Vests – Although I have always loved my Filson Guide Strap Vest, last season I was fortunate enough to pick up a Q5 hunting vest and a WingWorks Upland vest as well. The Q5 and Wingworks are both top of the line vests that are fairly similar in style, but with each having some unique attributes.

• The Q5 Hunting Vest is significantly lighter than the WingWorks and the vest is well vented to keep your back cool. With multiple pockets you can stash water bottles where you need to and secure calls, gps, shells, and first aid in the out of the way pockets. With a strong waist belt the load is carried on your lumbar and really saves your shoulders.

• The Wingworks Upland Vest is a bit on the heavier side, but with a similar suspension system to the Q5, the weight is almost negligible. The WingWorks vest does have two holsters designed specifically for the WingWorks 32 oz water bottles from your corporate bottled water supplier which helps in carrying lots of water. WingWorks has been around for quite a while and does have quite a few followers that swear by these vests.

Both vests are winners in my book, but the price difference alone may be the deciding factor for most. Another winner is the Filson Guide Pro Strap Vest. Not quite as “techy” as some of the new strap vests, but it’s a rock solid vest.

Gun – It’s important to get out before the season and break some clays. The one thing that is nice about the Arizona quail season is that it comes right after Arizona dove season. I like to get out for a morning or two to get some practice and knock a couple of doves down. I’ve spent many seasons with my Remington 870 and just added a new Winchester 101 to the lineup as well. Whatever gun you end up reaching for, it’s essential to know your tool and feel comfortable with it.

Boots – I’ve always been a big fan of the Merrell Moab Ventilators and am actually on my 2nd pair. Prior to the season though, I’ve been breaking in a pair of Lowas that will hopefully do well on our Arizona hills.

Pants – I’ve spent many seasons in a pair of thick Carhart denim, but this year for the early season, I’m going to be putting the Colombia Full Flight Chukar Pants to work. They are a lighter weight material up top to fight the heat, with a heavy fabric overlay on the bottom for busting through brush.

Hydration – Opening weekend when temps can climb into the 90’s, I carry lots of water. I like to carry about a gallon of water with another gallon of water and some Gatorade back at the truck to hydrate after the hunt. Early season temperatures are no joke.

GPS – Although I know the area that I hunt well, I like to carry my GPS just in case we decide to check out a new area, or someone else in the group is unfamiliar with where we are hunting.

Radios – For a two or three man team, we usually are hunting pretty close to each other. On occasion we may split up or be out of shouting distance, and a pair of two-way radios can be very helpful. I tested out these Motorola Talkabouts last year and really like how versatile they are. They fit nicely in a vest pocket or a Maxpedition CP-L case holds them perfect on a strap vest.

There are two big things to be aware of  during early season quail hunting in Arizona.

1. Snakes are still out. Watch were you step. A pair of chaps or gaiters can be nice too.
2. Stay hydrated. Last season on opening weekend, I was pretty dehydrated and should have been drinking more water. It can be easy to get caught up chasing birds, but it is really important to take a few breaks and get some fluids into your system.

Best of luck opening day. Shoot straight.

Share your thoughts and ask your questions over at The Quail Hunting Forum.

The post Arizona Quail Hunting Preparation appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.

Well, the shotgun has been broken down and given a thorough cleaning and the vests have been defeathered and stowed in the closet. The Arizona quail hunting season has come to an end, and as usual, it is a little bitter sweet. It will be sad to not head out into the desert to chase Gambel’s quail on a Saturday morning, but I am hopeful that with steady rains through the summer, next season will have some better bird numbers.

I was able to get out before the close of the season and put a few more birds in the freezer and stock up on a whole mess of soft-hackles for fly tying. The thought of summer and big fish rising to foam hoppers is the keeping my head up. Until next season…

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The clock read 5:15 when I rolled into the Wickenburg McDonalds to meet up with Dan Priest who founded both Arizona Outdoors Adventures and AZ Quail Today. We sat and drank coffee, just talking and telling stories and eventually decided to head out after some birds. It was nice to see some new country, and Dan’s dogs worked the desert while pointing several Gambel’s quail for us. Dan is a heck of a shot and it seemed the everytime the gun went to his shoulder, a bird ended up in the bag. My shooting was pretty standard and I ended up “pardoning” many flushing quail.

Meeting up with Dan was a real honor. Dan Priest has been hunting quail in Arizona for the past 50+ years and has seen it all. Throughout the morning I learned a great deal more about quail hunting from his vast experience in this state. One thing that I was really excited about was the new Q5 bird hunting vest that Dan has been developing. I wore one through the morning and it was one of the most comfortable vests that I have ever worn and it is very functional. The other cool thing is that they are 100% made in the Arizona White Mountains. I should have a more extensive review coming up in a couple of weeks, once I get out and hunt in it a bit more. Bottom line though – it’s a winner. Check out the Q5 hunting vest here.

It was a great day and in field, and I am very thankful to have been able to meet up with Dan. I hope to meet up with him again to do a little more Arizona quail hunting.

The post Arizona Quail Hunting with Dan Priest of AZ Quail Today appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.

I have had a pretty amazing week starting with a short tale I wrote being posted on Filson Life. As if that was not enough, the Bruce Smithhammer wrote up a really nice review of my Hunting Gambel’s Quail Ebook over on a Mouthful of Feathers. Not only is Bruce a well known figure in the Outdoor/Fly fishing/Hunting/Photography arena, but he is an extremely talented writer himself. So, having him give my book the nod was one of those things that pretty much makes my month.

If it is your first time heading out into the field and you are a little unsure of what to expect in the Sonoran desert, swing by the AZW Shop and purchase your copy of Hunting Gambel’s Quail…Bruce Smithhammer said to…

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