down for as long as need be.."
a couple more nice males for the bag..
shoulda had a limit, but I crippled one and counted him as taken..
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DRSS Chapuis 470NE
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Got a single on LOCKDOWN..
a couple of mature males from a nice double from the Dakota 20ga..
a fresh covey..
"take your time Pop, I've got 'em pinned down for as long as need be.."
a couple more nice males for the bag..
shoulda had a limit, but I crippled one and counted him as taken..
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scottyboy
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Huntzall, PM me and we'll get you lined out for a hunt down this way sometime soon..
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DRSS Chapuis 470NE
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YMIINIDAHO
Guest
I am curious if you guys could do me a favor. My wife makes jewelry with my pheasant, chucker, quail, etc. feathers. Would it be possible for one of you guys to pluck some of those males and send the feathers? They have some beautiful feathers that would be great for that stuff and she would de very happy.
