New Mexico

I have been thinking about running out to New Mexico to chase some quail this year. Does anyone have any advice for me? I have a good Brittany and just want to put him on as many birds as I can.

I don't have any advise, but I have a mule deer tag for unit 33 and will be scouting for quail while I am there. Since I have a hunting license for NM anyway I thought I would try and hunt there a couple times with my GSP. If any other guys who have only a dog or two would like to hunt together I would be willing to give it a try.

Don’t rule out Kansas quail. Kansas report shows last year more quail taken than texas

A friend who turkey hunted in Nebraska last spring told me there were quail everywhere he hunted, some of it on public land. If you can walk might think about going north in the early season.

I have a buddy that works in the oilfield in southeastern New Mexico. He has been seeing a lot of quail. His words, not mine. A week or two ago he sent me a picture of a pair of quail. I am new to quail hunting but assume there may be a late hatch with the rain they had? Good or bad I am going to make at least one trip out there this season.

I am also wanting to make a trip up to Kansas for quail but won't turn down a bonus pheasant. I have a young GSP, and my goal this season is to get him the most bird exposure as I can.

I go opening weekend every year in SE New Mexico. It was great year before last. This year it was so bad I left 2 days early. You had better be able to run as well. Last year there was no cover to hold bird on any of my spots.

scalebuster Quail season does not open until November 15th, so I am guessing you meant "Last year it was so bad I left 2 days early".

No, I’ve found year round hunting keeps my dogs much sharper. I start culling dogs if they can’t run all day in July. Keeps the kennel thinned out, and the young bird are much tastier.

Still seeing pairs but little to no hatch it was dry and extremely hot most of the summer moisture we got appears to have been a little too late

i've been seeing a bunch of qual SW part of NM. Las Cruces, Deming, Hatch areas.

Any reports this year from SE New Mexico? I am hoping to make my first trip out there next weekend.

I had some buddies that went to Southeastern New Mexico. There were 5 of them and they killed 75 the 1st day and 25 the next - said it was hot and that it was packed full of hunters. Big coveys of Blues - heard they got hammered opening weekend though.

Contrary to the previous post, I hunted most of opening day around Tucumcari and, though, I saw numerous tracks saw zero birds. I think it is a spotty year.

Thanks for the reports. I look forward to hunting somewhere new.

This was down by Hobbs / Artesia - desolate and rugged country - in my opinion not prime "quail hunting habitat". Consists mostly of driving around looking for road coveys. But, that is literally the only place I have heard besides south Texas that has birds this year.