Home Forums Birds & Dogs Upland Game Year's End Mearns Quail Hunt

I had the pleasure and enjoyment of hunting mearns for four days after Christmas in the oak grasslands surrounding Sonoita, AZ.


The adventure started by meeting Mark from Flagstaff, James and his wife Terry from CA, and their boys and Griffons for a day of hunting near Sonoita. Mark took us to his better spot somewhere (I was blind-folded and my GPS was confiscated). We located five coveys on a day after four inches of snow the prior night. A good lunch on the tailgate and some clay shooting made for a great day.

For the next three days, I hunted with a friend Jim, who lives in Williams, AZ. He brought his GSP's to help Rica, my GWP, find some mearns. First day we (more correctly, the two dogs we hunted behind, Rica and Abby) found 8 coveys walking the bottom of the oak lined draws. Almost got our limit, but we were held back by some shooter errors :rolleyes: Most of the coveys were found feeding near the bottom of the sunny, southern exposures.

Jim and Abby after a morning's hunt.

The day was capped by walking back to camp with a horizon of snow-covered mountains turned pink by the setting sun.

The next day uncovered some more six more coveys in some side canyons. I even got a double <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> from a sizeable covey that flushed under Rica's nose. Jim's young GSP named Rabbit pointed a covey at the end of the day with a solid lock-on, and was rewarded with a beautiful male Mearns.

Rica and Doug with a male Mearns


The final day, New Year's Day, broke with a beatiful sunrise that illuminated both the easternand western skylines.



We hunted only the morning. Right off the start, Jim found a nice coues skull. We ended the hunt with both Abby and Rica both pointing the same covey. Birds flushed and lead flew, and the birds kept going. We must have stuffed our chambers with PETA loads <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> that time as nary a feather was touched.



[img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a390/dkoepsel/RicaMearnsquail12-06029.jpg[/img]

Another trip to southern Arizona is being planned to cap the quail season.

Doug~RR

Looks like a great hunt and beautiful country. I've only shot quail (pen-raised bobwhite) at field trials, I would imagine the wild variety is even harder to hit.

Great pics and post. Thanks

I think mearns are the funnest quail of all. More work required for sure. Darn nice couse deer!

Doug
Beautiful little birds and looks like a very good time!
art

Art,
Some fly tying material should be in the mail later this week.
10-4 on being beautimous. Was able to save a mature male that was not dog mangled for the taxidermist.

Doug

Doug
You are gonna have a steep taxi bill this year! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Jeff Foxworthy says that may mean you are a redneck!
art

Doug
The feathers arrived today and they are far better than I could have ever hoped for! They are beautifully marked in very subtle, fishy ways and the texture is amazing! Believe they will tie some fishy flies!

Thanks again!!!
art

Art,
Glad they made it in a timely manner. They should make for some multi-eyed streamers should you tie that way. If you need more for HG's fly swap, I have another "collection trip" scheduled.

Doug~RR

Doug
Have spent a bunch of time admiring these and they really float my boat more than any other little bird! I have enough to last me for quite a while, but there may be others comin'abeggin'... They are worth the effort!

Will shoot some pictures and post for the uninitiated.
art