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Quail Outlooks by Region > Region 5

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Unit 28	Unit 32	Unit 35B	Unit 37B
Unit 29	Unit 33	Unit 36A
Unit 30A	Unit 34A	Unit 36B
Unit 30B	Unit 34B	Unit 36C	.
Unit 31	Unit 35A	Unit 37A	.

Unit 28

Overview: Quail populations in unit 28 are down from the population highs of the 1995-1996 season. The amount of winter moister received each year has a direct correlation on the number of bird seen the next year. Winter moisture effects the breeding ability of Quail. Years of high winter rainfall produce large numbers of young birds where low winter rains produce few birds. Unit 28 received average winter rains this past winter. Very few birds were seen paired up, and a very few young birds were seen early this spring. The birds seem to be more frequently located near a water source. Both Gambel's and Scaled quail may be found in Unit 28. Gambel's may be found anywhere in the unit, while Scaled may be found in the foothills of the Peloncillo Mountains. Scaled quail were slower in recovering from the droughts of past years. The Scaled Quail in the unit seemed to be able to utilize the summer rains and their numbers can be effected by the amount of summer rains that Unit 28 receives.

Areas: Gambel's quail may be found along the Gila River. Some of the areas along the river are quite thick with brush. Quail may be found coming and going to the river with roosting sites found in the mesquite thickets. Some patience is required to hunt quail in these areas, even though quail numbers are quite high along the river.

Gambel's quail may also be found in the foothills of the Gila mountains, north and northwest of Safford, the Whitlock mountains, southeast of Safford, the Black Hills, East of Safford and the Peloncillo mountains south and west of Duncan.

The Gila Mountains may be accessed by crossing the Gila River at Solomon, Safford, Thatcher, Pima or Eden. A road parallels the river on the north side and runs from the mouth of Bonito Creek to Geronimo. There are many side roads and sand washes that will allow access to the Gila Mountains and quail can be located in most areas.

The Whitlock Mountains may be found by traveling east from Safford on Hwy 70. At milepost 362.1 on Hwy 70 between Safford and Duncan, you will find the Hackberry Ranch road. This road travels south and allows access to the Whitlock Mountains, which are west of the ranch headquarters.

Just before the Hackberry Ranch road, a smaller road takes off Hwy 70 to the north. This allows access to the Black Hills. This road has many forks and gives the hunter access to many sand washes and good quail hunting.

The desert, east of Hwy 191 offers good Gambel's hunting. Many small roads can be found heading east. Tanque road, just north of the Stockton Pass road offers access to these sloping hills that run into the San Simon Wash.

Scaled quail may be found in the foothills and on the grassy slopes surrounding the Peloncillo Mountains. These mountains are located west and south of Duncan. They may also be accessed from the Hackberry Ranch. The Lazy-B Ranch south of Duncan offers limited Scaled quail hunting. Access to this ranch may be found off the highway between Duncan and Lordsburg, about 5 miles into New Mexico.

In general quail can be found throughout unit 28. A scouting trip prior to your hunt can prove to be very beneficial.

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Unit 32

Overview: All three species of quail can found in this unit; Gambel's, Scaled and a few Mearns in limited areas. Gambel's quail are by far the most common. Scaled quail can be found in the lower elevations northwest of Willcox around the Steele Hills and Allen Flat areas. A few Mearns quail can be found in the oak canyons in the higher elevations.

NOTICE: Due to land ownership patterns, many access routes leading to public and State Trust Lands in Southeastern Arizona cross privately owned lands. Through the Sportsman/Landowner Access Program, the AGFD is actively working to minimize conflicts between private landowners and outdoor recreationalists in an attempt to keep many areas open to recreation. Access to private, state and public lands can only be maintained through the cooperation of landowners/lessees and outdoor recreationalists. Please due your part by obeying all laws and signs and utilize sign in/out posts. To aid in identifying land status and land marks, I recommend obtaining a Forest Service Map of the Coronado National Forest’s Safford Ranger District.

