As expected, the mountains in Idaho were as steep as they were beautiful. The weather was fickle and the hunting was tough, but we persevered in search of a mature mule deer buck. We covered over 60 miles, and in seven days, we saw a big cinnamon bear, a wolf, a bunch of grouse, a whole mess of does, and 7 bucks. The last morning the biggest buck of the trip gave us the slip, and with about a half hour left, we found a small forked horn to put my tag on.

I went to Idaho with no expectations and was rewarded with a week in some of the prettiest country I’d ever seen. The freezer is piled high with fresh hand wrapped packages of meat, and I strengthened a friendship in a way that only happens when you share a hunting camp. This won’t be my last trip to Idaho.

The post Idaho – Mule Deer appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.

Why:

The brutal landscape and sweltering heat of the southwest can make Arizona quail hunting a rugged experience. Having the proper equipment is critical. Dan Priest is an Arizona quail hunter with more than 50 years of experience in the desert chasing birds. He has put his vast knowledge to the test and designed one of coolest and well thought out  bird hunting vests on the market. The Q5 Upland Hunting Vest is the first generation of this vest and Dan is already working on a new and improved model.

First impressions:

– Made in the USA – The Q5 Upland Hunting Vest is made in right here in the Arizona White Mountains.

– Accesseries – There are so many adjustments and attachments for the Q5 that it’s difficult to know where to begin.

• 2 Large shell pockets
• 2 Small shell pockets
• 2 electronics pouches
• 1 daypack attachment

– Material – The Q5 Hunting vests is built with 1000 Denier Nylon fabric and comes in Digital or Orange Camo. I am a big fan of the Digital.

– Fully Adjustable – With adjustable straps on the back of the Q5, the vest can be customized to different body types. With a few different straps to pull and tug on, the Q5 can be adjusted so that the hip belt rides comfortably and distribute the weight of the vest.

Field Use:

I spent a good portion of the season hunting in the Q5 Vest and was nothing but impressed. Although the vest is made of a highly durable material, it is extremely lightweight. Fully loaded with shells, water, first aid kit and camera, the vest distributes the weight right onto the hips with a heavy-duty, load-bearing belt.

The main portion of the bird hunting vest has 4 pockets for all the odds and ends that hunters carry into the field. There are also a couple of straps located on the bottom of the pack where a fleece or shirt could be attached after the chill of the morning wears off. I found that the zippers rattled a bit too much for me, but some black athletic tape did the trick. In my opinion, the Q5 excels in the hot southwestern environment. Its light weight, but rugged build can stand up to the harsh desert, while the well-ventilated back makes it ideal for warmer temperatures.

Although I think the Q5 Hunting Vest excels as a bird vest, the creator Dan Priest went one step further. The “bird bag” and pockets are actually able to put taken off and substituted for a daypack. The Day pack is also made of the 1000 denier fabric and seamlessly fits into the shoulder straps and weight bearing belt. It is a pretty cool option for someone who is looking for a bit more than just a bird hunting vest.

The vest comes with a couple of other cool features. Both the “bird bag” and “daypack” are hydration bladder ready and there is a tube clip on the shoulder strap that makes the hydration bladder a very easy addition to the vest. The two front pockets (although plenty big enough) can be substituted for even bigger pockets. The vest also comes with two electronic pouches that fit right on the shoulder straps. All these extras are included with the original vest purchase, so you can customize without having to buy anything aftermarket.

One of best aspects about purchasing the Q5 Hunting Vest is:

A percentage of the proceeds go to Arizona Outdoor Adventures, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing healthy outdoor activities for underprivileged children. Go to www.azoutdooradventures.org for further information.

Daypack Attachment

Pros:

Made in Arizona

Great design and well thought out

Lightweight

Great for warm weather

Durable 1000 denier fabric

Semi-customizable with different attachments

Cons:

Cost (although this vest is worth it)

Zipper tabs are noisy (After speaking with Dan about the zippers, future vests will have a rubberized cover on the zippers to cut down on noise.)

Prognosis:  I truly believe that the Q5 Upland Hunting Vest is an excellent choice for any upland hunter, but particularly Southwestern hunters. The vest is a great lightweight option that carries a full load very comfortably in the field. I look forward to see what future Q5 vests are going to have in store.

* Disclaimer:

The reviews at Arizona Wanderings are my honest opinion. The Q5 Upland Hunting Vest was provided for the purpose of this review. Arizona Wanderings is not sponsored by or associated with any of the stated companies and is accepting no compensation, monetary or otherwise, in exchange for this review.  My independent status may change in the future but, as of the date of publication, no relationship other than described above has been pursued or established.

The post Rambling Review: The Q5 Bird Hunting Vest 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…

The post Arizona Quail Hunting: End of the Season appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.

I recently obtained a new book written by Randall Babb titled An Introduction to Hunting Arizona’s Small Game. This book is a comprehensive look at the many small game species that we have in Arizona and includes detailed information about habitat, hunting opportunities, tactics, field care, and recipes. Mr. Babb has done a wonderful job putting together a great resource for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of small game in Arizona and increase their success in the field. This 198 page, color photo book is well worth the price and is an excellent addition to any Arizona outdoorsman’s library

Arizona truly is a wonderful state with some of the most sought after big game in the country. Often, our small game species are over looked and under utilized. Truth be told, hunting small game is a great way to get a young or new hunter into the field and an excellent excuse to get out in the desert and woods.

