2009-10 Small
game hunting outlook: The
season opens on Friday, Oct. 2.
Quail
Poor
- Fair
This winter’s
precipitation was average but the
spring and summer rains were poor
increasing mortality to broods. The
Gambel’s quail season will not
be improved from last year at below
average to poor.
Squirrel
Average
- Good
A short but moist
winter, combined with a mild spring
has provided adequate food sources
in the spruce and mixed-conifer areas
for wintering squirrels it should
be a fair to average squirrel hunting
this fall.
Rabbit
Good
Desert
cottontail, antelope jackrabbits and
black-tailed jackrabbits continue
to have good numbers statewide due
to near average rains the past few
years, expect above average to good
hunting this fall.
Ducks
Good
Waterfowl survey
populations in North America are up
13%. Additionally, reports from Utah
indicate a record number of ducks.
Conditions could be just right for
an above-average duck season this
fall.
Dove
Good
Dove numbers are
slightly below the long-term average,
which is still better than most states.
Little hunting pressure in the late
season should provide some good to
very good dove hunting this fall.
Other
small game outlooks:
Scaled quail =
Fair to Average: "Last year
was fair and the timing and amount of
seaonal rains fell short of average and
will have this year looking much the same
for this bird found in the southeastern
reaches of our state."
Mearns' quail =
Below-average to Average: "After
two back-to-back season, due to spotty
to poor summer rains resulting in a poor
nesting season, predictions are for a
below-average to average Mearns' quail
season."
Band-tailed pigeons
= Poor to Below-average: "A
poor acorn crop will prevent migrating
birds from staying in our state long,
finding expections to the rule will produce
some good hunting, predictions are for
a below-average to poor band-tailed pigeon
season.
Blue (dusky) grouse
= Below-average: "Populations
for this rare bird are limited, yet stable.
However, this past winter's heavy snowfall
could have numbers slightly down for this
inhabitor of sub-alpine elevations."
Chukar partridge
= N/A: "Populations remain
very limited and should be considered
a specialty trophy-bird hunt in Arizona."
Snipe = Average
to Good: "Traditional dependent
waterways typically provide good habitat
for this rarely sought after migrant for
dedicated hunters."
Small game hunters in Arizona are very
fortunate. Few other places in North America
offer such a wide variety of hunting pursuits
over such long periods of time. For the
second year in a row most of Arizona, with
the exception of the southeast portion of
the state, received average or above average
winter precipitation. Overall, the 2009–10
hunting season promises to be a good one
for the small game hunter. Within this section
is the pertinent information necessary to
hunt small game and other wildlife.
Central
Arizona unit-by-unit, species-by-species
small game forecast
By Randy Babb, Information & Education
Program Manager
Some of the most popular locations
for hunting for small game are located in
Region 6. Here is a detailed unit-by-unit,
by species forecast along with some basic
tips on how to approach hunting them.
Central
Arizona Small Game Forecast
By Randy Babb, Information & Education
Program Manager
Last winter’s rains ended early over
much of Arizona. Only a few places received
precipitation after January. Typically our
winter rainy season extends into late February
or early March. This early end to our winter
rains has negatively affected much of our
central Arizona quail populations. Additionally
unusual late May rains may have adversely
impacted survival of Gambel’s quail
chicks. All observations at this time indicate
that Gambel’s quail were marginally
successful this nesting season and this
bodes poorly for quail hunters over much
of central Arizona. However there may be
a few moderately bright spots in an otherwise
dark quail hunting forecast.
The Globe area received rains after January,
creating much more typical conditions for
Gambel’s quail reproduction but reports
from the area are indicating below average
reproduction. Hunters in the Roosevelt Lake
area, one of central Arizona’s most
reliable quail producing areas, can expect
to encounter coveys numbering 12-15 birds
early in the season. These numbers will
likely drop as the season progresses.
As is typical of poor years, Gambel’s
quail nested late into the summer. Recruitment
from these late nesting efforts is typically
poor and this year appears to be no exception.
However hunters may encounter some very
young birds during the opening weeks of
the quail season and may want to let these
little birds grow a bit before hunting them.
