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Quail Outlooks by Region > Region 6

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Unit 20B	Unit 23	Unit 25M
Unit 21	Unit 24A	Unit 26M
Unit 22	Unit 24B	Unit 47M

Unit 20B

Overview:
Although walking is rough, the foothills of the Bradshaw Mts. offer some of the better quail hunting in the unit. Concentrate your efforts near permanent water sources (springs, rivers), stock tanks and washes.

Suggested areas to hunt include: Bumblebee Basin Rim, foothills of the following mountains: Buckhorn Mts., Hieroglyphic Mts., Silver Mt. Wickenburg Mtns. and the south and east sides of the Bradshaw Mtns. Prior to hunting in Lake Pleasant Regional Park, check the current hunting regulations under Commission Rule R12-4-301 for restrictions.

Maps are available from the Bureau of Land Management that (Phoenix Field Office) indicate land status (private, State Trust, US Forest Service, etc).

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Unit 23

General Comments: The overall outlook for quail in Unit 23 is fair due to good winter rainfall. There are some localized spots that will have hold-over adult birds from last year, but look forward to many young birds in the population this year.

Hunt Structure: The quail hunt will be similar to the past years with a liberal 4-month season. The bag limit will again be 15 quail per day with a possession limit of 30 quail after the opening day. Unit 23's quail population is predominately Gambel's quail.

Access: Gambel quail are primarily a desert scrub and chaparral species. This places the quail hunt emphasis on the southern and lower elevation areas of the unit. Here again Tonto Basin south around the base of the Sierra Anchas over to Cherry Creek and the Fort Apache Indian Reservation boundary comprises the bulk of the quail habitat in Unit 23. Access via the low water crossings of Tonto Creek in the Punkin Center vicinity and State Highway 288 to the A-Cross Road (Forest Road 60) and Cherry Creek Road (Forest Road 203) are the main access routes into the unit. Be cognizant of flow levels in Tonto Creek and check crossing conditions and weather before proceeding across the creek. Sudden monsoon-type storms could make Tonto Creek impassable for hours or days.

Tips: Check out the earthen stock tanks scattered throughout the desert areas, they provide water for a variety of species including quail. Quail often roost in cholla thickets or forests at night so check these areas out early in the morning and late evenings. Be cognizant of private property and home sites. Remember it is unlawful to discharge a firearm while hunting within 1/4 mile of any occupied building without permission.

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Unit 25M

Overview: Quail season in Unit 25M is usually open from early October until early February (See Fall Hunt regulations for exact dates). Gamble's Quail can be found throughout the unit. Hunters 14 years of age and older are required to have a valid hunting license. Lawful methods for taking quail include: shotguns shooting shot, handguns shooting shot, bow and arrow, falconry, and crossbow.

Unit 25M encompasses several incorporated areas including the cities of Casa Grande, Coolidge, Eloy, Florence and Apache Junction. Each of the cities has restrictions on discharging firearms within the city limits. Hunters should check with local municipalities each year on the city boundaries and weapon restrictions. In addition, hunters need to ensure that they are more than 1/4 mile from all residences when hunting.

Areas: Unit 25M offers Quail hunters numerous dirt water tanks and agricultural areas where these birds tend to congregate. The extreme northeast corner of Unit 25M offers decent populations of small game on the State Trust Land that has yet to be sold and developed. Access on State Trust Land is permitted to those actively hunting with a valid hunting license. Remember, it is unlawful to target shoot on State Trust Lands.

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Unit 21

Overview: The entire unit has good quail populations except for high elevations found in the north-central portion of the unit. The 1997-'98 quail season was one of the most difficult for quail hunters due to the continuing drought over the last several years. Quail hunting is expected to improve for the 1998-'99 season depending on the combination of winter rains and summer monsoons. Since Unit 21 is so large and there are many areas to hunt quail, it is the hunter's choice where they like to hunt. Quail hunters with dogs will have better luck in the northern open country and those without dogs might be better off hunting the southern half of Unit 21. One tip while on a quail hunt is not to spend too much time in one area. You may find that you are more successful using this method than hunting a single area for a long period of time.

Areas: Here are just a few suggestions on locations to try hunting quail in Unit 21. In the north portion of Unit 21 take the Bloody Basin Road east and try hunting Cornstalk Flat which is just west of FS Road 677. Continue north on the 677 Road and hunt the heads of Silver and Bishop Creek. Try hunting around the junction of FS Road 269 and FS 24 Road, which is near Tangle Creek. From Interstate 17 take the Table Mesa Road east to FS Road 24, hunting along the way. In the southern half of the unit try hunting both sides of FS Road 205 all the way to Horseshoe Lake.

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Unit 24A

Overview: Unit 24A has a viable population of Gambel's quail. Keep in mind that the following areas are recommended areas to scout and do not guarantee success.

Areas: These birds can be found anywhere in the unit. The highest densities of quail will be found in the deserts in the Drippings Springs area. There are clutches of young in this area found as early as the first of June. The Horseshoe Bend area also holds a large number of birds. This area can be accessed from Highway 188 going west out of Globe headed to the Roosevelt area on F.R. 219. Two more areas that hold quail include the Copper Hills area just north of Globe, and the 7-mile Wash area. These last three areas total about the same number of birds as the Dripping Springs area does.

The problem with the Dripping Springs area is that it has a lot of cholla cactus. This can be hard on dogs and hunters that have not hunted this type of vegetation before. The last areas mentioned above have an average huntable population. When hunting these birds they may escape into the dense brush making it difficult to hit them.

The birds located the northern portion of the unit can be found in the canyon bottoms and in areas near springs and waterholes. Hunt the birds down canyon of the waterholes in the more arid, desert areas.

