Which breeds do best in heat? Thinking of moving to New Mexico or Texas. All those New Mexico quail species sound like a hoot.

Bill, this is only a tale I heard so have no idea on its authenticity.

When I was doing my guided Javelina hunt service out in Pecos county, there were a lot of Blue/Scaled Quail.

Some of my hunts took place during the last month of Quail season in that area, so I would tell my clients that if they wanted to bring a shotgun and shells along, if we got the chance they could have a go at shooting some.

If they did not want to mess with bringing an extra gun, because most brought a centerfire rifle and a .22 for shooting Jackrabbits, they could legally shoot quail with their .22, I have done it many times and it IS LEGAL.

Don't know if Mr. Atkinson will see this, but my bet is, that from where he was raised up, he shot a few quail with a .22LR, or even better if a person could work it right, .22 Shorts. I knew some old men that could wipe out a covey, using a .22 with shorts and popping them in the head.

Anyway, back to the tale I heard. Supposedly there was a guy that lived in that area, Fort Stockton or Pecos, somewhere out in that area, and supposedly he used a pair of Border Collies.

The story was that the guy would drive the pasture roads and spot a covey of blues going thru the brush and he would get the dogs out to where they could see the birds running and then he would turn the dogs loose, one going around the birds on one side of the covey and the other dog looping out around the other side.

The guy would be watching and once he figured the dogs had got ahead of the birds far enough, he would call them back to him, which would push the birds back to him, so basically he would end up shooting driven birds.

All I know is when there were still good numbers of blues up here in north Texas, if MetroMess quail hunters were hunting this area and got onto some blues they would bust their necks trying to get their dogs back in the box.

I had the chance to hunt Gambel Quail in Arizona in 2011 and did manage to kill one but they reminded me so much of blues that I couldn't see much difference in the ways of hunting them.

I don't know of any "normal" bird dogs that really do well in the heat. Obviously short haired dogs are better. Pointers, GSH, etc BUT they ALL wear out quickly when it's hot and the hunter has to be really careful he doesn't allow them to heat stroke out. Most serious, and that usually means well off, quail hunters hunt their dogs in groups, and let one set cool off while the second or third is down. Besides the heat, the dry conditions are hell on dogs noses.

Finally, getting a dog used to the heat is a big part of it as well. Take a dog from an air conditioned home and turn him out in 80 or 90 degree weather to run and you've got a damn good chance of killing that dog if you're not real careful.

Watch your dogs, stay ahead of them getting too hot, keep plenty of water, alcohol (for their paws) to cool them off, if they show distress. Don't wait until they're down, that may be too late. Be proactive, dogs die quick when they're too hot. Also be aware that dogs can easily overheat in kennels if they are in the sun and not insulated.

Thanks fellas. Looks like I may be landing in Alamogordo, where the Chihuahuan desert plant and animal community rubs shoulders with the foothills of the Sacramento Mountains. Short, crack of dawn quail hunts sound like the right path for both hunter and pup.

Hi Bill,
I was born and raised in Alamogordo. Lots of quail in the area during good years. If not Alamogordo is a good starting place to go to other areas. My dad liked to hunt down by Lordsburg at Pancho Villa State Park. Always seemed to be a lot of quail down there. Otero Mesa is another good area not far out of Alamogordo. Bueno Suerte!

Impala, thank you for this information. What kind of dogs did your father favor?

Talk to breeders that raise dogs for desert hunting. I know a guide in AZ that used Wirehairs...dogs will acclimate no matter what the breed. I would think that Pointers would be the best...smaller lighter built types.

Hi Bill,
The last pair of dogs my dad had were Brittanys.

Thanks, Gordon. I have had two Brittanies in my lifetime and miss them both.

German Drahthaar.

It is a conglomeration of the best German breeds.

Do not get a Griffon, they are beautiful but not quite as smart.

Do not get a Spinone Italiano, same as the Griffon.

English bird dogs can generally only do one thing well. So German Wirehaired Pointer AKA German Drahthaar.

Vizla or Weimaraner short coats and do well in the heat

I love the ugly dogs like the wirehair, but as a single retired guy I might not be able to meet the pup's exercise needs.
Vizla is certainly a possibility.

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What a great problem to have and be faced with - moving to a new home with hunting on the doorstep and what dog to look for. Fantastic

Shooting a lot in RSA we ran English pointer / GSP crosses which worked well and also ESSP. The spaniels were great on scent and flushing but only in the cool mornings for a max of 90 minutes and then it just got too darn hot.

Also had a Hungarian vizsla name Huszar. Great dog and to an extent more heat tolerant but always had water to hand.

Whatever pup you decide ...... enjoy and do let us know!

Charlie

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I've seen English Pointers and Vizlas hunting out of Carlsbad, Hobbs, and Cruces. The hunters were having good success and happy with their performance. I hunt with retrievers as do a number of my friends (I know, quail with flushing dogs?), but we don't start until December because of the snakes. By December, the heat isn't as big of a problem and the snakes have slowed down. However, this year we were out a few days before the end of the season and it was warm - 85 or so - and we did really have to watch the dogs. In that setting the shorter haired pointing dogs would almost certainly be superior.

Good to know, fellas. Appreciate your replies, and happy Fourth!