Where the birds are

[packnpundit]

Hi all,

I live in Arizona and am getting very interested in hunting quail. Here's the deal. I want to use a .22 airgun in an area behind my house. I can't discharge a firearm in the neighborhood. The hunting regs state that rabbit and other small game may be taken with an air rifle. It say nothing specifically about quail. In another section of the code it states "upland birds" must be taken with shotgun, or shot shells in a pistol, bow and arrow, slingshot if using shot, or falconry. Are quail considered upland birds?

Where the birds are

Since shotgunners cannot hunt the area, there is a super abundance of small game- cottontails, quail, dove. And more than a few predators - many coyotes judging by the chorus I hear on full moons. I have seen lots of Javalina, a couple wildcats, Gila Monsters and of course, rattlers.

I step out onto a hard scrabble Sonoran desert. Now the neighbor just north of me has been feeding a huge flock of Gambel's quail. Probably 150 -200 birds show up at dawn and dusk for a regular feeding. These birds are absolutely prime. A trail of birdseed could bring them right into my sights. Heh Heh.

There are also dry washes that can be walked for miles. BLM land close by. By the time season opens in October I will be chomping at the bit!

Hope my neighbor don't consider these birds his pets.

 

[dh515]

I'd call Game and Fish and clarify the quail with an air rifle issue. I'd be surprised if you couldn't but you never know. Heck, even the Republic of California where I live allows quail hunting with an air rifle. BTW, where do you live because I want to move there . What kind of air rifle do you have?

 

[ArmedBear]

Quail are the very definition of upland birds in Arizona (and California).

As dh says, California allows air rifle hunting of quail, but the law can be whatever they want it to be. Gambel's quail are tough little bastards; maybe they found that too many birds were wounded and lost with air guns.

BTW you can now get an air shotgun. http://www.cabelas.com/hprod-1/0040376.shtml

Might be worth getting in your neck of the woods, er, well, brush.

 

[packnpundit]

I ordered a .22 folding stock AK 47 model from compasseco. It wouldn't fire so I sent if back cocked with a pellet in the breach. A friend got the same rifle a few years ago and he sniped of rabbits and ground squirrels. Used a red dot scope and either got a head shot or missed. The bunnies would just flop over. .I just go a bad gun. I should have a new one next weekend.

I've had a Webley Tempest pistol for about 28 years. I have a 25 yard range at home. I can hit soda cans with the webley pretty consistently and a square hit will go through both sides of the can at that range.

I live in a semi rural area just north of Phoenix. Ever hear of New River? We have one of the finest public shooting ranges anywhere. Ben Avery Shooting Center.

Now I got to check out the air shotgun. That would be too cool. Also thinking a casting net might be worth exploring.
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Just checked out the air shotgun - thanks for the link. It seems pretty sketchy. Ten yards is the max range. IMHO They need to make us a gas bottle shot gun with at least 28ga shells. That could hold maybe .5 oz of shot? - To be useful as a shotgun I think it needs to be effective out to at least 20 yards.

 

[packnpundit]

photo of Gambel's quail

My little friends.

 

[MCgunner]

Don't sound very legal to me. I know in Texas, baiting game birds is illegal and I don't know if you can use a rifle, either, but I might be wrong. As to firearm type, I'd have to look that one up for sure. Rabbit or squirrel, go for it, at least in Texas.

 

[packnpundit]

I'LL call game and fish tomorrow. I looked up baiting in the regs too. The only mention of baiting is in regards to bear. I'll ask for a written clarification, since this is ambiguous in the regs.

I've started target practice on cans when they are feeding to get them used to the sound of the airgun. Won't shoot any till the season starts mid Oct. And I will have a license. Only $34 for residents!

 

[packnpundit]

FUNNY laws in this state. I cannot take quail with an airgun, but I can use a slingshot if I use shot in it. I cannot us a .22lr or .22mag but I can use a .17 centerfire. Damn. Those Gambels must be tough suckers. For the record, I can use a crossbow. I'll have to look into that. It can be used where firearms cannot.

 

[ArmedBear]

Here, we can't use firearm rifles or pistols for quail. We can use just about anything else.

.17 centerfire? Make sure you don't load it up with the varmint bullets they usually use! Or if you do, make sure to videotape it and post it here.

 

[packnpundit]

.17 centerfire does seem a bit extreme for a quail. I don't have a need for a gun of this caliber. Why do people use this round? I think the 7.62x39 gun (a mak90) will work fine if I go after coyotes or javalina. Crossbow ammo seems quite expensive. It would get destroyed hitting the ground on missed shots I think. Have to look into what's involved in making bolts. We can take deer with a .22 mag but not quail. Go figure the logic in that one.

 

[Art Eatman]

McGunner, from the current TP&WD book:

"Baiting for game animals, nongame animals, and game birds is lawful on private property, except for turkey in certain East Texas counties (see page 67) and migratory game birds statewide."

In Texas, pellet guns and other air guns are not legal.

Art