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What's Happening Now >> End of January 2012, Rainfall Update!, Quail Hunting Forum

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Quail Outlooks by Region > Region 4

Region 1 |Region 2 | Region 3 | Region 5 | Region 6

Unit 40B	Unit 43B	Unit 45B
Unit 20C	Unit 41	Unit 44A	Unit 45C
Unit 39	Unit 42	Unit 44B
Unit 40A	Unit 43A	Unit 45A

Unit 40B

Overview: Gambel's Quail concentrations in the unit can be highly variable. As with many desert species, quail populations are dependent on annual rainfall. Last years rains boosted quail numbers, but this year hasn't been quite as wet. Hunters should expect to find decent quail numbers this year, but as with any type of hunting, pre-season scouting to locate concentrations of quail may be necessary. Agricultural areas and areas with/around water would be good places to start. If you hunt in the desert, concentrate your efforts in and around washes as these areas typically provide good cover and food supply. Walk the washes looking for tracks and keep your ears open as you may hear quail before you see them. Often times a quail call can allow you to get the birds to give away their position. A good dog can be helpful, especially after a covey has broken up.

A large portion of Unit 40B is located within the Barry M. Goldwater Range. Range Access permits are required to enter the range. Permits can be obtained from the following agency: Marine Corp Air Station in Yuma (928) 341-3318. Note all off-road vehicles must meet street legal requirements prior to entering the range.

Hunters are reminded to pick up a copy of current hunting regulations to check bag and possession limits and season dates before going into the field. Be sure to obtain landowner permission prior to hunting private land.

Areas: The Yuma area has an abundance of agricultural fields. The fringe habitat surrounding the fields usually holds good concentrations of quail. Hunting this area with or without a dog should pay off.

Hunting along the Colorado River should be good as well. Much of the river parallels farm fields, providing excellent habitat for quail. Dense brush and stands of salt cedar in these areas are also good places to find quail.

Hunting the desert country should provide for good hunting as well. Areas along the Tinajas Altas Mountains and the Copper Mountains are good locations to try. If you find water, you should find quail. Hunters are reminded that quail may be widely dispersed so don't limit you efforts to just these mountain ranges, if hunting these areas doesn't pay off try some off the others areas on the range.

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Unit 43B

Overview: Unit 43B's quail populations, like the rest of the state, fluctuate greatly with the levels of precipitation received. Unfortunately, unit 43B is generally hit harder by droughts then the rest of the state. Nonetheless, when conditions are right, all parts of the unit can provide very good quail hunting opportunities. Increased rain over the last few years has allowed unit 43B quail populations to recover from the previous droughts and 2009 should be an above average year.

Areas: Unit 43B includes land managed as BLM wilderness, the Yuma Proving Ground, and the Imperial Wildlife Refuge. Land managed by each of these agencies has different land use regulations, including areas closed to hunting. There are several areas in unit 43B that require an U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground hunting permit.

The area between Highway 95 and the Kofa refuge often supports good populations of quail. The area contains a multitude of large desert washes heading west from the Castle Dome Mountains. During good conditions one will easily find quail in these washes.

Quail populations are probably the densest on the Imperial refuge. However, not all areas on the refuge are open to hunting, so check with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service before hunting here. Additionally, being so close to the Colorado River, quail in the area are often found in very dense stands of salt cedar and mesquite. Look for the birds further inland.

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Unit 45B

Unit 45Bs quail population continues to respond to fluctuations in the amount of rainfall received. The 2009 season hunting season should be good.

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Unit 20C

Overview: Quail are found in many areas of the unit especially along mountain edges and throughout the desert locations. Much of the unit is a shrub and grassland mix and these areas usually produce good quail numbers. Wet winters are key in producing good quail numbers. Each of the last two years saw increases in the quail population. This year's quail season will be better than it has been for quite some time. Hunters not familiar with a particular area should drive the roads and where they cross small washes check for quail tracks. If you see fresh tracks walk these areas. Getting out of the vehicle allows hunters to hear quail calling and if the covey is close you will hear their typical clucking. In a dry year quail frequently concentrate around water. Hunters should drive to stock ponds and walk areas within a half-mile or so of the water. Checking the edges of the pond for tracks will indicate quail use at that stock pond.

