Down south visiting my kids on their Baja California ranch 5 hours south of San Diego. California quail are all paired up with 8-10 fat mature healthy chicks in tow behind each group. A lot of the young are being escorted by the males which means the hens are on the nest producing a second hatch. It’s still early so we may see a triple hatch. Should be an epic season. My hunting buddies in Western AZ are Optimistic about the gamble quail hatch too. Haven’t been up to our CA Mojave Desert areas but we are optimistic for both quail and chukar production. The long drought seems behind us for now. Time to get my aging body in tip top shape. Even in the great years western quail give you a workout. Can’t wait!!

If you make it to Arizona for the opener in October, keep an eye on your dogs, and watch your step.
I haven't seen this many rattlesnakes in years.

I believe it! Had a home at Havasu Springs Resort for 25 years and the wet winters made them come out of the woodwork. Really bad out by Wendon and Aguila and the Parker Valley. Big ones too. Will be the same in Baja. Have. A great season.

quote:

Originally posted by Thomas "Ty" Beaham:
If you make it to Arizona for the opener in October, keep an eye on your dogs, and watch your step.
I haven't seen this many rattlesnakes in years.

I had one by the pool the other day but haven't seen any while out coyote hunting or my long range shooting sessions.

Let's hope this fall is good; 2018/2019 Gambel's season was the worst I have ever experienced.

Just to reiterate.

Yesterday morning I got a frantic call from my best friend and hunting buddy.

His 80 year old mother had been struck on the hand by a Mojave while trying to separate the dogs from the snake.

The EMT's rushed her to a helipad where she was dusted off to UMC in Tucson.

She was touch and go for quite some time, but eventually stabilized and moved to ICU.

They are now hopeful she will recover.

Thank God for the EMT's in this country, the HeliVac crews, the amazing staff at University Medical Center, and the scientists and developers of Anavip.

Folks, again,

If you're out here especially in the early part of the quail & dove seasons, while the weather is still warm and the snakes are out and about watch your step, and your dogs.

If you hunt without dogs, and you knock a bird down, take a good look around before you stoop over to pick up your bird.

Have fun but be safe because nobody wants you to go through what she is right now.

Ty, that's the meanest snake we've got, and we have them in my county. Hope your friend's mom makes a full recovery. Hearing good things about Anavip.
We had a lot of diamondbacks out and about here beginning in late March -- more than anyone could recall in recent years. May be a bad season all over the Southwest.

Best wishes on her recovery. Her arm looks awfully painful. Hunted pigs on a ranch in Parkfield CA last weekend and I wore my snake leggings every day.

Ty, any updates on this poor woman's condition?

Bill, LB,
There is good news on a couple of fronts.

First, she has been released from UMC and is back at the ranch with her son and daughter-in-law.

Second, as you can imagine the financial costs incurred are to say the least, substantial.
Luckily, after retiring from 40 years of service as a nurse in the Arizona prison system, she retained perks that along with Medicare will cover many of the bills.

She's a real trooper, the offspring of the greatest generation, and would probably read me the riot act for making such a fuss.

I'm glad she'll be around a while longer.

Bless her heart. This is very good news, Ty. Thank you for the update. That Anavip must have worked great. I hear it is an improvement over Crofab. Tell her she has folks rooting for her who she has never met.

quote:

If you hunt without dogs, and you knock a bird down, take a good look around before you stoop over to pick up your bird.

Ty,

A few years ago that is exactly what happened to me. Knocked a bird down, landed in some bushes, bent down to part them away and found one very pissed off rattler.

So far I haven't seen any this year except one i killed on my pool patio. I have seen two gila monsters, including one today when I was out LR shooting.

I was surprised by how fast the Gila monsters can move, considering how much they resemble beaded sausages!

I went into the shop 4 days ago + the was a snake cooling on the slab.He took off under the shop fridge but when I got to looking closer lo + behold the little fxxker had 2 buttons on his tail.Anyway,by the time I got my pellet gun (I'm NOT shooting a shotgun into the slab inside)he was gone.I have been opening all the bay doors + making all the noise I can. He might still be hiding inside or taken off but believe me,I REALLY watch where I am walking.Nothing like old Crotalus Horridus to keep you aware.And no, my heeler bitch might be hell on rats but she took one sniff of that snake + went the other way.

Randy, your heeler is a smart girl. This is where it would pay to have a pet mongoose ...

I just had all five of my setters snake broke on my property in Sonoita. There are 5 or 6 species of rattlesnakes around here. Plus poisonous toads, mountain lions, ocelots, bobcats, javelinas... and the occasional jaguar.