December Newsletter
Overview
The Gambels and Scaled Quail numbers have been spotty to poor across AZ with some of the better numbers seen further north. While not great it is better than the last few years.
Mearns opens 6 Dec and their numbers are always hard to predict until we get dogs in the field. Our weak monsoon rains do not bode well for a banner year. AZ G&F has 5 wing barrels out in visible locations (Gardner Canyon, Ruby Road, Highway 83 south of Sonoita, Harshaw Road and Hog Canyon). Use of these barrels helps the department track bird information and sets you up for an annual digital hunter survey.
Please support local merchants when hunting in the Sonoita or Patagonia areas.
Habitat
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We have received a generous donation from the Robert D Fisher Foundation. This will support many new loose rock dams in the borderlands grassland project led by Coronado National Forest. The rock dams will slow water flow and improved habitat. We envision a combination of paid support and volunteer labor. We are working on a planning meeting in Dec – expect more detail soon. We will have a CNF presentation on the overall project in our Jan chapter meeting.
We are working with AZ G&F and BLM in Sierra Vista to install quail ramps on water tanks. AZ G&F and BLM have purchased the extruded metal ramps and installation hardware and have cut, bent and painted the hardware. They are now working to schedule ranches for installation.
We are working together with the Valley of the Sun Chapter out of Phoenix to fund a conservation easement and public access easement on ranch land near Tombstone. This land abuts public land resulting in a very large parcel. A conservation easement prevents the land from being developed and the public access agreement will allow hunting on the property in perpetuity. We expect the need to do some habitat work in the future. This land is primarily scaled quail country. AZ G&F, AZ Land Trust and US Dept of Agriculture are putting the vast majority of funding into this purchase. AZSFWC is also providing a grant. Once all other moneys are in place we will actually cut a check.
Access to Public Lands
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We will continue to do our road cleanup on highway 82 to promote a positive image of the chapter and to keep Hog Canyon access open. There is now a sign in box as you enter the private road leading to Hog Canyon as the result of a signed access agreement between the homeowners and AZ G&F. Access to Adobe Canyon is still in work.
Walt Keyes, the road manager for Coronado National Forest is still working the process for approval of a planned by-pass road to reopen road access into the Meadow Valley area. The by-pass will not be open for this season. Walt is scheduled to speak at our Jan meeting.
Please be respectful of and make sure your actions do not impact public and private land. Close gates, pick up trash (yours and others) and keep speed and dust down.
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Buenos Aires NWR:
Rebecca Chester from US Fish and Wildlife is looking for help from those with well trained dogs to help find Masked Bobwhite Quail on the refuge. If you can help please contact her directly at rebecca_chester@fws.gov or 505-270-1492.
We provided volunteer labor to support 4 miles of wildlife friendly fencing along with several other wildlife conservation groups. The upper and lower strands of barbed wire were replaced with smooth wire. This permits pronghorn to crawl under and deer to jump over the fence without injury. This effort was led by Karen Klima from AZ G&F and material was funded by Arizona Antelope Foundation.
QuailFest
Southern Arizona Quail Forever and Arizona Game and Fish Department co-host an annual event called QuailFest around the opening weekend for Montezuma or Mearns Quail.
It is scheduled for Sunday 8 Dec from 11 AM to 2 PM at Pioneer Hall in the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Sonoita. Southern Arizona German Shorthair Club will provide grilled hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and beverages at a nominal price. The event is held in the afternoon which gives hunters a chance to get out in the morning and stop by later.
QuailFest is an outdoor education forum and also shows the local community the significant economic impact that quail hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts bring to the local economy. Santa Cruz County is in the heart of Arizona Mearns country and sees hunters from nearly every western state and several Canadian provinces.
Well behaved dogs are permitted inside the hall so you will see a wide selection of great hunting dog breeds.
Banquet
Our 2020 Banquet is scheduled for Sat 1 Feb at the fairgrounds in Sonoita. Please check our website for the initial list of the great items we have for auction or raffle. Our banquet is the primary financial engine that permits us to do our habitat, access and youth work.
