After kicking off the season with a great grouse hunting trip it was time to start chasing quail. Mike O’Connor, Dick O’Connor and myself headed to our favorite mountain quail spot and had a challenging hunt. The conditions were less than ideal with daytime temperatures reaching over 80 degrees. We managed to find a few coveys and took a few birds but decided to head back home after a couple of days.
While waiting for Mearns season to open I decided to do several scaled quail hunts. The bird numbers seemed to be about the same as last season but the cover had grown in thicker due to abundant summer rainfall. The hunts turned out to be great training for the pups and a good opportunity to practice some shooting.
Mearns season opened with unbelievably great weather and conditions. The entire season was full of memorable hunts and it was a pleasure being able to run the young dogs on almost every hunt. I saw many old friends in the local towns and just about all reported decent success.
This season differed from most in the fact that there was a huge influx of hunters that wanted to chase Mearns quail. If you could find areas off the beaten path bird numbers and covey sizes appeared to increase. I heard a number of unfortunate stories involving interactions with tourist hunters that seemed to think Mearns quail are only found around trucks with Arizona plates.
In early December myself and Monty Snow decided to meet up with some friends who run a goose and pheasant outfitting service in Dalhart, Texas. Upon arrival we were greeting by Jason Sundvahl and Mike Sanford, owners and operators of North Texas Waterfowl, Inc. Over the last several years Mike and Jason have built the premier guide service in the Texas panhandle. We started each morning with a goose hunt and spent the rest of the day hunting pheasant. My 5 year old pointer “Kate” made the trek with us and had a great time stretching her legs out in the open farmland.
After the quick trip to Texas it was back to Arizona to finish out the remainder of the season. I chose to chase the “Grand Slam” of quail and had success in the hunts with a bit of puppy training mixed in for good measure. Between grand slam hunts I made trips to hunt scalies and mearns with good regularity. The young dogs got a great taste of desert quail hunting and the elusive nature of the birds found in our grasslands.
Now that the season is over it’s been fun to recount all of the great hunts that took place. While it can be difficult to remember every detail of every hunt, it’s easy to remember all of the great people who made each hunt a success. For me, those people are Sean Hahn, Monty Snow, Bryan Baker, Ed Kinney, and the O’Connor’s. Their understanding of bird dogs and the pursuit of wild birds is impressive and always adds so much to the experience. Thanks for the great hunts!
For more information on Texas waterfowl and pheasant hunting please visit: www.northtexaswaterfowl.com
Mearns season is upon us once again and its turning out to be a great one. With abundant summer rainfall and favorable conditions for a successful hatch, bird numbers seem to have improved a bit over last season. The grass is tall this year and the birds seem to be holding a little longer in the thick cover. The dog work has been phenomenal, to the point that even our six month old pups are finding and pointing birds on their own.
Our more experienced dogs are having a great time as well. Recently, Mike O’Connor and myself headed south and had the chance to watch my four year old female “Kate” have a career day. Kate was connecting the dots with pointed birds and in less than an hour Mike and I both had limits. Years of hard work scouting new spots, securing access, training dogs, and practicing our shooting paid off in a matter of minutes.
Many Mearns hunters have benefitted from cooler temperatures and better scenting conditions this year. On average, temperatures have been nearly 10 degrees cooler thus far compared to last season’s figures. Throw in a few scattered showers and what seems to be the beginning of a wet winter and conditions will only improve throughout the season.
Although bird numbers seem to be up, a Mearns hunter must still work hard to bag a limit. Charging up a steep hill to a dog on point seems effortless when the reward is a mature rooster or two. The day after a great hunt can often be characterized by aching legs and a multitude of scratches and bruises. Mearns country has an uncanny ability to take its toll on hunters and their dogs alike. It is very important inspect your dog after the hunt and clear their eyes and ears of foxtails, grass, and other debris.