Areas:
Allen Flat and Steele Hills The area between Willcox and the Three-Links Ranch usually produces fair quail hunting. Access into this area is along the Three-Links Road off of the Pomerene Road along the San Pedro River or Airport Road north of Willcox.

Bonita
The area north and west of Bonita have produced good quail hunting in the past. Access into this area is along Fort Grant Road north of Willcox or west along Rt. 266 south of Safford. Much of the Bonita area is interspersed with state trust and private land. Be a responsible sportsman, know the area you are hunting and respect the wishes of private landowners. Due to irresponsible behavior by a few, new areas of private land have been posted against Hunting. Recommend contacting areas landowners and obtaining a US Forest Service map of the Safford Ranger District to familiarize yourself with the land status in this area.

Klondyke
This area has produced fair numbers of quail during wet years. Recommend hunting a minimum of 1 to 2 miles from the Klondyke-Bonita road. Hunt the side drainages of major canyons and washes. Try the lower slopes of Rattlesnake Mesa, Long Hollow and Deer Creek. For an extended hunt, the south side of Aravaipa Canyon; Parsons and Virgus may be productive, camping equipment and 4-wd vehicle definitely required.

Much of the private land along upper Aravaipa creek and the Klondyke-Bonita road has been posted against hunting. RESPECT the wishes of private property owners.

Redington
The area east of Redington (Redfield Canyon to Kielberg Canyon) can produce fair numbers of quail and usually has less hunting pressure than the Allen Flat or Bonita areas. Try the areas one to two miles from the river in the semi-desert grassland type vegetation. Access into this area is the road north of the Redfield Canyon Bridge or the road south of the San Pedro River Bridge near Redington.

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Unit 35B

Overview: Drought-like weather conditions continue to plague southeastern Arizona. The winter and spring of 2007 produced average rainfall amounts. At this writing, monsoon moisture has been below average, which may adversely affect habitat conditions for Mearn’s quail. The spring moisture may assist Gambel and Scaled populations.

The units contain 3 species of quail: Gambel's, Scaled and Mearns'. The Gambel's and Scaled populations are mainly located around Sierra Vista and east of Nogales in the lower elevation habitat types. The units are predominantly made up of Mearns' quail populations and can be found anywhere oak-juniper habitat types exist.

As with all hunting, scouting prior to the season should be part of your plan. Make sure to locate areas that appear to have received adequate early summer rainfall, thereby, producing habitat conditions that benefit quail recruitment. Along with scouting, a properly trained bird dog is beneficial when hunting Mearns' quail.

Remember that the daily bag limit for Mearns' quail has been reduced from 10 down to 8. The bag limit for Gambel's and Scaled quail remains at 15 per day.

Areas: Gambel's and Scaled quail can be located along the west side of the Patagonia Mts. outside of Nogales, as well as, around Sierra Vista in the desert habitat types and adjacent to the San Pedro River. Caution should be taken along the San Pedro Riparian area since portions of the area are closed to the discharge of firearms. Maps of the closed area can be obtained at the BLM Sierra Vista office. Address: San Pedro RNCA, 1763 Paseo San Luis, Sierra Vista, AZ 85636; Phone 520- 458-3559.

Mearns' quail populations are found throughout the numerous mountain ranges. The most huntable populations are found in the scattered oak-juniper woodlands at elevations ranging from 5,000 - 6,000 feet. These areas, located around the Huachuca Mts., Canelo Hills and Patagonia Mts., have good concentrations of Mearns' quail. Public access throughout these areas is excellent.

To get good Mearns' quail habitat, take I-10 to Hwy 83, south to Sonoita. From Sonoita take Hwy 82 east to Sierra Vista or take Hwy 82 west to Patagonia where the Patagonia Mountains or San Rafael Valley can be accessed. To access the Canelo Hills and the west side of the Huachuca Mts. take Hwy 83 south from Sonoita. Take Hwy 82 from Sonoita to Nogales to access the west side of the Patagonia Mts.

