Totally legal but you will catch abuse.
Only a valid Arizona Hunting License is needed for quail. In addition to the hunting license, special stamps are required to hunt doves and waterfowl.
Fields near woody draws, small wood lots and fence rows are good places to hunt because quail like cover near their feeding spots.
- Quail feed on seeds in fields in the morning.
- Quail rest under woody cover by mid-day.
- Late afternoon will find quail back in the weedy areas of a field.
Hunting on the Tonto National Forest includes: nine out of Arizona's ten big game species (elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, bear, mountain lion, turkey, and javelina), small game (quail, dove, tree squirrel, rabbit, and migratory birds), fur bearing mammals, and predatory mammals.
Upland Essentials
- BEST FRIEND. The dog tops this list, because seeing great dog work makes all the miles driven and hiked worthwhile.
- SHOTGUN. You can't hunt upland birds without a shotgun, though the best type is debated as much as Ford vs.
- BOOTS.
- APPAREL.
- WATER.
- FOOD.
- FIRST AID.
- HUNTING VEST.
The Gambel's quail is an extremely popular game bird and there are few hunting restrictions. Ninety percent of the Gambel's Quail diet comes from plants. Various types of seeds and leaves are eaten throughout the year. During certain times of year fruits and berries from cacti are eaten.
Best time of dayMost quail hunters start early in the morning and this is undoubtedly the best time if the day is going to be warm. Many quail hunters talk about a 'dead spot' in the early afternoon when birds are sometimes hard to find.
2021 - 2022 Seasons and Limits - Quail
| Season / Area ( Zone Map (PDF)) | Season Dates | Possession Limit |
|---|
| Zone Q1 (All Quail) | Oct 16 - Jan 30 | Triple the daily bag |
| Zone Q2 (All Quail) | Sep 25 - Jan 30 |
| Zone Q3 (All Quail) | Oct 16 - Jan 30 |
| Early Season for Hunters with Junior Hunting Licenses in Mojave National Preserve | October 2 - 3 |
Most Arizona hunters that hunt Gambel's quail with a dog, hunt with a pointing dog. The top choice, by far, is the German Shorthaired Pointer, followed by the Brittany and the pointer. Any dog from these breeds that works at a moderate range, is intelligent and has a good nose, will make a fine Gambel's dog.
Nesting Facts
| Clutch Size: | 5-15 eggs |
|---|
| Number of Broods: | 1-2 broods |
| Egg Length: | 1.1-1.3 in (2.8-3.4 cm) |
| Egg Width: | 0.9-1.0 in (2.3-2.6 cm) |
| Incubation Period: | 21-31 days |
Desert Creek Sportsman's Club is the gateway for migrating waterfowl. Located next to the Gila River and surrounded by farm fields makes it a perfect desert oasis for ducks to feed and rest before continuing their journey south. We are the closest duck hunting club to Phoenix and only 15 minutes west of Buckeye.
Directory of 4 Arizona Pheasant hunting lodges, guides and outfitters in Arizona.
- Arizona Pheasant & Chukar Hunting. PO BOX 506, Arizona City, Arizona 85123.
- Desert Pheasant Recreation. 774 W.
- Gila Hollows Duck Club. 13654 S Bruner Rd, Palo Verde, Arizona 85343.
- YMCA's High Desert Hunt Club.
Arizona Quail Hunting Resources
- Sportsman's Warehouse -Tucson.
- William Larkin Moore -Scottsdale.
- The Orvis Company.
Gambel's quail (Callipepla gambelii) is a small ground-dwelling bird in the New World quail family. It inhabits the desert regions of Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Texas, and Sonora; also New Mexico-border Chihuahua and the Colorado River region of Baja California.
In Arizona grouse are found in the mixed conifer and aspen forests above 8,500 feet. As a consequence, these birds are only found in the White, Blue, Escudilla, Chuska, and Buckskin (North Kaibab) mountains, and on the San Francisco Peaks where they were introduced in the mid- 1970s.
The season for Gambel's and scaled quail runs from October 6 to February 11, with a daily bag limit of 15. The season for Mearns' runs from December 8 to February 11.
Hunting quail is a popular pastime. Many hunters go wild quail hunting because when cooked properly, they taste amazing. When you head out on a hunting expedition, you can't just go out without a plan. Whether searching for quail or upland bird hunting, you should know the best places and times to get out in the field.
Virtually all bird species are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. In Arizona, the exceptions are English sparrows, European starlings, and feral pigeons (rock doves). These three species are non-native birds that can be controlled without a permit.
Species and hunts available are: archery-only deer (some unit restrictions); limited opportunity elk; mountain lion; bear; archery-only javelina and juniors-only turkey (shotgun only).
Arizona is home to three subspecies of turkeys:Merriam's, Gould's, and Rio Grandes. Merriam's turkey are found throughout the Western United States primarily in the ponderosa pine forests of Colorado, New Mexico, and northern Arizona. Gould's turkeys are one of Arizona's two native wild turkey species.
The cost for a non resident OTC mule deer tag in Arizona is $160 for the hunting license and $300 for the OTC tag.
2021-22 Arizona Hunting RegulationsBig game species covered in this booklet include deer (mule deer and white-tailed deer), fall turkey, fall javelina, bighorn sheep, fall bison, fall bear, and mountain lion. Note: Sandhill crane hunts are now included in this booklet.