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Unit 26M

Overview: Quail season in Unit 26M is usually open from early October until early February (See Fall Hunt regulations for exact dates). Both Gamble's Quail and Scaled Quail have been known to occur in 26M; however, Gamble's Quail are the most common. Hunters 14 years of age and older are required to have a valid hunting license. Lawful methods for taking quail include: shotguns shooting shot, handguns shooting shot, bow and arrow, falconry, and crossbow.

Unit 26M encompasses several incorporated areas including the cities of Surprise, Peoria, El Mirage, Youngtown, Buckeye, Litchfield Park, Goodyear, Avondale, Sun City, Cave Creek and Scottsdale. Each of the cities have restrictions on discharging firearms within the city limits. Hunters should check with local municipalities each year on the city boundaries and weapon restrictions. In addition, hunters need to ensure that they are more than 1/4 mile from all residences when hunting. Areas: Due to expanding development and annexations by local municipalities, Unit 26M offers limited dove hunting opportunities, while participating in firearms seasons. The extreme northwest corner of Unit 26M offers decent populations of small game on land that has not yet be annexed by a local municipality.

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Unit 22

Overview: Unit 22 has one species of quail, the Gambel's quail. Gambel's quail is widely distributed over the unit ranging from lower Sonoran desert to juniper scrub oak grasslands.

If you use an off-highway vehicle (OHV), obey all laws and stay on existing roads. It is illegal to drive cross-country or hunt from a motor vehicle. Most of the unit is public land intermixed with small holdings of private land. Obey and respect all trespassing signs and laws, and remember to leave the hunting area cleaner then how you found it. One further note, shotgun shells are considered litter so please protect your privilege to hunt and pick them up.

Access to the unit is best obtained by purchasing a USFS Tonto National Forest map at local map and hiking stores, or by contacting the Tonto National Forest office in Phoenix at (602) 225-5200 or any of the Tonto National Forest Ranger Districts located in: Mesa (480) 610-3300, Cave Creek (480) 488-3441, Globe (520) 402-6200, Tonto Basin (520) 467-2236, or Payson (520) 474-7900.

Areas: From the Phoenix metro area, the unit can be easily accessed from Highway 87 north to Payson and south on Highway 188 towards Tonto Basin and Roosevelt Lake. Good quail numbers can usually be found starting at the southern end of the unit west of Highway 87 along Sycamore Creek, up to the Diamond Mountain area, Barnhardt Trail, and west of Payson. To the east of Highway 87, try "The Rolls" area and the foothills along the west side of the Mazatzal Mountains up through Sunflower, and just south of Payson. The east side of the Mazatzal Mountains can be accessed via Highway 188. Hunt along the foothills from Tonto Basin to the Three Bar Wildlife Area. The Three Bar Wildlife Area is open to quail hunting and has many water catchments designed for specifically for quail use.

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Unit 24B

Overview: The outlook for the 2008/2009 quail season in Unit 24B is probably in the average to above average range. Ample winter rains between January and March of last year provided the necessary green-up that is required for good quail reproduction. It is this type of feed that influences breeding behavior and clutch size for quail. Simply put, the more winter rain there is, the more birds there will be the following fall, and conversely, the less rain, the fewer quail. A cold, wet period during the end of May was cause for concern, since hens were laying eggs and on nests at that time. There appears to be a number of birds that nested after that time, and hatchlings have been observed even as late as mid-August.

This summer's monsoons have provided good cover in many areas, which may help both the quail and quail hunters.

Quail can be found throughout 24B, and their numbers appear to be better than last season.

Gambel's quail are the only species of quail that are hunted in 24B. They are found throughout the unit primarily at elevations below 5,000 feet. In the lower desert areas, look for quail along mesquite-lined washes or arroyos. Another desert plant species that indicates good quail habitat is the desert hackberry. In the mid-elevation areas of the higher desert or grasslands, cover is again important. Concentrate on hunting around drainages that have mature vegetation. Quail also occur in the higher oak or juniper portions of the unit, but the larger trees and thicker vegetation make for difficult hunting conditions.

Cholla is very common throughout much of the lower desert in 24B, and it can be quite a problem for bird dogs. In general, the greatest amounts of cholla are found at lower elevations on the south side of the unit between Apache Junction and Superior. Cholla can also be problem in some areas south of Roosevelt Lake

Hunting access within 24B is very good since most of the unit is on public land - either the Tonto National Forest or Arizona State Trust Land. A permit is required to be on state land, but if you are legally hunting, your hunting license serves as that permit.

Areas: On the south side of the unit, major access roads into quail hunting areas include the Queen Valley Road, FS roads 357, 172, 650, 8, and 229. On the north side of unit, FS roads 49, 83, and 449 will take you into some good areas to hunt.

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Unit 47M

Overview: Quail season in 47M is usually open from early October until early February (See Fall Hunt regulations for exact dates). Both Gamble's Quail and Scaled Quail have been known to occur in 47M; however, Gamble's Quail are the most common. Hunters 14 years of age and older are required to have a valid hunting license. Lawful methods for taking quail include: shotguns shooting shot, handguns shooting shot, bow and arrow, falconry, and crossbow.

Unit 47M encompasses several incorporated areas including the cities of Phoenix, Scottsdale, Peoria and Surprise. Each of the cities have restrictions on discharging firearms within the city limits. Hunters should check with local municipalities each year on the city boundaries and weapon restrictions. In addition, hunters need to ensure that they are more than 1/4 mile from all residences when hunting.

Areas: Due to expanding development and annexations by local municipalities, Unit 47M offers limited quail hunting opportunities, while participating in firearms seasons. If you are feeling adventurous try hunting dove with archery equipment. Archery dove hunters should look for pockets of state trust land in the far north and southwest portions of 47M. Be sure to check with the local municipalities to determine if there are any restrictions on using archery equipment within city limits.

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