Guide to Hunting Gambel’s and Scaled Quail In Arizona

Anticipate arid circumstances and tough terrain when looking these two desert quail species

My first expertise with Arizona quail occurred as a covey of about 30 Gambel’s quail raced throughout the general public two-track street earlier than us, sprinting to a pond to get water. Not believing our luck, I pulled the truck over. My father, James, and buddy, Kyle Hedges, helped me boot up three canines. 

Whereas the method took about 20 minutes, we have been assured that the birds would nonetheless be someplace shut. Based mostly on our mixed years of bobwhite quail looking expertise, we thought maybe they’d be within the thick brush surrounding the pond or down the draw under. Thirty minutes later, just one chicken in the entire covey flushed. That’s after we realized that these critters have been totally different. 

We had learn concerning the legendary operating skill of Gambel’s quail and scaled quail and knew they weren’t just like the bobwhites on which we’d minimize our enamel. We have been mentally ready for one thing totally different. However this covey’s skill to rapidly seize water and vacate to components unknown astounded us. We rapidly realized that if we have been going to achieve success, we wanted to hunt on the velocity of the desert.

Desert Quail Species in Arizona

Arizona is house to Gambel’s, scaled, and valley quail, however we’ll give attention to Gambel’s and scaled. I’m purposely not addressing Mearns’ quail on this piece as I contemplate them a savanna species. 

Learn Extra: Looking Mearns’ Quail in Arizona

Gambel’s quail are discovered practically statewide in desert habitat dissected by brush-filled washes and attracts through which they search cowl. Scaled quail are discovered primarily within the southeastern portion of the state and are extra grassland-oriented. In reality, some ecologists contemplate them to be a grassland species somewhat than a desert species due to their reliance on grasslands punctuated by scattered brush and cholla cacti. As a result of these grasslands are very dry, scaled quail are inclined to get categorized as desert species.

The place the vary of those species intersects in southeastern Arizona, it isn’t unusual for Gambel’s and scaled quail to be harvested throughout the identical stroll. I fondly bear in mind looking a big grassland flat that held each species. As we hunted the flat, some factors can be Gambel’s, some scaled quail. These multi-species conditions are at all times probably the most enjoyable. This was a 12 months of a Gambel’s quail irruption, they usually have been discovered within the grassland flats extra generally than they’d usually be attributable to so many birds on the panorama. Two years later, the identical flat solely held scalies; Gambel’s numbers had taken a dive. 

Rainfall Impacts Arizona Quail

All gamebird species manufacturing is weather-dependent in some respect. That is very true with desert birds, however the mechanism is just not the identical between Gambel’s and scaled quail. 

Learn Extra: How Rainfall Influences Quail Populations

Gambel’s quail start nesting early within the spring and wish enough late winter rains to inexperienced up the desert. The water helps produce plentiful cowl and nutritious forage stuffed with vitamin A to assist with reproductive physique situation. The flush of meals and canopy stimulates nesting and offers many hiding locations for nests and broods. 

Alternatively, scaled quail nest in late spring and summer time. They want enough spring rains and summer time monsoons to create nice nesting and brood-rearing circumstances. If these circumstances don’t happen for both species, manufacturing shall be poor, and the looking subpar. Not often do these identical climate phenomena happen in the identical 12 months. Extra sometimes, circumstances favor one species over one other. However when the celebs do align, the attempting to find each species will be unbelievable. 

To be a superb chicken hunter is to be a pupil of gamebird ecology and the way climate patterns have an effect on this ecology—hold this in thoughts it doesn’t matter what species you’re chasing. Conserving observe of native climate circumstances year-round within the locations you hunt creates alternatives to capitalize on growth years. 

Gambel’s Quail Are True Desert Quail

Gambel’s quail are a real desert denizen. They stay in huge swaths of cactus-filled flats, gently rolling slopes, and rocky foothills. They scatter all through the desert to feed however at all times keep near thick, brushy escape cowl. More often than not, these brushy areas are present in washes or drainages; these areas retain moisture longer than the dry flats, main to raised circumstances for rising taller brush. Gambel’s use this thick cowl to loaf noon and to guard themselves from predators.

Water is an absolute necessity within the desert. Many sport birds can get their every day water wants from their meals, however not Gambel’s or scaled quail. Birds will often be inside ½-mile of water in open flats, feeding or probably loafing within the attracts that circulate into and out of those ponds.

Scaled Quail Choose In depth Cowl

Scaled quail favor expansive habitat that’s pretty thick regardless of Arizona’s aridness. Grasslands with taller shrubs and cholla cactus scattered all through are used for canopy. They’ll feed within the flats throughout the mornings and evenings, stopping to relaxation or evade predators within the brush or cactus.

