sbhooper
Well-known member
After returning to Tucson and laughing about the days stupidity and the good luck of getting out of there, we got some sleep to prepare for the next day of Mearn's hunting.
We did not get an early start, since we did not get home until 0230. We loaded up my buddy Phil's dogs and he, his brother George and I took off for the high country southeast of Tucson. Phil really knows the country and has very good English pointers and so the hunt proceeded well. We got off the path a bit, to hunt one ridge that would have kept most people at bay. We were immediately into birds and I got my first Mearn's in the bag.
We hunted that area and went to two more that were easy access and had been hunted. The easy areas also held lots of birds. We probably put up eight or nine coveys of quail and bagged eight for the day. It was a beautiful day to be out and about and the dogs were a blast. Anyone that has not hunted Mearn's quail over pointers is missing out on a real treat. They hold tight and it is tight shooting, as you are hunting in thick oak and juniper trees, plus some high grass and brush. It is very challenging, quick action that will test your reflexes.
Here are some pics from that hunt.
A bit of scenery.
First Mearn's for me.
George and me.
George and Phil.
Phil found this head while crossing a fence. It fits with the quail!
This was a great time with great friends and a bit of adventure thrown in. After a couple days, I went on to visit another bird hunter friend of mine in Wilcox, Arizona and got a few more birds to bring home.
We did not get an early start, since we did not get home until 0230. We loaded up my buddy Phil's dogs and he, his brother George and I took off for the high country southeast of Tucson. Phil really knows the country and has very good English pointers and so the hunt proceeded well. We got off the path a bit, to hunt one ridge that would have kept most people at bay. We were immediately into birds and I got my first Mearn's in the bag.
We hunted that area and went to two more that were easy access and had been hunted. The easy areas also held lots of birds. We probably put up eight or nine coveys of quail and bagged eight for the day. It was a beautiful day to be out and about and the dogs were a blast. Anyone that has not hunted Mearn's quail over pointers is missing out on a real treat. They hold tight and it is tight shooting, as you are hunting in thick oak and juniper trees, plus some high grass and brush. It is very challenging, quick action that will test your reflexes.
Here are some pics from that hunt.
A bit of scenery.
First Mearn's for me.
George and me.
George and Phil.
Phil found this head while crossing a fence. It fits with the quail!
This was a great time with great friends and a bit of adventure thrown in. After a couple days, I went on to visit another bird hunter friend of mine in Wilcox, Arizona and got a few more birds to bring home.
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