Areas: Quail can be found throughout all elevations in Unit 20C from 2000 to 5500 feet. Quality bird hunting (especially in good years) is usually found at mid elevations where the vegetation is a grassland and shrub mix. Also those areas adjacent to permanent water whether a stock pond or creek are always prime locations. Drainages in the unit that are perennial at least along portions of their length include Date Creek, the Hassayampa, Waterman Creek, South Fork of the Santa Maria, and Kirkland Creek. The Date Creek road running north from Congress to Hillside is a popular area. Also the Joshua forest adjacent to Highway 93 northwest of Wickenburg is a good area that does not seem to attract high hunter numbers.

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Unit 41

Overview: The 2009 hunt is expected to be a good one, with areas near agriculture experiencing the best hatches

Areas: Desert: The heart of the desert quail hunting in the unit is the Palomas Plains area north of Dateland. Numerous large desert riparian areas that provide good quail habitat bisect this large, flat area. Access: About 65 miles east of Yuma on Interstate 8, take the Dateland highway north to ½ mile east of the entrance to Whitewing Ranch, then north on this road into the desert area. Vehicles are restricted to existing roads, trails and desert washes.

Wellton Mohawk Valley and Gila River area: A fair hatch has produced fair to good numbers along the north side of the valley and the Gila River area. Birds along the Gila River are very difficult to hunt because of the dense brush. Please take notice of private land and posting and don't enter fields where standing crops are growing. Access: About 30 miles east of Yuma on Interstate 8, take exits 20, 29, 36, 40 and 52 north to the valley and the Gila River area.

Hyder Valley and Gila River Area: Fair numbers of birds can be found around the agriculture areas of the Hyder valley and the Gila River area north of Sentinel. Please take notice of private land and posting. Access. From Sentinel on Interstate 8 west Gila Bend, Take the Sentinel highway north to the Gila River and then on north to Hyder.

Harquahala Valley: Fair numbers of birds can be found around the agriculture areas and the adjacent desert areas of the valley. Please take notice of private land and posting. Access: West of Buckeye on Interstate 10, take the Harquahala Valley road to the valley (98-7).

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Unit 44A

Overview: The outlook for quail should be above average for 2009. A good hatch is expected this spring which means the overall population should be up from last year. This year the Harquahala's have gotten more summer rains than the Harcuvar's so more birds should have survived. Hunters can expect to see fairly large coveys around the agricultural fields and around the base of the mountains. Hunters are reminded not to camp within a quarter mile of a stock tank or catchment and not shoot within a quarter mile of an occupied structure.

The Centennial Wash between Salome and Aguila should be a good spot for quail. Both the Harquahala's and Harcuvar's are currently supporting fair numbers of quail around the base of the mountains. The Black Mountains and the upper end of Alamo Lake also have a good number of birds.

Areas: Quail can be found throughout all elevations in Unit 44A from 500 to 5,000 feet. Quality bird hunting is usually found along the foothill areas within this unit. The large lower elevation washes also have concentrations of quail. Such washes have a variety of ironwood, mesquite and Palo verde trees that quail favor. The desert surrounding the agricultural fields consistently holds good numbers of birds and is usually unaffected by lack of summer rains. Remember large portions of the agricultural fields are privately owned and some are closed to hunting. Quail are not totally dependent on open water but are often found near a water source.

For the western portion of the unit the favorite spot is along the Bill Williams River. This river is in most places a perennial stream that flows from Alamo Lake into Lake Havasu. The Bill Williams River is the boundary for Units 44A and 16A. There are several ranches along the river including the Lincoln Ranch and Planet Ranch. Both of these ranches are posted no trespassing so do not enter them without the landowners' permission. The western part of the river is within the Bill Williams National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge allows hunting only on the south side of the river. Any hunting done on the Refuge must meet their rules and regulations. Please note that you may only be in possession of NON-TOXIC SHOT while hunting the refuge. For additional refuge information call (928) 667-4144.

The upper end of Alamo Lake, Santa Maria River, Big Sandy, and Date Creek Rivers are all good places to find quail. This area can be very thick with mesquite and salt cedar but with a good dog, a limit is fairly common. You get to this area off the State Route 93-Alamo Road (dirt Alamo Road). This road is 38 miles of two-wheel-drive dirt road that ends at Alamo Lake. You must turn northeast on the Palmerita Ranch Road approximately two miles southeast of the Wayside Inn.

The area northwest of Wickenburg to Alamo Lake is dotted with stock ponds. Just about every dirt road between the dirt Alamo road and State Route 71 between Highway 93 and Aguila will eventually end at a stock pond. There are several stock ponds west of Highway 93 north of the dirt Alamo Road and east of the Black Mountains. The Joshua Forest along Highway 93 south of the Santa Maria River can also be good.