Regardless, most of the birds hunters will
be encountering in central Arizona this
season will likely be adult birds and provide
challenging hunting.
Some areas understandably have fared better
than others and hunters should spend time
scouting before committing much time to
hunting an area. Hunters will likely find
quail populations to be spotty with some
areas holding more birds than others. The
interface between burned and unburned lands
could be some of our most productive hunting
areas and are worth checking out. Hunters
can expect quail coveys to average 6 - 12
birds over much of the Region this year.
Beginning hunts near water sources such
as ponds, rivers, streams, and guzzlers
is always a good idea when hunting desert
quail.
Mearns’ quail should have experienced
a moderate to poor nesting season over much
of their range. Summer rains have been spotty
and poor over much of their habitat this
year and summer moisture makes all the difference
in this species’ numbers. Last year
hunters encountered above average numbers
of this sporty bird and this year they will
most likely find Mearn’s quail harder
to come by. If you intend to hunt this species
concentrate your efforts on areas that received
good summer rains. High carry-over of adult
birds from last year and several years of
generous summer rains in southern Arizona
prior to this year should make for average
to below average Mearn’s quail hunting.
Dove hunting should be good for both the
early and late seasons due to the good nesting
success these birds have experienced. The
lack of summer rains have resulted in virtually
no desert summer seed crop which means doves
will concentrate around agricultural and
other food sources. Regardless doves should
concentrate in croplands and at other man-made
food and water sources and provide excellent
shooting. Desert waterholes will likely
prove to be poor shooting in the early season
unless they are near a food source. Hunters
should take the time to scout as many places
that have traditionally provided good shooting
such as water holes will likely harbor low
number of birds. Hunters may also want to
take advantage of Eurasian collared doves.
These birds provide good sport and are excellent
eating.
Eurasian collared doves are most abundant
in urban areas that are inaccessible to
hunters. But they do stray into adjacent
fields and wild lands where hunters can
enjoy them. They most resemble white-winged
doves or pigeons in size and flight characteristics
but are very light colored which will help
hunters distinguish them from other species.
Care should be taken by sportsmen to not
take white-wing or mourning doves in excess
of bag limits or out of season when pursuing
Eurasian collared doves.
Small
Game Hunting Tips: By Randy
Babb, Information & Education Program
Manager
QUAIL:
Gambel’s quail are reliant primarily
on winter rains for their production,
while mearns (also known as Montezuma)
quail, and to a lesser degree scaled quail,
key their nesting to summer rain amounts.
This year’s poor winter and summer
rains will make for largely poor quail
hunting in central Arizona. From what
biologists have seen, hunters should be
able to expect below average bird numbers
in most places they visit. Gambel quail
broods averaged much smaller this season
when compared to last. This season we
saw many late broods which are typical
in bad years. Chicks late in the year
are usually indicative of conditions being
less than optimal for reproduction and
typically have a high mortality rate.
Try starting your quail hunt early in
the morning when it’s cooler and
birds are more vocal and moving about.
Also consider using a quail call and listen
for coveys to answer; this will save walking
and time. Quail calls may be purchased
at most sporting goods stores. While walking
in the field, stop frequently to listen
for birds. Gambel’s and scaled quail
make a variety of sounds; learn to recognize
these calls. Once birds are found, attempt
to split the covey up and work cover for
single birds, this is where you're likely
to get most of your birds. Estimate the
number of birds on a covey rise and keep
count of the number of single birds that
are flushed while working for singles.
This way you can make sure you've worked
the covey thoroughly. If you have hunted
through the area where the scattered birds
settled and have only gotten up half the
number of the birds that were counted
on the covey rise, you know that there
are still more birds in the area and can
work the surrounding cover appropriately.
Gambel’s quail like to run and
if the cover is not heavy enough will
literally out run hunters and dogs alike.
Minimize your frustration while hunting
these birds by choosing areas that have
good ground cover in the way of grasses
and shrubs. This vegetation provides hiding
places for scattered birds. On birds that
want to run ahead of you, put pressure
on them by unloading your firearm and
trotting after the birds until you have
flushed the covey enough times for the
birds to be sufficiently scattered to
hold. Then work the area for singles.
