Our preceding winter, the driest recorded in Arizona, has been followed by summer rainfall on the low-end-of-average in the Yuma region.

Rainfall has fallen in a patchwork pattern across the region: Some areas have received abundant rainfall while adjacent areas have received little or none. In general, small game populations are stable, but will be most abundant in and around established water sources. Good pre-hunt scouting will be helpful this year.

Dove – Both mourning and white-winged doves are locally abundant throughout the region, but are less evenly distributed across desert areas than in wet years. Overall, mourning doves are rated as good to excellent, while white-winged doves are rated fair to good. As always, late summer rains may dramatically affect short-term dove distribution, but food supplies will likely make them most abundant in agricultural areas.

Gambel’s Quail – Overall, Gambel’s quail numbers are rated as fair to good. Across the region, most coveys had late hatches and small broods. Best hatch success was in or near permanent water sources and agricultural areas. Populations are expected to remain stable through the season, but many of the quail will be older birds which will require some hard hunting.

Cottontail – Rabbits are abundant this year. Populations are rated as good to excellent and the trend is for further increases in numbers. The larger washes, river margins, and the edges of agricultural areas should provide good cottontail hunting.

Pheasant – Pheasant numbers are trending downward in the Yuma-area citrus orchards and fields that provide a consistent, but limited, hunting opportunity in the region.

Waterfowl – Alamo Lake remains the best location for waterfowl hunting in the region. Jump shooting ducks on the Bill Williams River or at huntable waters along the Colorado and Gila Rivers can be productive, but are reliant on somewhat uncertain waterfowl use of the Colorado River flyway.