Please check back soon as we will be posting many more photos and trip reports throughout the remainder of the season. In the meantime, I’ll be spending lots of days afield in hopes of bringing along my pups and making sure they have the chance to point a bird or two with their parents’ help. Hope you have a great season and please feel free to email your own photos and text as we may publish them at the close of the season…
Matt
www.wingshootingjournal.com
Earlier this month Sean Hahn, Katie O’Connor and myself made a trip to the White Mountains in search of blue grouse. Our trip was planned around a few different objectives. First, we wanted to run our new pups and introduce them to traveling on the road, hanging out in camp, and being part of the team with our older dogs. Second, we wanted to find grouse habitat that would be suitable for good dog work and would allow for more open shooting.
As we began to cover ground I quickly remembered how grouse country can tear up a hunter and his dogs. Within the first few miles all of us and our dogs were scratched up and starting to choose more open paths through the woods. The first hour of our hunt lacked any bird contact and we started to have thoughts of being in the wrong spot, wrong type of cover, etc.
We decided to head back to the truck so we could take a break and let the dogs cool off. As soon as we changed course we ran into our first group of birds. The thundering flush was followed by a volley of shots from our 20 and 28 gauge guns. After the feathers settled we had three birds in the bag. Now we had the motivation we needed to keep pushing on! The dogs instantly went into overdrive and couldn’t wait to find more birds…
After shooting a few more birds the first day, we decided day two would be dedicated to our four month old pups. We chose to let them run with their parents and start to get a feel for how to efficiently cover country. At first, the pups were trying to stay close to their parents so they wouldn’t miss anything. Shortly after their first contact with grouse the pups started to range out on their own. It was so awesome to see the pups in action with their parents and it was evident that these pups have what it takes to make memorable days afield. We managed to shoot a few more birds during the course of the day.
At the end of our two day hunt there was a sense of satisfaction that will not be forgotten any time soon. The fall colors were astounding, and the chance to have a great shoot surrounded by vivid scenery is always a bonus. Grouse Camp 2009 is already on the books, now it’s time to start shooting some quail and continue training the pups!
It’s hard to imagine that we’re on the verge of cooler weather and shorter days. As we approach the start of another historic season, it’s time to take a look and make sure that you, your dogs, and your guns are fully prepared for the season. Here is a list of items that are necessary for success in the desert hunting environment…
For Hunters:
- A good pair of lightweight Filson brush pants
- Full coverage leather boots along with synthetic socks and liners
- Lightweight early season shirts and hats with SPF technology
- Gore-Tex Paclite rain jacket
- Gore Windstopper insulating layers
- Lightweight leather gloves to repel cactus spines and catclaw thorns
- Lightweight game bag with room for a hydration system
- A kit bag with essential items such as extra ammo, game shears, radios, etc.
- Polycarbonate lens shooting glasses and cleaning kit
- Whistle lanyards, bird counters, quail calls, etc…
For Dogs:
- Pre-season vet check-up
- Fully stocked dog first aid kit including skin staple gun
- Contact list of vet clinics and emergency vet hospitals for the regions you plan to hunt
- Lewis Dog Boots and appropriate supplies to secure boots to the dog
- Center-ring style safety collars with up to date nameplates
- Electronic collars and/or tracking equipment
- Check cords and tie-out equipment
- Travel gear such as plastic kennels and bedding
- Food and water storage containers, stainless steel water pails and food bowls
- Snake avoidance training if you plan to hunt the early season
For Shotguns:
- A good supply of premium ammo in varying shot sizes to match conditions
- A selection of choke tubes for early and late season
- Boresnakes for quick, in the field cleaning
- Rig grease and soft cotton cloth to help prevent corrosion
- A trip to the gunsmith for a full disassembly and cleaning
- Break-down hard case for travel and soft case for trips between spots
Please contact Desert Sportsman if you need help with selecting the proper gear, vet recommendations, gunsmith recommendations, etc. We are always willing to share our experience and techniques if it will make your experience more enjoyable…
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