To get your copy, stop by a Game and Fish office or download the order form here

The post Book Report – An Introduction to Hunting Arizona’s Small Game appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.

I did not find the first bird until after about an hour of hunting. The covey broke from the tall grass, scattering in all directions. Watching a particular cluster of birds careen towards another stretch of grass, I quickened my pace and within moments could here the faint clucking of quail in front of me. Even though my gun was at the ready, the single quail that rose at my feet caused momentary confusion, before I brought the gun to my shoulder and swung on the flushing bird. My first shot missed, but the second found its mark. It does not matter how many birds rise before me, the sight and sound of a flushing bird is only matched by a big trout taking a hopper on the surface.

Arizona Quail Hunting is great, even in a crappy year.

The post Arizona Quail Hunting: An After-Christmas Special appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.

I found a morning to get out into the field and scare up some quail. The wind was out in full force and I was downright cold for the first hour or two. The windy conditions also made it difficult to locate any birds, but around 10 it subsided and provided me with the opportunity to find a large covey. Once scattered into the tall grass, I had good fortune to walk up several singles, and by the time I was finished, I had four birds in the bag.

Occasionally, everything comes together. There is nothing like a walk in the cold desert to make you feel alive. Got to love quail hunting in Arizona

The post Arizona Quail Hunting: Christmas Break appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.

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.

The Arizona Quail Season Opener is upon us. In excitement of such a glorious event, the “I Quail AZ” tshirts are on sale for $15 in the AZWanderings Shop.

Arizona quail hunting will open for Gambels and Scaled Quail from October 5, 2012- February 10, 2013. Mearns quail season opens up on December 7 and also runs until February 10, 2013. Oil your gun and break out your hiking boots…it’s quail season.

The post Arizona Quail Season: T-shirt Sale appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.

I used to be a whole lot skinnier when I was 14.  I could not have weighed more than a buck thirty with all my hunting gear on. Now, even though I look back with fondness on being able to run all day on the soccer field, I remember that the Pennsylvania buck season in early December was cold and rough with no meat on my bones.

We lived in a log cabin amongst the pines and the forest began right out my back door. There were several miles of rolling hills and hollows behind the house and my family had permission to wander and hunt through the different seasons. My father took up hunting when I turned 13, and the memories that we created together still keep me company after these many years. I can remember faithfully following him through the woods trying to keep quiet, but my oversized hunting clothes and many layers made the task almost impossible. It took me several seasons to really become comfortable in the woods and to learn patience enough to sit in a hunting stand until mid morning.

In the buck season of 1997 , I remember hunting with my dad, my best friend at the time, and his father. We had just spent a very cold morning waiting for that big buck to come walking by but to no avail. The opening morning gunshots echoing through the miles of hillsides had alerted every deer in the county that it was time to find a warm bed and hang tight. Our normal game plan was to sit on opening morning and then have a couple hunters sit, while the others took a walk and tried to drive deer in the hunter’s direction.

Being the runt that I was, I liked to get up and walk around to try and get my blood pumping and try and get warm, but for whatever reason, the group convinced me to sit with my back up against a large oak and wait for the drive to hopefully get the deer moving my way. So there I sat, freezing, fidgeting, and fearing that the group would walk by me or whatever a 14 year old thinks while alone in the cold woods. As my mind began to wander, I heard the unmistakable snapping of twigs and crunching of snow and looked up to see a group of does barreling by me at a high rate of speed followed closely by a small buck. Slowing to a trot, the deer began to look around and ultimately disappear into heavier cover. The last deer to exit would have been the small buck and almost as he was ready to leave he stopped to take one look at me.

The thud of the .270 slamming into my shoulder and the smoke launching from the barrel blasted the silence. In shock, almost disbelieving the previous moments events, I leapt to my feet and saw the small whitetail buck expire in the snow. The shuddering and shaking commenced as my knees turned to jelly in the tell-tale fashion of buck fever. My father and company appeared from out of the woods and backslaps and handshakes were plentiful.

I can still remember the weight of the heavy gun on my skinny shoulder and the feel of the fur before I field dressed the deer. There is no real way to explain to a non-hunter the elation, reverence, and honor that comes with harvesting your first deer. It is something that I will never forget. I look back on the picture of the 14 year old who does not know what life has in store for him and there is no way to tell him how life is going to turn out or what is coming his way. In that moment life is simple and easy and I do not want to break that spell.

The post The Start of It All: First Deer appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.

Many weekends find me camping out, either hunting or fishing in the Arizona backcountry. What’s ironic is that as wonderful and exciting as my time in the wild is, nothing really compares to the moment when I turn the truck on to my street and drive up to the house. The garage door opens, and I can hear the excited barks of my two pups, as I kill the engine of the vehicle. I drag a couple of bags into the house, give my girl a hug, and scratch the boys behind the ears. While I recount the weekend’s events to my wife, the dogs are going to find out the story in a different way. With their snouts buried deep into my hunting pack, their noses seek to find out what I was up to, where I’ve been, and if I was successful. Their tails never stop wagging, and they look at me with pleading eyes, hoping that next time I take them with me.

The post The Ritual appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.