Avoid hunting areas with little ground
cover. For quail to hold (not flush at
a distance too far for the hunter to shoot
at them) there must be adequate ground
cover for the birds to hide in (e.g. grass,
shrubs, etc.). In sparsely vegetated areas
quail tend to run and flush at excessive
distances. This can be a problem in years
of poor production as the hunter is faced
with pursuing older "educated"
birds. There should be plenty of young
birds this season so running birds will
likely not be a problem this season. Young
birds hold better so it is worth the effort
to find those areas that experienced better
hatches.
Once the birds are scattered and holding
a hunter will flush more birds if they
walk in a zigzag fashion through the cover,
occasionally pausing for a few seconds.
Waiting can be as important as walking
in areas where there is good cover and
where you know there are birds. It is
not uncommon to walk into an area, stop
for a few seconds, and have a bird flush
right behind you after you resume walking.
Be ready for this. Attempt to read the
cover and terrain to predict where birds
may be hiding. Groups of closely growing
shrubs, shallow draws lined with dense
vegetation, or low thickets, should be
investigated. If a hunter has a partner,
develop a game plan and move through an
area about 20 to 30 yards apart covering
the area thoroughly. If birds are holding
tightly it is not unusual to cover the
same ground many times and still flush
birds. Quail will often hold closely in
inclement weather. Once a bird is knocked
down, stay at the ready for a second or
two to make sure the quail is not crippled
and runs off. Also mark downed birds carefully
and walk directly to the spot and retrieve
the bird. If the downed bird is not found
immediately take the time to carefully
search the surrounding area within about
a 15 yard, or more, radius. Gambel quail
are remarkably tough and can take a lot
of punishment. Crippled birds will run
down mammal burrows, into packrat nests,
or hide in most any suitable cover. Resist
the temptation to shoot at additional
birds once a bird has been downed. This
will translate to fewer lost birds and
more game in the bag.
DOVES:
Weed crops, which were produced by summer
rains, are very poor this year. Because
of this the desert will hold few birds
away from agricultural lands or other
man-created food sources. Because of this
doves will still concentrate in traditional
areas such as feed lots making for good
shooting. SPEND TIME SCOUTING; a few reconnaissance
trips can pay off in great hunting. Check
agricultural areas for cut grain fields
or fields that may be cut in the near
future and feed lots. Roosting sites often
make for good shooting and should be watched
for. Doves will typically pick densely
vegetated areas for roosts. Mesquite bosques,
tamarisk (salt cedar) thickets, and citrus
groves are typical roosting sites. Doves
establish flight patterns and follow them.
For example, a grain field that has lots
of doves feeding in it will have a few
spots that will offer the best shooting.
Watch tree lines, washes, canals, field
corners, or other structural features
that birds may follow. Late season doves
frequently shift their flight patterns
and feeding areas, so the more spots you
have lined up the better your chances
are for consistent good hunting. Desert
water holes can often offer spectacular
evening shooting during the late season,
a great way to combine dove and quail
on a hunt. Avoid shooting near thickly
vegetated areas such as alfalfa or cotton
fields to minimize the number of lost
birds. If you do hunt some place with
thick vegetation try to chose your shots
so birds fall into open areas. Mark downed
birds and walk directly to them to minimize
the chance of losing them. If the hunter
stands still or sits or stands next to
some sort of cover (a ditch, shrub, tree,
telephone pole) birds will be less likely
to shy away from them. Wearing drab clothing
will also make the hunter less conspicuous.
Be and sure to ask landowners before hunting
on private land and to pick up all spent
shells and shell boxes. Wait to clean
your birds until you reach home. This
way unsightly messes and trash will not
left on landowner's property and help
insure your privilege of hunting on private
lands.
BAND-TAILED
PIGEONS:
How late these birds stay around in the
fall is largely dependent on how good
the acorn crop is. This year the acorn
crop appears to be generally poor. Hunters
will likely find bandtails concentrated
in areas with what acorns there may be.
Band-tailed pigeons will use alternative
food sources, such as pinon and elderberries,
especially in poor acorn years. One way
to hunt them is to sit on pine-country
stock tanks. They usually come to water
early in the morning (after feeding) so
check stock tanks at higher elevations
early. If they are using the tank, they
will generally show up before 9 am. They
may also be found in feeding in dense
stands of gamble or other oak species.