The north side of the Harquahala's and the south side of the Harcuvar's are reached off State Route 60 between Wenden and Aguila. The eastern end of both mountains is reached off the Eagle Eye Road running through Aguila. The south side of the Harquahala's is reached off the Salome-Buckeye Road between Interstate 10 and State Route 60.

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Unit 45C

Overview: Unit 45C's quail populations, like the rest of the state, fluctuate greatly with the levels of precipitation received. Fortunately, unit 45C was not hit as hard by the drought as it's surrounding areas and 2009 is sizing up to be a good year. All parts of the unit can provide very good quail hunting opportunities.

Areas: All of 45C lies within the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge and is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Kofa refuge often supports good populations of quail. The area contains a multitude of large desert washes heading west from the Castle Dome Mountains. During good conditions one will easily find quail in these washes.

Four-wheel drive is recommended. Hunters should keep in mind that very little of the Kofa is accessed by vehicle and vehicles are required to stay on designated roads. ATV's may be useful, but check with the Kofa about where they can be used and ATV's must be licensed and insured for highway driving.

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Unit 39

Overview: Earlier this year, many coveys were observed. Currently, the area has received some November and December rainfalls and the results have been significantly more observations.

Gambel's quail can be generally found along large washes and closely associated to mountainsides. I recommend you acquire a quail call to assist you in locating coveys, as they call back.

Areas: The area encompasses several wilderness areas, the Sonoran Desert National Monument, and the Barry M. Goldwater Range, BMGR. The wilderness areas are the Tabletop, Estrella, Maricopa, Woolsey, and Signal Peak Mountains. The Bureau of Land Management, BLM, administers all these wilderness areas. The BMGR is unique, because Luke Air Force Base regulates access and activities on the BMGR through its sister base the Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field, Gila Bend A.F.A.F. One last note, January 17th, 2001 President Clinton signed the areas of the North and South Maricopa Mountains to be included into the Sonoran Desert National Monument. BLM is preparing a comprehensive management plan and has conducted public and inter-agency scoping meetings and a final draft is expected to come out this year. You can be put on a mailing list for updates and scheduled meetings through BLM. Additional information can be found in February 1998's issue of Arizona Wildlife Views.

Unit 39 may be accesses by numerous cattle gates along state route 85, S.R. 85, between Gila Bend and Buckeye, as well as along the north side of Interstate 8, I-8, between Sentinel and Stanfield. I recommend that you contact BLM at 623-580-5500 to obtain wilderness area information regarding access and activities constraints.

In November, temperatures will range from 80 to 44 degrees Fahrenheit through out the units. Precipitation in November is high for the area, accumulating as much as an inch. December and January weather are similar, with less precipitation.

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Unit 42

Overview: Quail hunting opportunities in Unit 42 are ample during years when good winter rains produce good quail numbers. The significant amount of rain Arizona received last winter has resulted in lots of available forage for quail this year. Last years quail numbers were good and recent winter rains should produce a good hatch of young birds this fall. Quail numbers are not as high as the early 1980's, but they have increased and hunters should notice an improvement. Concentrate hunting efforts in desert washes where quail have the forage and shelter they enjoy. Another good bet is to look for mesquite trees that are adjacent to a perennial water source and you should find good quail hunting nearby. A good bird dog can be helpful in finding and retrieving downed birds. Those without a dog need to move quickly or the covey will outrun you in the open desert.

Areas: The highest density quail populations in Unit 42 tend to occur in the Vulture Mountains that are located just south of Wickenburg. To access the Vultures from Wickenburg, take Highway 60 west to the Vulture Mine road. Turn south and follow this road approximately 2-3 miles to the intersection of the Vulture Peak Road. The Vulture Peak Road has many side roads that all offer access into good quail habitat. Jackrabbit Wash runs through the central portion of Unit 42 and offers good quail hunting along its entire length.

Quail hunting in the lower desert portions of the unit is more challenging. Again finding a water source with nearby mesquite trees and washes will improve your chances of finding quail. A well-trained pointing dog can be priceless when hunting quail. Listen for quail calls and be prepared to be surprised by breaking coveys while walking toward the calls.

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Unit 44B

Overview: The unit has one species of quail, the Gambel's quail. A wet winter in 2008 has helped improve local populations. Quail are generally found up in the steep canyons in the New Water and Plomosa Mountain Ranges especially where some of the manmade potholes are located or in the larger densely vegetated washes. The majority of the unit is managed by the BLM with most of the unit accessible from existing roads, trails, and washes. The only exception is the New Water Mountain Wilderness that is closed to all motorized vehicles.