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Unit 37B

Overview: Expect it to be an OK year, but not a great one. The drought has maintained quail numbers at lower than average levels.

Areas: One of the most popular areas to hunt is in the southern third of the unit, but beware not to trespass on posted private property. About 19,000 acres of private land surround Black Mountain. This land is the future site of a major development and some has been rezoned. Some of this land is posted closed to hunting; other parcels are open. You may access this area from the south at milepost 96 off Highway 77 or through the sign-in gate at the Falcon Valley ranch off Highway 79 at milepost 93 north of Oracle Junction. Access is also available via Freeman Road, which crosses the unit from Highway 79 at milepost 112 to Dudleyville off Highway 77. Though most of the true semi-desert grassland has been converted to a brushier shrub community that Gambel's quail prefer, a limited population of scaled quail exists in the healthiest sections of the grasslands. These birds provide a welcome addition to the game bags of hunters seeking Gambel's quail.

There is also good access to quail hunting from Highway 79 on Freeman Rd., 96 Ranch Rd., and Florence-Kelvin Highway For those who don't mind hunting quail in steep terrain, try the Mineral Mountain area north of the Gila River.

Shotgun magazines do not require being plugged to hunt quail. Your shotgun is allowed to hold more than 3 shells for hunting quail and rabbits. Pick up you empty shot shells because they are litter.

Off-road travel is prohibited. As a general rule, a route must show a clear history of use to qualify as a road.

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Unit 29

Overview: The spring rains were fair in most of unit 29 and as a result, overall quail numbers should be good. Some scouting may find areas that have adult holdovers from last year.

West side access can be gained through Willcox south on highway 186. East side access is by exits at Bowie, San Simon or Cavot from I-10. There exists a multitude of secondary access routes on either side of the unit. Coronado National Forest maps of the Chiricahua Mountains will be a great help in locating lesser access roads. These are available at Forest Service Offices.

Area: Gambel's quail inhabit lower Chihuahuan desert grasslands from elevations of 3400-4700'.

Scaled quail like the upper grasslands associated with the foothills from elevations of 4200-5500'.

Mearn's quail prefer the oak-juniper site from 4700-6500 elevations. Distribution of these quail is unit-wide with these limits given above. There will be exceptions to this, but by and large, most of the various quail will be within the stated elevations.

Once in the field, quail can be located by their tracks or calls if not seen. Hunting dogs are a great help in locating birds and retrieving them in dense vegetation. October and early November hunting usually encounters rattlesnakes in the unit so precautions are needed when using dogs. Of course, watering places are good to pick up signs of quail. Birds usually are not more than a mile from drinking water as a general rule.

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Unit 33

Overview: The rain this past spring was sparse and though summer rains have been goodt, winter rains determine the size of the clutch. This means quail populations are low because of poor recruitment in 2005-6. Monsoon storms this summer should help quail populations that do reproduce The most likely areas to find quail will be in the vicinity of water sources. Find a secluded stock tank and work from there.

Area: On the east side of the Catalinas, the area between San Manuel and the Control Road provides ample opportunity. Almost all dirt roads in the area follow a wash at some time, and some lead to cattle waters (a productive quail spot).

The area west of Oracle on the south side of Highway 77 also has some quail. You can pull off the side of the road and park or pull into the road to Biosphere and park. Hunting with a shotgun or a bow is allowed on some of the Biosphere property, but familiarization with building locations is a must. There is no hunting within 1/4 mile of any structure. To ensure future hunting opportunities on Biosphere property, a greater distance should be allowed.

The desert and foothills areas north of Mescal will offer some quail hunting opportunities. Follow the Happy Valley Road north and hunt areas near stock tanks and along washes. Some lucky hunters may find some Scaled Quail in this area also.

Redington road provides limited opportunity for quail hunting, and is easily accessed from Tucson.

The further north one goes beyond Oracle, the better your success will be at finding birds.