Tickets are at https://squareup.com/store/CH3163_Southern_Arizona_Quail_Forever. One bottle of wine per table, the first keg of beer, soft drinks and coffee are included in the price. Over 50% of the available tickets are sold. Ticket prices will increase on 6 Jan. We know life brings change, we will offer refunds for any tickets cancelled by 23 Jan. Please consider sponsoring the attendance of one of our government partners.
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Getting Folks Outdoors:
R3 (recruitment, retention and reactivation) is an effort aimed at increasing hunter participation. This is now a priority for almost all outdoor groups and G&F from all 50 states. We are planning for our Family Day/Youth Hunt 29 Feb 2020 along with partners from AZ G&F, NWTF and Southern AZ German Shorthair Club. We are looking for all ages, backgrounds and abilities to either participate or volunteer for this event. In addition to youth participants, we welcome older participants that are interested in learning more about the outdoors.
We are purchasing additional equipment to support this event – any donation you may be able to help with would be greatly appreciated.
Take a few minutes to watch this video and share with a non outdoors/hunting acquaintance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpiXIaPd8pg
Please make an effort to invite someone out hunting or outdoors this year!
Southern AZ Dog Boarding:Animal Watchers and More LLC, Huachuca City, AZ. 529-456-9020 was the only facility recommended from last months request for good places to board a dog.
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Chapter Meetings:
Here are the planned speakers for our 19/20 meeting year. We are working to keep our meetings fun and educational. Meetings will start at 7 PM with a social period starting at 6:15. We will have pizza and sodas available for those coming directly from work and will pass the hat to offset costs. Everyone is welcome, feel free to bring guests!
-12 Dec Fairgrounds in Sonoita – USFWS BANWR Masked Bobwhite Update, Greg Munther quail management update, Doug Burt Retention, Recruitment & Reactivation (R3) initiative-16 Jan Fairgrounds Sonoita – Ugo Pennacchietti – Dog Training, Walt Keyes (CNF road manager) Meadow Valley plan, Daisy Kinsey (CNF District Ranger) Borderlands Plan-20 Feb American Legion (next to Titan museum) Green Valley (this is a change) – Larisa Harding New AZ G&F Small Game Manager, Cherie Nelson Gambels Quail Translocation Project, Chris Parish from Peregrine Fund – lead ammo-19 Mar – cancelled
AZ Sportsman for Wildlife Conservation (AZSFWC):
SAQF has joined AZSFWC. You can sign up for their enews at http://azsfwc.org. This allows us to better coordinate with other wildlife groups.
Please consider purchasing a AZSFWC license plate to support wildlife when you renew your current AZ plate through ServiceArizona. The fee for this license supports the conservation grants provided by AZSFWC.
National Outdoor Women’s Weekend:Our sister chapter in Phoenix, Valley of the Sun is hosting a women’s event in Mar. Further info can be found at https://www.votsqf.com/banquet.html.
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Chapter Website and Facebook:
If you see an error or have a recommendation for improvement, please let us know. We are always looking for pictures, stories or articles to add. Dave is looking for help adding material to our Facebook page – this can be as simple as crossposting from other outdoors sites. If you can help, please contact Dave Brown at browndave27@gmail.com. This could be an opportunity to get a child or grandchild more involved with the outdoors by asking for their help.
Future dates:
- 6 Dec Mearns Opens
- 8 Dec QuailFest
- 12 Dec Chapter Meeting Fairgrounds Sonoita
- 16 Jan 20 Chapter Meeting Fairgrounds Sonoita
- 1 Feb 20 8th Annual Banquet Sonoita
- 3-6 Feb Support TRCP Regional Meeting in Sonoita
- 9 Feb 20 Quail Closes
- 14-16 Feb Quail Classic Minneapolis
- 20 Feb 20 Chapter Meeting Green Valley
- TBD Feb 20 Winter Road Cleanup
- 29 Feb 20 Family Day/Youth Hunt
- 6-8 Mar Valley of the Sun National Outdoor Women’s Weekend
- TBD 20 Chapter Officer Election Cycle