These birds like to loaf in pine snags
and can occasionally be found in these
trees at mid-day along ridge tops.
SNIPE:
Snipe are one of the most over looked
game birds in the state. Snipe prefer
marshy habitats along rivers, lakes, and
flooded agriculture areas. Birds can often
be spotted by the hunter prior to entering
an area by glassing the water's edge with
binoculars. Snipe flush similar to quail
and usually make distinctive "scipe"
call on take off. The zig-zag flight of
these birds makes for a challenging target.
Often the flushed bird will swing around
presenting the hunter with a pass shot
as it returns to the water. Check suitable
areas often as snipe are prone to suddenly
appear and disappear in feeding areas.
Snipe offer a great plus for duck hunters.
After a morning duck hunt, hunters should
walk nearby marshy areas or other flooded
vegetation. If you prefer to jump shoot
ducks, snipe are common visitors to stock
tanks. Snipe are classified as an upland
game bird and steel shot is not required
for hunting them.
DUCKS:
Waterfowl reproduction estimates for this
year are good with most species showing
an increase in numbers. Summer surveys
this year indicated nesting was generally
up.
A common problem we experience in Arizona,
despite nesting success, is warm winter
weather. Often warm winters in the western
states will “short-stop” much
of the migrating waterfowl before they
make it to the southern US. So while states
north of us (Utah, Nevada, etc.) enjoy
fantastic hunting, we experience sporadic
shooting at best. In the same manner if
warm weather keeps Arizona’s high
country waters open, many ducks and geese
will spend the winter there rather than
migrating to lower elevations. Simply
put, many migrating waterfowl species
go no farther south than they have to.
If we have a warm winter, our state’s
high elevations will likely offer the
best hunting.
Despite generally poor winter and summer
rains many ponds and marshes have water
in them, which should make for some decent
shooting and many places for waterfowl
to rest and feed. Many of the state’s
reservoirs are near full or at least nearly
so, and ducks and geese should have no
trouble finding places to land. It’ll
be up to the hunter to find them. Hopefully
this winter will be wet and cold and we
will enjoy some good waterfowl hunting.
Regulations have changed significantly
and wise hunters will BE SURE TO CHECK
CURRENT REGULATIONS FOR CHANGES FROM LAST
YEAR AND SEASON DATES. Currently the bag
limit is 7 birds per day per hunter. Waterfowlers
will be able to take 2 pintails a day
for the first time in many years. Hunters
can take canvasbacks again this year (2
per day) after being closed last year.
Also it should be noted that there will
be a limited season (season with in a
season) for scaup and waterfowlers should
note the dates during which this species
can be taken.
The early part of the season offers the
best opportunities for some of the early
migrants like cinnamon and blue-wing teal.
November is usually when waterfowl hunting
in the desert areas really picks up. At
this time free water at northern latitudes
typically becomes scarce forcing birds
southward to seek feeding and resting
areas. Mornings after big winter storms
and severe cold snaps are often an excellent
time to check desert stock ponds for ducks.
Decoys will prove useful on central Arizona
lakes, rivers, and ponds. If you are decoying,
you'll want to start early. Have your
decoys set and your blind built before
legal shooting time comes. Once again
a little scouting will be a big help in
finding a productive shooting spot. Ducks
tend to congregate in backwaters, slow
runs on rivers, and sheltered areas on
lakes such as coves and the mouths of
rivers and creeks. With some scouting
you will discover that though there may
be several spots that seem to look good
and are used by ducks there is one or
a few spots that they prefer. Set out
your decoys and build your blind while
it is still dark so you will be situated
at legal shooting time. Typically the
best shooting is in the couple of hours
of the day so it is important to be ready
by legal shooting time. On a typical duck
hunt, shooting is usually over by 10 or
11 am. Geese generally fly a little later
than ducks but you'll still want to be
prepared by first light. Ducks will tend
to move more in inclement weather so shooting
often lasts longer on these days. Ducks
have excellent eyesight and color vision,
keep this in mind when hunting them, camouflage
is recommended. It is also very important
to remain motionless while birds are working
the decoys or coming in. To retrieve downed
birds from stock tanks try using a fishing
rod rigged with a top water plug. Cast
over dead birds and reel them in. The
same rig fitted with a diving plug will
retrieve decoys in deep water by snagging
the anchor line. Remember only non-toxic
or steel shot may be used for ducks and
geese.