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Unit 36A

Overview: Unit 36A is primarily a Gambel’s quail unit, but you can also hunt a decent population of Scaled quail and even a few Mearn’s quail.

Gambel’s quail are best hunted in the grasslands, foothills and in the flat desert scrub country throughout the unit. The best hunting will be by working out away from waters and along larger washes found throughout the unit. Scaled quail are found primarily in the grasslands and foothills. The Mearns’ quail are found on all of the mountains in the unit. In some of the foothill areas, coveys of all three species are intermixed so be sure you are shooting at the right species.

SPECIAL NOTE: It is unlawful to hunt quail on all portions of the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in order to protect the endangered Masked Bobwhite Quail. Contact the Refuge for regulations and more information at 520-823-4251.

*Please read special note at the bottom of this hunt unit report regarding Undocumented Aliens in this hunt unit.

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Unit 30A

Overview: Quail hunting in the unit is will be only fair for the 2007 season due to below average winter and spring precipitation. Three species of quail occur in the unit; Gambel’s, Scaled and Mearns'.

The limit is 15/day, 8 of which may be Mearns’; 30 in possession after opening day. As with any hunting, pre-season scouting will always increase your chances of a successful hunt. Area: Gambel’s and Scaled quail can be located in the lower elevations. Areas such as the San Bernardino Valley, Pat Hills, Elfrida, Kansas Settlement, McNeal and areas south of Bowie should provide some hunting opportunities this year.

To get to the San Bernardino Valley take I-10 to Hwy 191 south to Douglas. Take 15th street East from Douglas. This becomes the Geronimo Trail. Follow the Geronimo Trail into the valley. Hunt along the drainages and grassland areas. Both species of quail inhabit this area.

Elfrida is located approximately 40 miles south of I-10 on Hwy 191. Follow Hwy 191, scout the farming areas on both sides of the road. Also hunt surrounding deserts where water is located. McNeal is located about 10 miles south of Elfrida on 191.

To get to the Kansas Settlement take Hwy 186 from Willcox to Kansas Settlement, follow this road and hunt areas east and west of the Road. This is a populated area so care should be taken when hunting. Always obtain permission to hunt on private property and do not hunt or scout within 1/4 mile of occupied residences.

To get to areas south of Bowie, take the Apache Pass road south of Bowie, AZ. Bowie can best be accessed from I-10. Hunt along the foothills near Happy Camp, Sheep, and Long canyons.

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Unit 34A

Overview: Quail hunting should be fair in the unit this year. Winter rains will mostly impact the desert quail and we had average rains. The best hunting for both Gambel's and Scaled quail will be on the Santa Rita Experimental Range.

Area: To get to the Range go south on I-19 to the Sahuarita exit. Go east past the Old Nogales Highway to Santa Rita Road (F.S. 505). This road will take you to the Range. (Pick up a U.S. Forest Service map. It will show you the road system in the entire unit.) For the best success go to any stock tank and hunt out from there. To find some Scaled Quail hunt close to the hills on the east side of the Range. Major drainages off the F.S. 486 road are good bets to find quail. Be aware of any research activity that may be in progress by the University of Arizona. Be cautious of research personnel and do not disturb any research plots marked or otherwise.

Other good areas to find quail are at the north end of the Santa Rita Mountains. There are large areas of State land between the mountains and Sahuarita Rd. that have good quail numbers. There are lots of new houses in this area so be sure to maintain your ¼ mile distance.

Do a little quail scouting while you are out after dove and you will improve your hunt success.

Mearn's quail season will be good this year in the unit. Calls were noted in the oak grassland habitat that they like to inhabit. Mearn's quail populations are closely related to summer precipitation. Generally, if the monsoons are decent, quail numbers will be good. Most of the Mearns quail habitat has received above average monsoon rainfall.

