Arizona Mearns and Gambels Quail! part 1-MY First Trip to AZ

For my first trip to Arizona I go after Mearns and Gambels quail. Part 1. Presented by OnX Hunt. Happy Holidays everyone!
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[@h2oburke]

Thanks for the early Christmas gift! Great video!

[@danielalva5362]

Well. You did it. You got down to AZ for Mearns 👍. Nice footage Eric.

[@kriskeene3910]

Great video. I like your style going where no one else is willing to go. I’d love to hunt mearns one day. Seems like a bird you kill with your legs :)

[@ericforrester1]

Thanks, for sure!

[@abrahamthompson7090]

Open that choke up buddy lol !!! Hey they humbled me the first time for sure

[@valleyquail1790]

Sitting in Arizona getting ready to go chase some mearns right now!!! Can’t wait to get a mearns in hand. Noticed you switched from your auto….?

[@ericforrester1]

My o/u is faster. Gotta be fast with mearns! Good luck!

[@KingsOutdoorLife]

Gosh what beautiful country! Great to see how quick your dogs adjust. Quick Draw appears to be the key with these birds.

[@ericforrester1]

Yes, it is mostly snap shooting. 👍

[@ventureoutdoorswithkirk]

Nice start to the trip. Yeah, quail will humble you will quick!! Was just saying that's a trip I need to take. As dry as it was this year I was expecting #s to be down in AZ, apparently not.

[@ericforrester1]

#’s appeared to be spotty.

[@chrisbrougham8777]

Beautiful country and dog work. Glad to see you brand into some birds. Public property I assume?

[@ericforrester1]

Yes. AZ has tons of public land. 👍

[@MrGDurbin]

This is a great video as usual. You told me years ago you wanted to go to Arizona. Did you see any snakes ?

[@ericforrester1]

Nope. It was usually under 70 degrees which is said to be an approximate cutoff.

[@kylebailey7631]

Another great video! Finally getting around to watching. Was excited to see you do an Arizona video. I am planning a trip to Arizona to hunt this year.

[@markphinney3152]

Really pleased to see this, and can't wait for part 2! I'm heading down there in a few weeks for my first ever AZ quail trip. Been on the bucket list for a long time.

[@ericforrester1]

Good for you…enjoy and good luck!

[@sparkysoutdoors6240]

Very cool channel glad I found it

[@ericforrester1]

Thanks, welcome!

[@callmecamo2]

A new EF video?!?! Merry Christmas to me!

[@chuckreasy3164]

Oh my, your sportin the 828U. Just picked one up & shot my mearns & gamble with it. Nice gun! I thought you weren't into guns?? Great video as always. You make it look too easy...

[@ericforrester1]

😆 i bought both Benellis years ago when i mostly pheasant hunted and I didn’t know much. Yes, it’s beautiful and I enjoy carrying it.

[@chuckreasy3164]

I saw your Ethos and researched it. Bought one & love it. Then I saw the 828 and had to have it. Nice guns for upland birds.

[@ericforrester1]

Absolutely 👍

[@rickcrane839]

@@chuckreasy3164 Watching Eric can get expensive, right?

[@chuckreasy3164]

@@rickcrane839 Yes, I call it investment...

[@nasholson8800]

Shoot through the tree though that’s what we do up in northern Minnesota when we are hunting grouse i didn’t believe it when my dad told me but i did started doing it and fill my tag

[@nasholson8800]

But Great Content and very inspiring

[@josephcarter9549]

What GPS collars and handheld setup are you running? I need something to keep up with my 2yr old GSP ! Love this channel!!

[@ericforrester1]

I have had the garmin alpha 100 since it came out years ago and I have always been happy with it.

[@josephcarter9549]

@@ericforrester1 thank you sir !

[@azquailadventures]

Great start man!!

[@ericforrester1]

Thanks bro! 👊

[@hawknzz]

We’re you near the Sonoita, AZ upland area for this hunt? Awesome stuff btw!

