Gun Dog Forum

As a kid growing up in the Phoenix area, I had never known anyone who hunted mearn's quail. I knew they existed but back then they were hard to come by compared to the good numbers that we are experiencing right now. Yup as a kid growing up in the Phoenix area we matched our skills with the gambels quail. The buzz in the state back then was the good quail hunting in north western arizona. I never had a chance as a youth to get up there but I always figured that I would one day. Last year on an Idaho trip my hunting partner and I decided that we were going to go down to patagonia and hunt mearn's quail, as the planning progressed we were unable to find a date that would work for both of us so I got left out of the adventure down south. As soon as I knew that my trip was to be cancelled I got on the phone and started planning a trip to northern az to fulfill my childhood dream of hunting gambels quail in Kingman Arizona. After lots of research and a few tips from friends, we headed off. Eager to see and experience the country we have read about and dreamed about. The Quarry The country The point The retrieve Dogs getting tired The tailgate shot We had a blast. Hunted lots of different types of country, put lot's of miles on the truck, and on our feet. We hunted area's that were productive and some area's that had a very few birds but it was nice just to be there. We ate real well, met new people, and in the end I can't say I would change a thing.

Sounds and looks like a trip you will never forget!

The land looks beautiful and that bird photo with the sky behind it is awesome.

Thanks, we got lucky on that photo. A wounded quail that we were trying to retrieve jumped up in the cactus and wasn't about to move out of there so we were able to get some very cool pics of him.

Wow, thanks for sharing, beautiful looking area. I'm striking up a plan this minute.

Thanks

There seems to be quite a few members on the forum that have traveled to Arizona and/or New Mexico to hunt gambel, scalies, and mearns this year. A lot of those members do most of their hunting in areas where snakes are not a big issue and I am just curious if most of you that make the trip to hunt desert quail have your dogs snake-broke or not?

Thanks

BEAUTIFUL!! Next time swing through Kansas and pick me up, looks like you had a blast!

Swinging through kansas sounds like a great idea! I have never gotten into wild bobwhites, would love to try them. I don't have my dog's snake broke, but all the snakes are sleeping in January.

Chukarguy, you've got mail. I sent you a PM for some information and general guidance.

gambel wrote:A lot of those members do most of their hunting in areas where snakes are not a big issue and I am just curious if most of you that make the trip to hunt desert quail have your dogs snake-broke or not?

Thanks

I have been going down for 4 years now and have not come across a snake yet. They pretty much stay holed up for the winter in the areas I hunt. Usually down south of Tuscon.

Rock wrote:

gambel wrote:A lot of those members do most of their hunting in areas where snakes are not a big issue and I am just curious if most of you that make the trip to hunt desert quail have your dogs snake-broke or not?

Thanks

I have been going down for 4 years now and have not come across a snake yet. They pretty much stay holed up for the winter in the areas I hunt. Usually down south of Tuscon.

You will not see many snakes during that time of year but.....they can be active at that time. Do your dog a favor and get him snake broke. Cheap insurance..talk to Arlette when you go down there. She is on the way to Mearns country.