All canyon systems on the southeast side of the Santa Rita Mountains from Fish Canyon to Temporal canyon will produce fair hunting. If you want to get away from the majority of the hunters, try the higher elevations and steeper slopes. For a little more solitude try upper Temporal, Squaw Gulch, and the canyons around Alto on the southwest side of the Santa Ritas. It's more work but the birds are there and the country is beautiful. Make sure you and your dog are in good shape to hunt those areas. Don't forget to pick up a copy of the hunting regulations before you go. Make sure to check the hunt regulations as the season starts later for Mearns quail than the desert quail, and the bag and possession limits are different.

A popular area for Mearns Quail hunters is Fort and Hog Canyon. The traditional entrance off of Highway 82 is not public access and has been posted by the homeowner's association. Respect landowner's rights and use the alternative access through Gardner Canyon.

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Unit 36B

Overview: Unit 36B is primarily a Mearns quail hunting unit. Some Gambels quail can be found in the San Luis drainage and in the mesquite/grassland habitat located in the northeastern part of the unit.

Good Mearns quail hunting is found in the oak grassland areas along the Ruby Road and in the Tumacacori Mts. Hunt the north facing slopes that have good oak cover. A particularly popular area to hunt Mearns quail is in the canyons near Pena Blanca Lake. Be advised that the area immediately around the lake is a recreational area where shooting any firearm is not allowed. Contact the U.S. Forest Service-Nogales Ranger District Office for more information.

The Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge is closed to all quail hunting in order to protect the endangered Masked Bobwhite Quail.

For access and additional information, please see the write-up on javelina.

Consult hunting regulations for season dates and bag limits.

* Please read the special note regarding border issues at the end of this hunt unit report.

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Unit 30B

Overview: The quail populations (Gambel and Scaled) in the unit will respond to winter rainfall. Overall, we are below average, however rain occurred throughout the winter/spring and created green-up and the quail may respond. The quail populations have suffered from the past drought years, but due to current condition, the desert quail in the area are trying to respond favorably.

Both Gambel and Scaled quail can be found in the unit, and fair populations of scaled quail can be found in the Tombstone, Gleason, Pearce, Cochise, Elfrida, Sunsites, and along the Mexican Border in desert scrub and transitional areas into semi-desert grasslands. Mearns’ quail can be found in the Dragoon Mountains and the Mule Mountains. Restricted access in the Mule Mountains makes it difficult to get to the Mearns’ habitat. During years of above average summer rainfall and normal winter rainfall, Mearns’ can be found in many areas in and around the Dragoon and Mule Mtns. and in isolated areas between the Gleason Rd. and Davis Rd. However, don’t expect to see an abundance of any quail species in the district this season.

Area: Gambel's quail can be found in isolated areas in the unit. An area where greater concentrations exist is along the San Pedro River (be sure to pick up a copy of the Bureau of Land Management's regulations for the San Pedro River National Conservation Area, 1763 Paso San Luis, Sierra Vista, AZ, 85635 (520-458-3559).

Some areas of the river are closed to firearms hunting. The San Pedro River can be accessed near Benson, St. David, HWY 82, Charleston Rd., and HWY 92. Other areas of quail concentrations can be found in upper elevations along the mountain drainage’s, and stock tanks.

Scaled quail can be found throughout the unit in high desert grassland communities. Larger concentrations of scaled quail tend to be found along the base of the eastern side of the Dragoon Mountains, and in the Cochise, Dragoon, and Sunsites/Pearce area, and along the Mexican Border. The eastern side of the Dragoon Mountains, Cochise, and Sunsites can be accessed from Highway 666/191 south of I-10. Recently, residential development in the Pearce/Sunsite area has increased, thus eliminating areas to hunt. During good years large populations can be found along the Davis Road, Gleason Road, and the Pearce Road.

Mearns’ quail are harder to find because of the nature of the quail and because they are found in much smaller concentrations in this unit. They have been found in small pockets in the southwest portion of the Dragoon Mountains, off the Middle-March Road, and in the upper elevations of the Mule Mountains. Denied access in the Mule Mountains makes it extremely difficult to access these areas.

