I just spent a month in Tucson, where I was born, and hunted some Gambel's and doves. Please, DON'T HUNT MEARNS QUAIL. They are extremely low in numbers this year and last year. Every bird you take won't be able to help replenish the population, if/when the area gets a good monsoon season. Gambel's and scaled quail have a much larger range, and while low in numbers, they are still huntable at least. Seeing all the out of state, retired hunters crawling all over the Mearn's habitat the last few years (me included), makes me wish that people would respect the birds, and keep their mouth's shut! I know some will disagree and say that hunting doesn't adversely affect the populations, but in the case of Mearns, I think it does. Taking even 2 birds out of a small covey can't help. In a good year 8-10 birds is a good covey. In a bad year there may be only 2-3.