RABBITS:
Cottontails offer an excellent supplement
to the hunter's bag and some very tasty
meals. Dove hunters should watch for rabbits
along field edges while hunting. Walk
thick cover such as tumbleweeds, before
you finish your morning hunt. Quail hunters
are likely to encounter cottontails most
anytime but especially along desert washes
and thickets. Try a special between seasons
rabbit hunt using a 22. 22's offer an
excellent challenge and good practice
for upcoming big game hunts. Walk ridge
tops in the early mornings and late afternoon,
using binoculars to search for rabbits
in the washes below. Dress bagged rabbits
at the first opportunity and throw them
on ice. Occasionally rabbits are the host
to the large grub of the bot fly. These
unpleasant looking grubs do not harm the
meat of the rabbit and no rabbit should
be discarded because of them. Jackrabbits
are often overlooked and not only provide
excellent sport but good eating. Teriyaki
marinated and grilled jackrabbit back-strap
is excellent fare...no kidding!
SQUIRRELS:
Arizona has more different species of
tree squirrels than any other state. Warm
winters and the rain we have gotten should
make for fair to average squirrel hunting
this fall. Start your hunt early in the
morning when squirrels are most active.
Quietly walk along logging roads and search
for squirrels on the ground and in the
trees. Once a squirrel is spotted it may
be shot on the ground or rushed and run
up the nearest tree. Chasing squirrels
up trees at seven thousand feet elevation
is more work than it sounds. Add an up
hill incline and you have the makings
of a cardiac arrest. A well-trained dog
makes the job easier. Abert’s squirrels
spend a lot of time on the ground foraging
for mushrooms in the fall and are more
likely to be seen there. Gray squirrels
prefer riparian corridors of sycamore,
walnut, and ash. The canyons under the
Mogollon Rim are a good place to try for
gray squirrels and you'll probably pick
some Abert's up too. They are a bit harder
to come by and can make for a challenging
hunt. Red squirrels are found in spruce/fir
habitat and most easily found by listening
for their "wurring" call. Try
using a 22 for squirrels instead of a
shotgun, its a lot more fun and you don't
have to worry about shot at dinnertime.
Bring a pair of binoculars to help you
to spot squirrels in treetops. Consider
a hunt for the Arizona big 5 (Abert’s,
Kaibab, Arizona gray, apache fox, and
red squirrels).
Mentored
Hunting & Juniors-only Events 2009-10 Season
"WHEN
CAN I GO?"
2009-10
Small Game Hunting Calendar
Archery-only
tree squirrel:
Aug. 21–Oct. 1 statewide except
in Units 12A and 13A open Aug. 21–Sept.
10
Dove:
Sept. 1–15 (half-day for adults,
all day for juniors)
Band-tailed
pigeon: Sept. 11–Oct.
4 north zone; Sept. 18–Oct. 4
south zone
Blue
grouse: Sept. 11–Nov.
15
Chukar:
Sept. 11–Feb. 7
Rabbits
(jackrabbits and cottontails): Open
year-round
Quail
(Gambel’s and scaled):
Oct. 2–Feb. 7
Tree
Squirrel: Oct. 2–Dec.
31
Band-tailed Pigeon: Sept. 11 north zone;
Sept. 18 south zone; Oct. 4 both zones
Waterfowl
(ducks and geese): Oct. 9–Jan.
17 Mountain Zone; Oct. 23–Jan.
31 Desert Zone. Some restrictions apply;
see regulations.
Predators/Furbearers
(coyotes, foxes, etc.): Open year-round
For exact season
dates, bag limits, and other guidelines,
please refer to the current Arizona
Hunting and Trapping Regulations,
Dove and Band-tailed Pigeon Regulations,
or the Waterfowl and Snipe Regulations.
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