Hello All, I am preparing to go hunt New Mexico the end of this week for the First Time. Hunting all Public land, After studying OnX and reading reports I think I am going to base out of Hobbs and hunt south and west towards Carlsbad. I have 3 experienced wild bird Dogs that have been on all the Prairie Birds from North Dakota down to Kansas so I hope they can figure out the Blue quail decently fast.


Anybody have any reports on numbers out that way this year or any general tips or advice?

Thanks to All.

I’ve never been, looking forward to a report when you get back.

Quality boots for you and your dogs. Bring plenty water.

Just spent a few days there last week. Sent you a pm.

I read somewhere that there was a bad hail storm in SE NM that hit during nesting season, but still a fair crop.

Listen to this podcast as well as quite a bit on New Mexico in there https://www.facebook.com/reel/1085663902806565

Screw in a full choke. Those birds are wild. If the cover is as thin as it usually is the only dog work you’ll get is picking up dead bird. I haven’t been in the last couple of years but in 2015 we were flushing 50 coveys a day. That’s the amount of bird you need to hunt that country. It’s declined a lot since then we haven’t been since 2020. I’d always just bring one dog. My best dead bird dog.

The way to hunt it is to drive around and shoot them on the run to bust them up out the window if you can get close enough. Sometimes you can get a few points after they bust up good.

Report;

Went and hunted 2 full days mostly south of Hobbs. First day was decent hunting. Found 8 Coveys and got most pointed then got really nice dog work hunting singles. Second day was tougher. Only found 5 coveys and they ran like crazy. Overall good trip and fun to learn a new area, bird numbers weren’t great and probably wont go back until numbers are better again. Will probably venture further west next year to get into Gambels as well as the Scalies.

Thanks for all the help.

Thanks for the report!

See any muleys?

Didn’t see any, but did pick up a pretty nice mule deer shed.

Saw tons of coyotes. Like over 10 each day.

i was on a mule deer hunt in November between Silver city and Lordsburg. i saw LOTS of coveys, all on public land. by lots i mean 10-15 a day just riding in the hills. they all ran and scattered fast, the only i saw that wanted to hold was literally between my feet, and i got it with my walking stick. sure was a good eating bird, and made me wish i had my shotgun instead of rifle

Right on