2021 Quail hunting forecast. quail forever presented by Sportsman's guide

Quail hunting forcast is presented by Sportsman's guide


Arizona
Forecast: The southern area of Arizona saw good monsoonal moisture again this year, according to small game manager Wade Zarlingo with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, which means Mearns’ quail should respond favorably and expand their populations outside of the core habitat areas. Zarlingo suggests hunters try hunting some of the fringe sky islands in the southern part of the state to avoid highly trafficked areas. “The Department expects another great year for Mearns’ quail with five consecutive years of good monsoon moisture,” Zarlingo said.   
 
The highest concentrations of scaled quail will be found south of Interstate 10 in southern Arizona, according to Zarlingo. “This year scaled quail had spotty winter rains throughout their range with good monsoon moisture,” he said. “The southern part of their core range should be a little above average and the northern areas slightly below average based on call counts performed by the local wildlife managers.”
 
Gambel’s quail are the most widely distributed of Arizona quail species and can be found in all areas of the state but Navajo and Apache counties. Spotty winter precipitation patterns resulted in less favorable conditions for Gambel’s quail. “With a below average year for Gambel’s, I would spend the majority of my effort hunting core areas in Game Management Units 37 and 16,” Zarlingo said. Arizona wildlife experts expect Gambel’s harvest numbers similar to last year, which remains below the statewide long-term average.
 
Season Dates: Gambel’s, Scaled and California quail: September 30, 2016 through February 12, 2017 (see regulations for open areas); Mearns’ quail: December 2, 2016 through February 12, 2017 (see regulations for open areas)
 
Daily Bag Limit: 15 aggregate with maximum of 8 Mearns’ quail
 
Possession Limit: 45 aggregate after opening day of which no more than 15 Gambel’s, Scaled, or California quail can be taken in any one day. Once the Mearns’ quail season opens, the 45 possession limit may include 24 Mearns’ quail of which no more than 8 may be taken in any one day

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