So you can shoot them on the ground, but only with a shotgun or rimfire handgun?
Hunting Quail - Alone
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So you can shoot them on the ground, but only with a shotgun or rimfire handgun?
Sorry, I was not clear. A shotgun shooting shot or a centerfire handgun shooting shot. You cannot shoot with a rimfire or any single solid projectile. But there are no prohibitions on shooting them on the ground. At least not written.
George P
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Back in the 8os, my in-laws retired to Mesa, back when it was WAY out there from Phoenix; now it seems just like another suburb. I remember their little mobile home retirement community had a place called the Iowa Cafe (they were originally from Iowa); decent food, they took their golf cart there; roadrunners and rabbits everywhere, but you had to get a little ways away from the homes to hunt.
sourdough44
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I’ve hunted ducks, geese’s, grouse, & woodcock, solo, no dog. It’s no biggie, adjust as needed. Yes, shooting waterfowl over water usually had a boat or canoe. I’ve also been wet up past the waist.
Upland game is easier, starts with walking through favorable cover.
Upland game is easier, starts with walking through favorable cover.
I learned a few things this morning. The first gather call in a covey starts about 30 minutes before sunrise. I know because the covey that roosted 25 yards from my cot started then.
Quail will go to a stock tank for water. Close to 100 of them. Do you know how hard it is to sneak up on a covey of around 100 birds in this terrain?
just waiting for the birds to try and regroup. I did manage to flush a single straggler from that group. Missed though.
Quail will go to a stock tank for water. Close to 100 of them. Do you know how hard it is to sneak up on a covey of around 100 birds in this terrain?
just waiting for the birds to try and regroup. I did manage to flush a single straggler from that group. Missed though.
are the birds flushing, or still running away? that looks like great quail hunting country. after the flush there will be a bird in everyone of those little bushes. we used to have to kick the bush a bit to get them to flush.
i may have to get off my butt and go buy a license.
enjoy the hunt,
murf
i may have to get off my butt and go buy a license.
enjoy the hunt,
murf
Mostly running away. I can hear them from quite a distance and see the group running away at 100 yards. I go to the spot where I have seen them but only got one straggler to flush. I’ll be more patient and kick the bush. Day isn’t over.
Even a blind squirrel........
Kurt - if your up for a drive I’ll stay for tomorrow. It is great country. Would be better with another hunter.
Kurt - if your up for a drive I’ll stay for tomorrow. It is great country. Would be better with another hunter.
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Ended the day with.....wait for it........ 2 birds. Alone with little cover the advice given above is probably the best way to approach it. Without cover the birds flush long before I have a realistic shot. The last one I did search for the stragglers but it I didn’t find one until it started calling for the others about a half hour later.
For tomorrow morning I’m not going to try for the main covey. I’ll break them up as soon as I can and just focus on the stragglers. Some I busted up today I couldn’t find the stragglers. But I suppose that is hunting.
I had a thought today that hunting quail alone and dogless is more like squirrel hunting than bird hunting. They just happen to fly, sometimes.
sixgunner455
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John, I would run out there to hunt with you, but I’m hunting deer in the Huachucas this weekend. Looks like you had some success today, though! Congrats.
In Albuquerque, would love to join you but in the middle of a kitchen remodel and getting ready for an elk hunt in Chama on 12/08.
So, you know the next question. Who wants to meet up and make a go at quail hunting in my favorite place to be? Two hunters can be successful, more could turn out to be an event. These numbers likely won't repeat themselves for who knows how long. At least until the drought subsides. If ever. Could be as simple as a Saturday and Sunday morning. Seems the new York hunters seem to get together. Why not Arizona hunters?
Before Christmas or after. I'll probably go a couple more times on my own. We have until 2/10.
Before Christmas or after. I'll probably go a couple more times on my own. We have until 2/10.
There is something for everyone in Arizona. Yesterday at this time I was hunting quail at 4000’ in the desert. Today we are hunting squirrels at 8,500’ about 400 miles north of where I was yesterday. I didn’t realize this alpine unit had antelope. But there are some flatter parts of this unit (6A) near cottonwood Az. Wish you were here.
Shanghai McCoy
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If I was to move out of "The Free State" Arizona would be my pick.It looks like there is an assortment of game to hunt and a variety of scenery.
I always liked the look of country around Flagstaff.
I always liked the look of country around Flagstaff.
Well it’s a bust so far as far as squirrels go. Wind picked up pretty early and haven’t seen a single squirrel. Just sitting in the sun with my oldest watching the world go by. There were two bulls in the herd of thirty or more elk. They were being pushed probably by hunters as bull elk season is open this week in this unit.
Just a half hour ago. The line stretched for a hundred yards as we watched them file on by.
Just a half hour ago. The line stretched for a hundred yards as we watched them file on by.
We did see one squirrel. It ran in front of our truck as we were driving out of the unit. It wasn’t a bust for the day. My eldest found a complete cow skull. One of their favorite things. And it was already clean and dry.
Once the wind picked up it was pretty clear we wouldn’t see any squirrels. So we found a sunny spot and just relaxed in the outdoors.
it was a good day. But the Savage pump 22 still hasn’t claimed any game yet. At least not while in my possession. I’m sure it has in its 105 year lifespan though.
Once the wind picked up it was pretty clear we wouldn’t see any squirrels. So we found a sunny spot and just relaxed in the outdoors.
it was a good day. But the Savage pump 22 still hasn’t claimed any game yet. At least not while in my possession. I’m sure it has in its 105 year lifespan though.
Abert's squirrels?
Yes. We chose to hunt the Abert squirrels instead of the grey squirrels. They wanted the challenge of hunting the Abert’s squirrel. Although Unit 6A has an area called the “Experimental Forest” just North of the campground that we normally hunt. It is a fenced off area probably a 1/2 mile by 1 mile area where they planted a different kind of pine trees. Unlike the rest of the adjacent forest, the trees in the Experimental Forest are thick enough that sunlight doesn’t reach the forest floor. It is dark and cooler than the surrounding forest. In that area they have smaller grey squirrels that are very vocal. All you have to do is wait and listen for them arguing amongst themselves and follow the racket. Pretty easy hunt and I like to bring the beginner hunters there for two reasons. One, an easy successful hunt and two, fences on all 4 sides so a youngster can’t get lost. My instructions to the young is not to cross the fence and I’ll find you.
Funny thing is the grey squirrels never come out of the fenced area and the Abert’s squirrels never cross the fence into the Experimental Forest. I have seen both types just barely on their side of the fence. It’s like there is a wall there.
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