I hunted in the area near Fort Huachuca and the border last year for Mearns. Pretty slim pickin's. It took all day to find a covey. We found it within an hour or two of sunset as I recall. I intentionally took only two birds. I'd say the Mearns need a break. No sense in erradicating the bird entirely. I'm not going there for Mearns until the reports of their numbers are on the rise. Beautiful land to hunt quail in, though.