Areas: The northern part of the unit has the least numbers of permanent water sources. Jeep trails parallel either side of the Plomosas and cross numerous washes. Walking these washes may be productive. On the East Side of the Plomosa's some of the washes have natural potholes that may hold water from late summer rains. Bouse wash is the largest drainage in this part of the unit and flows from Hwy 60 near Brenda, through Bouse, and around the northern end of the Plomosas towards the Colorado River. Large, dense mesquite and palo-verdes in this wash can provide good cover for coveys.

South of the Plomosa road, a number of large washes flow from the inner areas of the mountains. Stop and listen where roads cross for calling quail. County road 42E, between Bouse and Brenda, has a number of livestock tanks and some thick patches of mesquite. Just keep in mind that there are a number of homes also scattered along this road. Don't shoot within a 1/4-mile of these structures and be sure to ask permission before hunting on private land.

The area south of Interstate 10 is almost completely BLM land. A number of jeep trails provide access to most of the unit. New Water Mountain Road, Ramsey Mine road, and Gold Nugget Wash are the three main access routes. Just outside of Quartzite, a couple of roads pass through the Long Term Visitor Areas and head east up into the Plomosas. Be aware that this area will increase in off-highway traffic as it gets closer to December and January and more winter visitors start migrating south.

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Unit 40A

Overview: Expectations of this coming Gambel's quail season is looking up. Earlier this year, many coveys were observed. Currently, the area has received some November and January rainfalls and the results have been significantly more observations. Gambel's quail can be generally found along large washes and closely associated closely associated to mountainsides. I recommend you acquire a quail call to assist you in locating coveys, as they call back.

Areas: The area encompasses a wilderness area, the Sonoran Desert national Monument, and the Barry M. Goldwater Range, BMGR. The wilderness area is the Tabletop Mountains and the Bureau of Land Management, BLM, administers this wilderness area. A note, January 17th, 2001 President Clinton signed the areas of the Sand Tank and Tabletop Mountains to be included into the Sonoran Desert National Monument. The BMGR is unique, because Luke Air Force Base regulates access and activities on the BMGR through its sister base the Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field, Gila Bend A.F.A.F.

Unit 40A is accessible by cattle gates along the south side of I-8 between Gila Bend and Stanfield, as well as along the east side of S.R. 85 between Gila Bend and why. The BMGR boundary will be posted and have locked gate entrances. To access the BMGR, you and all your party members 18 and older will require permission through the Gila Bend A.F.A.F., at range operations 928-683-6220/6105. Currently an environmental video is available to view on a voluntary basis. Prior to access, you'll sign a hold harmless document and obtain a one-year access permit, to be presented upon request to any government law enforcement or range security officer. The one-year permit is from July 1 to June 30 the following year. Permits are now available through several federal governmental agencies as follows: BLM at the Deer Valley and Yuma office, Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field, Yuma U.S. Marine Corps Air Station, and the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. All off road vehicles will be required to meet street legal requirements, i.e. registration, insurance, and specific equipment, prior to entering the range. In the works, a 1-800 number is being set up for range users to call regarding access. Note: the BMGR is an active tactical U.S. Air Force Range and these precautions are necessary to avoid placing yourself in harms way. Tactical ranges where air to surface impacts occur are closed to all recreational activities. Ranges A & B are over flight areas open for recreation generally all year round to the public after meeting the above requirements. Additional information can be found in issues of August 1995, May 1997, and November 1997 of the Arizona Wildlife Views.

In November, temperatures will range from 80 to 44 degrees Fahrenheit through out the units. Precipitation in November is high for the area, accumulating as much as an inch. December and January weather are similar, with less precipitation.

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Unit 43A

The outlook for quail hunting is fair to good on the Cibola NWR. Hunters should have success on the Island Unit, which is open for quail hunting until 3:00pm. Quail hunting is also permitted on Farm Unit II except during the goose hunt. Be sure to read the Cibola NWR hunting regulations. These can be found in kiosks at the entrance to the refuge, on the island unit, and at the refuge office. Be aware that these regulations are revised often.

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Unit 45A

Unit 45A's quail population has fluctuated greatly in response to the amount of rainfall received. Fortunately this unit has received good winter rains in 2008 and 2009, and quail hunting should be good. The quail population is evenly dispersed throughout the unit, with many decent sized coveys.

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