Arizona dove and quail

[zoner]

i've got a "snowbird" house in Apache Junction,Arizona...spend time there starting about Nov 1st and make my last trip of the year in April or May....i'm interested in hearing about bird hunting in that area during that time...any info would be welcome...Mike

[mauser98us]

Doves are thick. The monsoon has been light,so the whitewings havn,t fled to Mexico yet. Quail seems ok depending on where you go. Seems a little bit better than it has been  Mike

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

98, We usually do somelate quail hunting and maybe catch a few days of  dove. Haven't done well on quail in several years. Some of the guys did ok on merns last season. But the quail have been going down in the SW for the last 10 years. It is sad, as the hunting used to be wonderful. Maybe there will be some rebound this year.

[mauser98us]

The Gambel quail has improved quite a bit over the last couple of years due to increased rainfall at the right time. I live in the West phoenix area,and it looks pretty fair. Nowhere as good as twenty years ago,but markedly better than the last ten years  Mike

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  98, this is some good news. Hopefully, the numbers will come back. My hunting pal from Montana is in his mid 70's he is fearful it will not rebound while he is still able to hunt the little devils. For me, if quail are down, I hunt varmits, but he is a bird/big game hunter only.

[mauser98us]

I don't think the desert mulie hunting will recover in my lifetime. The draught has really taken a toll on the numbers of desert mulies.

[zoner]

thanks for the replies guys....i'm new to that area but will be spending more and more time there(gonna retire soon)...thinking about selling out in Kalifornia and buying in Payson and goin back and forth between Payson and Apache Junction...we'll see. Sounds like the better dove hunting is to the west of me...need to get a map and nail down some locations and go do some lookin...thanks again

[mauser98us]

Look at Forest Highlands, Strawberry and Pine if you can afford that area. Little bit higher in elevation,and I hear,but don,t know for sure,Payson has some water reliability issues.

[zoner]

you guys are a world of good information....there's no place like GB outdoors....great bunch of good-hearted folks