As a result of their cowl is extra in depth, they don’t seem to be as predictable as Gambel’s when attempting to pinpoint brushy cowl to hunt. Nevertheless, their Achilles heel is their every day want for water. Like Gambel’s, scaled quail are often discovered inside a half mile of water. Consequently, watering holes are apparent locations to hunt.

Desert Quail Have a tendency To Run

Desert quail have an unbelievable capability to run. These desert dwellers favor to run from predators, together with hunters. Usually, the primary sighting of a covey whereas looking is seeing them operating forward of you thru the comb. 

Inexperienced canines could need to chase the birds. That mentioned (and this remark gained’t be in style amongst of us who demand a well-polished canine), when canines run forward and flush coveys, your degree of success will improve in the event that they get the birds to scatter properly. That’s as a result of each species are rather more susceptible to take a seat and maintain for some extent as soon as they’re flushed. I’m not saying you’ll by no means get the traditional level and covey rise state of affairs when quail looking in Arizona, nevertheless it’s a lot much less frequent on desert birds than bobwhites.

Looking Gambel’s Quail And Scaled Quail

As you may glean from what I’ve written, step one to abandon quail looking is to scout utilizing mapping software program with aerial pictures. Establish massive expanses of traditional desert or foothill habitat and pinpoint water sources. These watering factors will be traditional ponds or easy cattle water tanks. Arizona Recreation and Fish has put in 3,000 water catchments for desert wildlife. Regardless of the supply, water holes are the very first thing you should establish when scouting for a desert quail hunt.

When looking Gambel’s, search for washes and drainages with thick brush resulting in and from watering holes. These washes are simply recognized on aerial maps as darkish, linear options. When you’ve chosen a place to begin, let your canines out on the pond and hunt into the wind up the drainage. Should you stroll a half mile with out seeing birds, come again, and work the wash in the other way. Though this inefficient technique entails returning via beforehand hunted spots, generally, it’s the one means. In different circumstances, a unique wash will be discovered simply over the ridge. Bounce over to it, hunt previous the place you parked, and hunt the unique wash again to the truck. 

When chasing scalies, search for watering holes in expanses of grasslands. For a half-mile or so, hunt in ever-widening circles away from the pond. To extend effectivity, leap from water gap to water gap.

Watch Your Canine And The Desert Concurrently

When looking quail in Arizona, at all times hold one eye in your canine and and one other on the land forward of you. Should you see birds operating, choose up the tempo. Attempt to get shut sufficient to pin the birds or get them to flush. Should you should run, unload your shotgun. The purpose is to get birds to scatter into singles or small teams into the desert scrub or fan out within the grass. Rigorously mark birds down and hunt the singles into the wind. 

Whereas they like to run when in large teams, desert quail stick tighter than bobwhites when in singles or small teams. Their reluctance to fly and the dry circumstances of Arizona could make discovering singles tough. In my expertise, slowly hunt the place the birds went down. Kick each shrub or clump of grass you encounter. Additionally, repeatedly hunt spots the place you’re certain birds have landed. You can be shocked by what number of birds flush from areas you and your canine simply walked via.

Desert Quail Looking Gear

In the case of desert quail shotgunning, any gauge will do. Twelve and 20-gauge shotguns are the most well-liked. I favor a 12-gauge to succeed in out and kill the occasional chicken that flushes on a protracted covey rise. 

Concerning shot sizes, use a top quality #8 or #7.5 load. Calmly hit birds will run. Even with one of the best canines, solidly downed birds will be onerous to search out as a result of the scenting circumstances are so poor.

When looking in areas thick with cactus or malpais rocks, contemplate booting your canines. Malpais are volcanic lava fields that happen in lots of locations in southern Arizona and generally cowl the bottom for acres. These rocks are particularly onerous on a canine’s pads. It’s typically finest to keep away from areas with excessive protection to keep away from irritating your canine’s ft or needing the primary assist equipment. 

In fact, you’ll need glorious footwear for your self, too. Uninsulated leather-based boots with good ankle assist are a should, and it’s a good suggestion to convey an additional pair simply in case.

Looking The Arizona Desert Is Enjoyable And Stimulating

The desert has a quiet magnificence, particularly because the solar rises or falls over the mountains within the distance. There aren’t any homes with barking canines or farmers working their fields; only a stillness damaged solely by the wind, chicken calls, and the occasional shotgun report.

Stumble among the many rocky ledges of the washes, drink extra water than you may think about, and count on cactus spines to poke via even your finest pair of chaps. Nevertheless, all of those harsh particulars will pale compared to the vastness of the desert and the heft of a heavy gamebag.

Learn Extra

Season’s Musing – A New Mexico Chicken Looking Movie

Looking California Quail With no Canine

All Wild – An Arizona Quail Looking Movie

How one can Establish Scaled Quail Habitat