[@roblastra6080]

Awesome work Eric. Love your videos. Merry Christmas to you all.

[@allenericson8038]

Looks like an amazing time. That is on my list as well. What month was this? Temps?

[@ericforrester1]

Dec

[@israrhaq73]

Eric awesome video, would make a short video of your hunting guns (both repeater and over and under) and which cartridges you use for what kind of bird. Thanks

[@elgato9445]

Those birds are quick. Like following you and the dogs on your adventures. I have hiked through AZ a few times. Beautiful, rugged country. Merry Christmas. Looking forward to part 2.

[@ericforrester1]

Thanks, you too!

[@Official_cervantes]

Great videos man I love the quail hunts keep them up your amazing!

[@ericforrester1]

Thank you!

[@CazandoconRafa7501]

For this type of hunting I use the IC chokes and it has given me very good results, Merry Christmas, I enjoy your videos a lot!!👍

[@romeoalphafoxtrot9517]

Awesome video! So glad you made it over to Az! Can't wait for part 2! Safe travels Man! Merry Christmas!

[@ericforrester1]

Thank you! 👊

[@valleyquail1790]

Another great video. Im heading down there with a couple of buddies in mid January. Thanks for the great work! Hope you and your family have a good Christmas.

[@ericforrester1]

Thank you…you too!

[@pedroruiz5810]

Nice terrain for hunting, the trees make it difficult to shoot and the birds know how to use them to their advantage, greetings from Spain.

[@clemspriggs5872]

Love all of your videos well made, I love watching Ci Ci work those silver eyebrows shows her years of experience. I saw you were shooting a Benelli 828 what do you think of that gun? I love my Benelli SBE III and was thinking of getting an 828 but I've heard bad things about their reliability.

[@ericforrester1]

I love mine. Light, fast, beautiful, and no issues.

[@AfzaalWardag]

Shooting is always difficult in bushes Still i enjoyed 😉

[@jtravis8493]

Merry Christmas Eric, thanks for the video, I assume this is time consuming, superb !!!

[@ericforrester1]

Yes it is, but fun too!

[@desertBirdDogs]

If you hunt the gambels or scalies after mearns hunting it feels like they're flying in slow motion. The mearns always have that explosive flush. You'll get some better dog work on the gambels in a little different terrain too, same with the scalies. Are you already gone or still in AZ?

[@ericforrester1]

Yes, mearns flush hard. I’m gone.

[@desertBirdDogs]

@@ericforrester1 looking forward to part 2. If you didn't get any scalie action I'll hook you up the next time your out. Everyone says they run more than any of the other quail but I've found they hold REALLY tight in the right terrain

[@brainleavy6934]

Great to see the dogs adjust to the birds that was was some fast shooting and fast birds that youse the cover every bit and really make you and your dogs work for every one but we never remember the ease one Like to wish you and your family a very happy Christmas and a happy New Year thanks agin

[@ericforrester1]

Thank you, you too!

[@garya9875]

Really enjoyed the video looking forward to part 2. You’ve got some great dogs they definitely know what their job is and I love watching them work. Your living the dream Eric enjoy the hell out of it be safe in your travels.

[@ericforrester1]

Thank you!

[@mattcollier616]

I have thought about doing this hunt a few times love watching your dogs work

[@boone6751]

I love the desert quail! Great content as usual. Your footage is many levels above most other channels on YT. Trade secrets I’m sure, but you don’t have the shaky head movement that most others suffer from. Thanks!

[@ericforrester1]

Thanks!

[@richc4231]

Great dogs, great video, beautiful country. Thanks for sharing Eric

[@ericforrester1]

Thank you!👊

[@nacionalairguns5876]

Nice perfect.

[@itsobvious5835]

Nice Eric, I run my dogs down there a month or so every winter. Hard to beat it. Don’t listen to people who say you can’t point gambles and scaled. A lot of people have don it forever. From your video the cover looks great this season. If your there in mid January, hope to see you out there.

