Quail, rabbit and squirrel – outdoor recreation at it’s best
Cooler temperatures signals that fall is finally here, and Friday, Oct. 2 marks the opening day for quail (Gambel’s and scaled) and tree squirrel hunting.
To add to the fun, rabbit season for cottontails and jackrabbits is open all year round.
All of these species offer affordable, healthy outdoor recreation, exciting hunting pursuits, and dandy table-fare.
Equipment needed to hunt this quarry is minimal, requiring a general hunting license, a shotgun (.410- to 12-gauge), plenty of No. 7 ½ or 6’s upland shot shells, and a good pair of boots. Young hunters 13 and under (when accompanied by a licensed adult) do not need a hunting license.
Each species is a challenging quarry and hunting them will take you to just about anywhere you would like to go in Arizona – a great excuse for exploring and enjoying the outdoors.
Quail and rabbit can be hunted in the open spaces of the lower desert up to the rolling hills of scrub oaks and manzanita bush of the mid-level desert. Squirrel hunting is your passport to the towering ponderosa pine forests of the mountain region, during a time when leaves are changing and the air is crisp.
For hunting tips, seasonal outlooks, hunting dates and more, visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/huntingand choose “small game outlook.”
2009-10 small game hunting outlook
The overall outlook for small game this year is ‘good’ -- not great and not bad – but good. And, that’s good, because in Arizona we are blessed with an incredible array of wildlife species to hunt in the fall. Even if one species isn’t flourishing, there are others that offer challenging pursuit.
Squirrel and rabbit hunting offer the brightest lights in the forecast, with Gambel’s quail coming up a little short this year. With that said, dedicated and resourceful quail hunters will still find some areas where populations are doing well by keying in on seasonal rainfall information and be able to have productive hunts. Scaled quail should be fair to average, which is enough to make the trip south worthwhile.
Mearns’ quail this year won’t measure up to the back-to-back “very good” seasons we had. However, the rolling grasslands and drainages in southern Arizona should still offer some decent hunting for one of the most unique quail species. One thing for certain, a trip down south offers a mixed bag of opportunities for dove, rabbit, and possibly another species of quail – maybe all three.
Another potentially bright light is waterfowl season, which starts Oct. 9 (mountain zone). Duck numbers are up in the Pacific Flyway, and Utah has reported a strong local population. If an early cold winter hits the northern states, Arizona could see plenty of migrating ducks in our waters.
As the season progresses, late season dove opens on Nov. 20 and it should not disappoint. As the desert begins to green up from the fall moisture, desert water tanks should become productive hunting spots.
For hunting tips, seasonal outlooks, hunting dates and more, visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/huntingand choose “small game outlook.”
Happy hunting, and be safe.