November President’s Corner

-The rain keeps falling – we had an Oct well above average.   While the rainfall varies around the region Tucson is well above the average rainfall for the entire year with 2 months left in the year.

-Desert quail opened this month.  Bird numbers are clearly down but some can be found.  We found both scaled and gambels at the scaled quail count near Bonita.  The habitat work completed there is showing results.  We also found 19 box turtles – who knew pointing dogs were so good at finding turtles.

-U.S. Fish and Wildlife staff at Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge [BANWR] has released a little over 400 Masked Bobwhite chicks. These chicks were released with wild captured male Texas Bobwhites.  A group of 15-20 chicks are paired with a neutered male Texas Bobwhite and given a chance to bond in flight pens before release.  The Texas Bobwhites were neutered to prevent cross breeding.   USFW is looking for members willing to roll up their sleeves and help out with habitat improvement on the refuge – will get more detail out soon.

-Hog Canyon.  I previously reported that an agreement was in place for Hog and Adobe Canyons to have open public access.  Currently there is only an agreement with Hog Canyon and the agreement for Adobe Canyon is still in work.

-New issue.  The public has lost driving access to a large area in San Rafael Valley.  We have a meeting scheduled with USFS, BHA and AZ G&F on 6 Nov to look at alternatives to build new roads on public land to gain back access.

-Our initial work with Borderlands Restorations on loose rock structures about 30 miles SE of Sonoita is complete.  Borderlands has completed about 35 small structures in degrading arroyos to date.  Additional work is under consideration but will likely wait until we can get matching funds.

-We met with AZ G&F along with VOS chapter to assess habitat projects.  No decisions were made at this meeting although the consensus is more research needs to be completed on AZ quail to determine what habitat improvements have the highest payoff.  Scaled quail were identified as the species most in need of help.

-I forwarded all of you the Montezuma (mearns) Quail diet study that Alberto and a grad student have been working.  He has asked to do more work on that which we will assess once we get a few questions answered.  We are even considering to get the permits needed to take a few spring/summer birds to see what they are feeding on.

-Wade Zarlingo has left his position as the head small game biologist for AZ G&F and taken another job as landowner relations in NW AZ.  He will be sorely missed by both AZ QF chapters.  The department is working to hire a replacement.

-QF and AZ G&F has opened a position to work riparian habitat in AZ.  The position will be in Phoenix and will work primarily on riparian areas and the upland habitats in and around the Salt, Gila, San Pedro, and Verde rivers.

-Megan McWard was recently hired by QF as a biologist to work landowner relations for AZ G&F out of the Yuma regional office.  The funding for this position comes from AZ G&F.  Megan graduated from Oregon State and will be a great addition to QF and AZ G&F.  If you need any help in the Yuma area she is ready to help.  I expect to see her at a few of our meetings.

-We are manning a table with AZ G&F at Empire Ranch Cowboy Festival Sat 3 Nov.  Should be a good event, stop by and say hello if you make it there.  If you want to help out, let me know.

-Our second Quail Festival co-hosted with AZ G&F will be held 1-4 PM 8 Dec which is the opening weekend of mearns at the Sonoita Fairgrounds.  It gives you an opportunity to get out and hunt in the morning and stop by in the afternoon.  Well behaved dogs are welcome in the building.

-In addition to AZ G&F and the chapter several other organizations will have tables including; US Fish and Wildlife, Sky Islands Alliance, AZ Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Q5 Outdoor Products, Mule Deer Foundation, National Wild Turkey Foundation, Pima County Parks and Rec, Coronado Outdoors,  Alberto with Mearns Diet Study, BLM, North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association and others.

-We will sell hats and shirts to offset some of our costs, we have the volunteers we need to help out.  See examples of the shirts below.  We will have plenty of shirts but if you are looking for a very small or large size or something special let me know and I will order and hold them for you.

-Nick Besenick and the Southern AZ German Shorthair Club will sell burgers and dogs.

-We have scheduled meetings at the fairgrounds in Sonoita 12 Dec (a Wed), 17 Jan and 21 Feb.

-We will hold meetings 15 Nov and 14 Mar in Sahuarita at the American Legion Hall Post 66.

-Bill Brake, one of the AZ G&F Commissioners has agreed to speak at our 17 Jan meeting.

-All meetings will be 7-9 PM with social starting at 6:30.

–Please send me your thoughts on our meetings to help us provide what members want.  If you have a speaker recommendation, please send it.

We have locked in 2 Feb for next years banquet with the fairgrounds and the caterer.  If you or someone you know can help with items or money to donate its not too early to start working it.  We have several mechanisms in place now to support habitat and youth.  Maybe you and someone you know might be willing to underwrite one of the youth shotguns we give away – we are looking for one more gun.  We have received a pledge or checks for three guns to date.  If you have ideas or have something in work let Steve Geerligs (sgeerligs1@yahoo.com) our new banquet chair or myself know.  Banquet tickets are on sale at https://pheasantsforeverevents.org/event/3354 .  If you buy tickets and let us know at least one week before the event that you can not attend we will refund your ticket price and resell your ticket to someone on the waiting list.  We will sell out again this year.

Enjoy this Orvis podcast by our Dave Brown.  Its a little long but he has some good info on dogs and guns.   https://news.orvis.com/hunting/podcast-from-the-fields-of-saskatchewan-with-dave-brown

Chapter Website and Facebook:

We work to keep our sites current.  If you see an error or recommendation for improvement please let us know.  We are always looking for pictures, stories or articles to add.  Many of you have seen our slide show that we show at QuailFest and the banquet – if you have pictures that would be a good addition please send them to me.

Please consider volunteering to be a member of one of our committees.  We need help on habitat, banquet and youth committees or you can just help out with an event like QuailFest, the banquet, road cleanup or BANWR habitat.

(note change in Quail Closes date from 17 Feb to 10 Feb)

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