The west side of the Dragoon Mountains can be reached by taking Highway 80 south of I-10 at Benson. Continuing down Highway 80 to Middle March Road, which is only a couple of miles north of Tombstone.

Turn east on the Middle-March road and drive approximately 10 miles until you reach the Forest Service Boundary. Take Forest Service Road 687 north along the west side of the mountain into the West Stronghold. The east side of the mountain is accessed off the Dragoon Road, Ironwood Road, and Middle-March Road.

The Mule Mountains can be accessed off High Lonesome Road and Highway 80. Several canyon roads in the Mules go through private land and are posted and locked, so respect the ranchers' wishes. Hiking across state land will access the upper parts of the canyons.

Access into the southwest corner of the Mule Mountains can be gained off Highway 92 between Sierra Vista and Bisbee. Drive east on Hwy. 92 to Bisbee, there are various dirt roads intersecting the highway from the north (m.p. 345, m.p. 350, and Fowdy Ranch Rd.). This area is becoming developed so be aware of the residences in the area.

Pre-season scouting will improve your hunt success. Be sure and have all the pertinent hunt regulations with you before you go hunting. Please pick up spent shotshells, complaints have been received because livestock have ingested them causing complications and it is littering, a revocable offense.

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Unit 34B

Overview: Quail hunting should be fair this year in the unit. The Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, owned by the Bureau of Land Management, will be fair this year. Coveys have been observed near the Cienega. In addition the area west of Whetstone and north of Highway 82 may produce some decent hunting opportunity.

Area: To get to the Ranch turn south from I-10 onto State Highway 83. The well-marked turn-off is approximately 18 miles south of I-10. Turn east into the National Conservation Area. Stop by the BLM ramada and pick up a copy of their regulations on your way in. To find fair numbers of Gambel's, hunt the large mesquite river beds down close to Cienega Creek. Hunting is a little tough in these areas due to the dense growth. Fair quail numbers are found in the Mattie and upper Wood Canyon and along Gardner Canyon (Pick up a U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management map before you go. It will show you the road system on the National Conservation Area). You will find some Scaled quail on the south end of the Las Cienegas in the more open grassland country. Later in the season when dove season opens for the late hunt, you can have a good combination hunt.

Summary: Fair Gambel populations are also on the Forest Service land on the east side of the Whetstone Mountains. Try Dry and French Joe Canyons. You'll find a few Scaled quail too. Mearns quail are found on the Empire Ranch in Oak Tree Canyon and also off Forest Rd. 779 on the southwest corner of the Whetstone Mountains. The numbers are not high and a good pointing dog is a must but if you want to get away from others it is a good place to go. Remember to do some pre-season scouting to increase your hunt success and pick up a copy of the hunt regulations before you go.

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Unit 36C

Overview: A moderate number of Gambel and Scaled quail may be found in the flats and lower foothills in Unit 36C. An area to focus on would be any of the numerous washes within this unit.

All portions of the Buenos Aires Refuge are closed to quail hunting. Contact the refuge for additional information (phone 520-823-4251).

For access information, please see the write-up on javelina.

Consult hunting regulations for season dates and bag limits.

* Please read the special note regarding border issues at the end of this hunt unit report.

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Unit 31

Overview: Quail hunting in Unit 31 should be fair this year due to the moisture and habitat condition. Both Scaled and Gambels quail are found in the unit.

Areas: Areas to hunt will include but not limited to:
Bonita Valley (Sulphur Springs): Take Ft. Grant North from Willcox to Bonita. Follow Bonita-Klondyke road northwest. Any side roads that lead north to Mt. Graham, FS Road 672 near Durkee hill, Cedar Springs road. Lindsey road directly across from Deer Creek in Unit 32. Hunt lower elevations in grasslands and Mesquite bottoms:

Greasewood Mountains: Take I-10 East to SR 191. Follow 191 North. Take roads off 191 that go West into lower drainages. Any areas in lower elevations around Greasewood Mountains should be fair for quail hunting. Numerous stock waters are located throughout the area. Access is not limited in this area except on the SW side from Willcox.

