Home Forums Birds & Dogs Upland Game Where is good pheasant hunting in SW?

I have been trying to hunt pheasants in the southwest US for the last years with no success. I mean wild pheasants and not ranch raised ones in private clubs. California, Arizona, Nevada have been my main hunting grounds. I do not want to go to Baja in Mexico, which I understand has a good pheasant population because of the uncertainties of the Mexican hunting laws. Any advice I can get? <P>Thanks.<P>[This message has been edited by faisan (edited June 29, 2000).]<P>[This message has been edited by faisan (edited June 29, 2000).]

elian:<P>Assuming you want to hunt near the Southwest USA, I don't think that you can find any better pheasant hunting than in the Mexicali Valley. You'll also find gobs of Gambel's quail, doves by the millions, the best waterfowl hunting west of the Mississippi bar none, and even great coyote and rabbit hunting, if that's your thing.<P>As for the Mexican gun and hunting laws, you're right. They can be really tricky. But I've been hunting Mexico for over twenty years, and if you follow the rules (buy a hunting license, correctly register firearms, do not exceed ammunition limits or bag limits, and stay sober), you will have no problems. It's only the gringos that try to buck the system that end up doing hard time.<P>You want pheasants. The Mexicali Valley has more pheasants than you can imagine, and just might be the best pheasant hunting in North America (I know it sounds crazy, but it's true!).<P>Run for the border!<P>Jimbo

Hey faisan, could you check out my post re: Mexican licenses.<BR>Thanks <P>Winmag

Jimbo...<P>Where in the world is Mexicali Valley?? How was the quail hatch there this year?<P>Ryan

Ryan:<P>The Mexicali Valley is, I believe, the Imperial Valley on the Mexican side. It's pretty close to the AZ, CA, old Mex border, and there are oodles of Gambel's quail around on good years, especially near canals.<P>I'd say the hatch this year was decent but not great. No huge coveys yet, and the season is quite along. But for upland hunting, old Mex is tough to beat, especially if you live in the SW USA.<P>Jim