Episode #68 Fifty Years of Rainfall and Rock 'n' Roll w/ Special Guest Kirby Bristow Part 2 of 2

Episode #68 Fifty Years of Rainfall and Rock 'n' Roll w/ Special Guest Kirby Bristow Part 2 of 2

We connect 50 years of Arizona rainfall to real quail numbers, from the wet early 1990s to today’s tighter window for “boom” seasons. We also dig into what wing barrel data says about juveniles, why hunter crowding feels worse, and how we’d think about fair rules without pretending regulations can replace rain. • early 1990s winter rains and why they felt like peak years for Gambel’s quail • mid-to-late 1990s dry periods and the research response around Mearns quail concerns • 2000s monsoon consistency and chasing the three-species-in-one-day trifecta • 2010s monsoons plus social media growth driving more non-resident interest • wing barrel harvest data linking percent juveniles to summer rainfall and green-up • how hunter effort self-regulates in good and bad years, especially for residents • ideas that could reduce crowding, including delayed non-resident openers or permits • current outlook for Gambel’s quail, carryover birds, and what call counts suggest • a tough hunt story with “veteran” coveys and what it teaches about expectations • bird dog realities: pointing, honoring, retrieving, and building a dependable pack to help further our work please consider making a tax deductible gift visit us online at azquailtoday.com and be sure to follow us on social media for the latest information and updates. Connect with us: Email us at r [AzQuailToday@gmail.com]yan@azquailtoday.com —we'd love to hear from you!  Follow us on Instagram at @azquailtoday

Episode #67 Fifty Years of Rainfall and Rock 'n' Roll w/ Special Guest Kirby Bristow Part 1 of 2

We trade stories with Kirby Bristow about dogs, coveys, and a scaled quail retrieve that never touches the ground, then zoom out to the weather patterns that decide whether Arizona quail hunting feels easy or brutal. We also tackle the harvest debate head-on and explain why rainfall timing and habitat conditions drive next year’s bird numbers more than hunter pressure does. • a New Mexico scaled quail hunt capped by a mid-air Labrador retrieve  • long-term Arizona rainfall swings and fewer stacked “good years”  • monsoon rain vs winter rain and what each quail species needs  • why Mearns quail stay tied to Sky Island oak grasslands  • differences in reproduction and covey behavior across Mearns, Gambel’s, and scaled quail  • what studies show about hunted vs unhunted areas and pre-season vs post-season counts  • why agencies focus on habitat management instead of restricting harvest  • walking through the 1970s and 1980s with classic rock and quail memories  To help further our work, please consider making a tax-deductible gift. Visit us online at azquailtoday.com and be sure to follow us on social media for the latest information and updates. Till then, remember to get outside. Connect with us: Email us at r [AzQuailToday@gmail.com]yan@azquailtoday.com —we'd love to hear from you!  Follow us on Instagram at @azquailtoday

Episode #66 How To Trap Pigeons For Reliable Dog Training Birds

We get practical about pigeons, from surprising facts about what they can do to why they make tough, reliable dog training birds. We lay out a real-world trapping system that works in Arizona, plus the mistakes that quietly ruin your results or harm birds in the heat.  • pigeons as hardy training birds for upland hunters  • ten interesting pigeon facts including homing and intelligence  • pre-baiting with corn or chicken scratch for one to two weeks  • placing traps where pigeons already roost and feed  • using bob door traps and leaving doors open early  • providing shade and fresh water to prevent suffering  • checking traps on a safe schedule to avoid stress and deaths  • transporting birds home quickly and setting up a basic coop  • ten common mistakes including impatience and skipping pre-baiting  To help further our work, please consider making a tax-deductible gift. Visit us online at azquailtoday.com and be sure to follow us on social media for the latest information and updates.  Connect with us: Email us at r [AzQuailToday@gmail.com]yan@azquailtoday.com —we'd love to hear from you!  Follow us on Instagram at @azquailtoday

Episode #65 Backcountry Fit For Quail Season?

We trade the usual gear talk for the gear that decides whether you can actually reach the birds: your heart, your legs, and your daily habits. We break down why quail hunting demands nonstop mobility and share simple ways to train, eat, sleep, and hydrate so you can keep chasing coveys for decades.  • why physical health matters more than a shotgun or a dog for backcountry access  • heart disease stats and why hunters should pay attention in their 40s and beyond  • how belly fat and extra weight make desert miles harder and raise risk  • steps, brisk walking, and why quail hunters need durable cardio  • off-season training ideas like hikes, runs, cycling, and leg and core workouts  • cleaning up diet with the 80-20 rule and cutting sugary drinks  • sleep as recovery that improves energy and lowers stress on the heart  • Arizona trail ideas for conditioning and building stamina  • hydration basics for desert heat and keeping hunts from ending early  • a stewardship mindset for staying strong for family and the outdoors  To help further our work, please consider making a tax-deductible gift. Visit us online at azquailtoday.com and be sure to follow us on social media for the latest information and updates. Connect with us: Email us at r [AzQuailToday@gmail.com]yan@azquailtoday.com —we'd love to hear from you!  Follow us on Instagram at @azquailtoday

Episode # 64 Pray For The Horse And Quit Yelling At Your Bird Dog

We chase the old-school idea of pairing a horse and a bird dog for Arizona quail hunting, then get honest about how much that partnership depends on our calm, not our intensity. We share what Zuni the mustang mare teaches us about trust, how pointers pick up our emotional cues, and why steadiness is the real training advantage.  • building trust with a horse through slow, consistent handling  • noticing how tone, posture, timing, and stress shape animal behavior  • praying for the horse as a way to slow down and show up better  • English pointer history and why the breed fits Western quail country  • practical leadership principles that apply to horses and bird dogs  • why horseback quail hunting is both beautiful and hard work  • introducing dogs and horses safely through controlled exposure  • keeping sessions short, sustainable, and repeatable  Help further our work. Please consider making a tax-deductible gift. Visit us online at azquilltoday.com and be sure to follow us on social media for the latest information and updates. So then remember to get outside. Connect with us: Email us at r [AzQuailToday@gmail.com]yan@azquailtoday.com —we'd love to hear from you!  Follow us on Instagram at @azquailtoday