Obtaining maps and pre-season scouting will help locate areas in the unit that are accessible.

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Unit 35A

Overview: Drought-like weather conditions continue to plague southeastern Arizona. The winter and spring of 2007 produced below average rainfall amounts. To date, monsoon moisture has been below average, which may adversely affect habitat conditions for Mearn’s quail. Even though winter moisture was slightly below average, it may have been sufficient to produce a fair hunting season for Gambel and Scaled quail.

The units contain 3 species of quail: Gambel’s, Scaled and Mearns’. The Gambel’s and Scaled populations are mainly located around Sierra Vista and east of Nogales in the lower elevation habitat types. The units are predominantly made up of Mearns' quail populations and can be found anywhere oak-juniper habitat types exist.

Scouting prior to the season will greatly enhance your success. Look for areas that indicate that early summer rains fell, producing adequate vegetational types to support quail populations. Along with scouting, a properly trained bird dog is beneficial when hunting Mearns' quail.

Also remember that the daily bag limit for Mearns’ quail has been reduced from 10 down to 8. Gambel’s and Scaled quail bag limits remain at 15 per day.

Areas: Gambel’s and Scaled quail can be located along the west side of the Patagonia Mts. outside of Nogales, as well as, around Sierra Vista in the desert habitat types and adjacent to the San Pedro River. Caution should be taken along the San Pedro Riparian area since portions of the area are closed to the discharge of firearms. Maps of the closed area can be obtained at the BLM Sierra Vista office. Address: San Pedro RNCA, 1763 Paseo San Luis, Sierra Vista, AZ 85636; Phone 520- 458-3559.

Mearns' quail populations are found throughout the numerous mountain ranges. The most huntable populations are found in the scattered oak-juniper woodlands at elevations ranging from 5,000 - 6,000 feet. These areas, located around the Huachuca Mts., Canelo Hills and Patagonia Mts., have good concentrations of Mearns' quail. Public access throughout these areas is excellent.

To get good Mearns’ quail habitat, take I-10 to Hwy 83, south to Sonoita. From Sonoita take Hwy 82 east to Sierra Vista or take Hwy 82 west to Patagonia where the Patagonia Mountains or San Rafael Valley can be accessed. To access the Canelo Hills and the west side of the Huachuca Mts. take Hwy 83 south from Sonoita. Take Hwy 82 from Sonoita to Nogales to access the west side of the Patagonia Mts.

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Unit 37A

Overview: Quail are very prolific and populations will rebound quickly with good precipitation. Listen in the early morning for assembly calls. When a covey is broken, observe their directions taken. Give them time to stop then slowly move toward them to get in range. Quail calls also help to re-assemble birds near you.

Areas: Agricultural Fields located south of Arizona City may provide some good hunting opportunities. Be sure to check with landowners and farmers before hunting in their fields. Access from I-10 exit 200 and proceed south on Sunland Gin Road.

Silverbell Mountains and West Silverbell Mountains: Hunt in the thick Sonoran Desert habitat around the sides of the mountains. Access is west of I-10 from Red Rock Exit 226.

Suizo and Durham Hills in the Palo Verde and Ironwood habitat between Highway 79 and I-10 between Florence and Tucson. Access form Highway 79 (Florence Highway) south of Cactus Forest Road to Catalina from any dirt road heading west. Park Link Drive at about milepost 100 of Highway 79 opens all the desert north and south of that road between Highway 79 and I-10.

West and north flats of the Tortolita Mountains. Access from the east frontage road at the Marana exit. Several dirt roads head east toward the mountains. Also dirt roads going south off Park Links Road will lead to the Tortolitas. Access can be gained from the Rail X ranch road in Catalina. Take dirt roads going to the north. Be sure to respect residential areas and observe all postings.

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