Quail hunters: Washes, walking and water are key this season
2009-10 season offers less crowds, exploration and mixed bag
Quail check station results from the season opener weekend (Oct. 3-4) vary and suggest populations are below-average in central regions to well-below-average in southern regions of the state reported Arizona Game and Fish Department officials.
Southern region check stations [...]

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 [...]

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. [...]

Oil up those squirrel rifles and make sure you have enough shotgun shells for quail – the Oct. 2 opening of tree squirrel and general quail seasons is rapidly approaching, advise Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists.
“It’s shaping up to be a decent year for tree squirrels, especially in the spruce and mixed-conifer areas [...]

The Sept. 1 dove season opener is rapidly winging our way and it’s shaping up to be a very good year, but keep your fingers crossed for the hordes of fat white-winged doves don’t migrate south.
“I am seeing lots of fat white-winged dove this year, but there is no guarantee they will [...]

Attention varmint and small game hunters:
New non-lead ammunition available this year
By Shelly Shepherd, information/education program [...]

PHOENIX — Bird lovers: Forget the turkey. The day after Thanksgiving is the Mearns’ quail  hunting season opener.
“This will probably be one of the best Mearns’ seasons in my lifetime,” Randy Babb, an ardent quail hunter and the Information and Education Program Manager for the Game and Fish Department’s Mesa regional office.
Nov. [...]

Take advantage of great weather and fewer crowds during late dove season

PHOENIX —The second season for dove hunting begins Friday and the Arizona Game and Fish Department expects it to be one of the better seasons in years due to great seasonal rains and an abundance of crops.
“The second season [...]

PHOENIX — Quail hunters are finding plenty of young birds in their harvest, according to Arizona Game and Fish biologists. Nearly 80 percent of the birds checked by hunters over the Oct. 4-5 opening weekend were juveniles.
Gambel’s quail harvest results, collected at two of the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s check [...]

By Kellie Tharp, environmental education program manager, AGFD

I never thought [...]

By Randy Babb, Mesa information & education program manager,
and Doug Burt, public information officer, AGFD

Hunters want the [...]

Small Game, Big Fun: This is the year!
By Doug Burt, public information [...]

This is the year! Set your calendar for a week earlier than past years. Small game season for quail, squirrel, ducks and more opens Friday, Oct. 3.
Abundant snow and rainfall has occurred since the end of 2007. Much of the precipitation fell at the right times and in the right areas. In short, plenty of [...]

Want to learn how to hunt tree squirrels?
The Arizona Game and Fish Department will conduct a free small game hunting camp on Oct. 10 and 11 in the White Mountains [...]

Did you know that increased gasohol demand and the bountiful dove hunting opportunities in central Arizona this year for the Sept. 1-15 early season have [...]

There is nothing like the feeling of shooting a dove at first light on a humid Arizona morning, but sometimes, the best part of the [...]

Okay, this issue is not all about doves, but that’s where we’ll start.
The season opener kicks off Sept. 1 and coincides with Labor Day this [...]

Early forecast – small game hunting
Story and photos by Rory Aikens, public information officer,
Arizona Game and Fish Department

There is some good news for dove [...]

Reaching out
Hunter recruitment starts with each and every one of us
By Doug Burt, public information officer, Arizona [...]

Ah, spring is here – now what?
By Doug Burt, public information officer, Arizona Game and Fish Department
For the 26,000 attendees of the [...]