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Arizona Quail Hunting Log November 2007 Hunts: 03 November, 10 November 03 November 2007 - North of Phoenix, Arizona
On The Search For Gambles Quail 5 of us headed out in search of Gambles Quail today. The only problem was we had a limited time and no real good places to go that were close. So we shot for a new spot North of the Valley in search of some birds. Our first stop seemed pretty good seeing as we heard birds calling down in the canyon. So we put on our gear put out the dogs and headed down. Once their the birds had moved one. I headed up the hill on the other side incase they had gone that way and guess what...they had. These birds weren't going to even offer a shot and they ran or flew way out as I was continually behind them racing up the hill with Ice. Nothing. Oh well. On my way back down the hill I jumped the birds and watched them sail over to the other side of a canyon I wasn't even going to consider crossing. So I moved back to meet up with my buddies. On the way I some out lost a glove from off my hand. Go figure! Then suddenly Ice was on point. I bumped up the bird about 10 feet off from her and shot it. Then another one got up and flew and I missed. Sad thing was I never found that first bird I shot. Must have been wounded and run off. From there I joined back up with my friends and we worked our way through the thick cactus trying to find our way out of the canyon. One of my friends jumped a bird and got it, but that would be the only bagged bird of the day.
End of The Search For Gambles Quail We drove around looking for a new spot to hunt only to reach more dead space and a lot of trecherous walking. We called it a day and headed home.
10 November 2007 - South Eastern Arizona
Pistol Retrieving Scaled Quail We headed out the night of the 9th and camped out down South with some ideas on new places to hunt for Gambles and Scaled Quail. In the morning we headed out from the truck and saw plenty of sign that there we covey's of birds roosting, but saw no birds right off. We worked up to a water tank and then on up the side of hill where we got into our first covey. It was a group of Scalies running to the next county. Fortunately we could run too. My friend shot one bird and I missed my opportunity. On our way down the mountain we rounded another water tank and about 100 yards off hit a fairly sized covey of about 20-30 Gambles in a ticket of trees. We chased them back and forth for a while and got a few birds out of the covey. We then started the long walk back to the truck. On the way I jumped a covey of Scalies and shot one. We pushed around a few more with no luck. Then it was on to the truck.
Mixed Bag From First Hunt When we got back to the truck we counted our shells and counted our birds and they didn't quite add up. Oh, well. Sometimes shooting is half the fun. Hitting the game is the second half.
Baby Scaled Quail Our next stop landed us on some flats that were said to have Scaled Quail. I'll definately be going back there someday. However, while there I walked for about an hour with NO birds and only a little sign. When I was about 100 yards from the truck I decided to take a pass through some trees that were near the truck. As I worked my way through I jumped a covey of 30 plus Scalies. Many young birds flew just a few feet and many landed up in trees. I snapped this shot and instead of hunting them with the gun I just took my pup in for some needed live bird practice. Fun...just wish I would have hit that spot on the way out and not on the way in!
Gambles Quail As we were heading cross country to get back on the highway we made one last stop and dropped right down into a canyon. Ice immediately bumped a 15+ bird covey of Gambles Quail that flew down into the wash below. We chased them down there and there were more down there. With the thick brush and wild flushes we didn't have much luck but a few chance shots ended us with 2 birds.
Ghost Town Jail We did some site-seeing while we were out and about going from place to place and we found this cool old jail. Looks like it's still in use at times.
Rattle Snake Crafts & More We made a stop at this tourist trap that was really cool. They had every Rattle Snake you could imagine and for those of you who have been there you will probably agree it is worth the time to stop and check it out.
October 2007 back to December 2007 |
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