[@ethanqualm5718]

I don't even know what to say. Good video awesome content and narrating. Just not any patience on your shooting make em count for you and the dogs!! Hunting birds like these are so difficult you have to give them credit they're not dumb they know where the dog is where you are and the best line to escape. Sound daunting??

[@thebirdbum9182]

Great hunt and video, Eric!! You guys make it look easy!

[@ericforrester1]

Thanks!

[@brandondorame]

How do you Ike that 828u any problems barrel length?

[@ericforrester1]

I love it. Very nice gun.

[@jayscott1380]

I live in AZ and hunt gambles all season long, running labs. Great eating. Yeah they run but once you bust a covey, you'll have singles. Also if after chasing singles for a while circle back to where you first busted the covey, many of those birds just run in a circle back to where they were, but then they hold better that second time.

[@ericforrester1]

Good stuff, thanks!

[@hawknzz]

Where in AZ do you hunt? I live in AZ , i want to get my shorthair going next year.

[@jayscott1380]

@@hawknzz I'm in the Kingman area

[@sulaimanalhafez6192]

one of the most enjoyable channels for me good hunt great dogs perfect videos Keep it up

[@ericforrester1]

Thank you, will do!

[@chuckreasy3164]

I mean your dogs, not the shooting. It happens to everyone on the mearns. They do use the bushes, and the dogs always give false points on their 1st couple hunts. Some dogs don't ever nail them down.

[@codyjenson387]

Love the content man!! Your videos never disappoint and the dog work is amazing! One question ive had while watching your videos tho, is tubby a shorthair or a wirehair?

[@ericforrester1]

Thanks! All my dogs are wirehairs but it can be hard to tell on video. Most of them have short coats.

[@chuckreasy3164]

By the way, Merry Christmas! Hope you all have the perfect holiday. Looking forward to following your adventures in 23!

[@ericforrester1]

Thanks Chuck, to you as well!

[@michaeldeegan3560]

It’s cool to see a double gun used.

[@cgeo3380]

What gun is the over under you use?

[@ericforrester1]

Benelli 828u

[@christinharrington8959]

What boots are you wearing in this video?

[@ericforrester1]

Salewas

[@christinharrington8959]

Thanks Eric. Really enjoy your videos.

[@pastorgaryhcfrc3265]

Can you please tell me what unit is this where in AZ is this in

[@kevinmclaughlin9796]

My first desert trip I went to New Mexico instead of Arizona. Big mistake. Bird numbers were extremely low and it was very tough hunting. We found all three species but it was a lot of work for very little reward. The following year we went to Arizona and the difference was night and day.

[@ericforrester1]

If New Mexico get the rains it can be great too. The rains at the right time of year are crucial.

[@JayceBroda]

Where’s TUBBS breed out of? Who is the breeder?

[@ericforrester1]

Tubbs is a Wirehair out of Norton Kennels.

[@jayscott1380]

Interesting as I watched this, I'm from AZ, hunt quail more than anything else. I got back from hunting pheasants in ND, and it's shocking how quick the quail are in comparison. I usually hunt them with IC or even cylinder choke, the quicker and wider the spread the better chance you have.

[@ericforrester1]

Agreed 👍

[@theprairiewoodsmen3383]

Let's go! Bucket list hunt congrats! Those are some awesome birds

[@ericforrester1]

Thanks!

[@theprairiewoodsmen3383]

@@ericforrester1 I would have been yelling so loud if I hunted that long and shot my first mearns after the frustration.

[@AtotheK17]

New truck?

[@ericforrester1]

Yes, used but new to me.

[@kevinmartin2096]

So awesome! I really want to go down their just nervous of all of the poisonous critters

[@johnvanderwalker4830]

Another great video. I love seeing the dogs work. thanks. I hate humble pie.

[@ericforrester1]

Thanks!

[@mehranheydary2757]

Did you go to hells canyon in New year?

[@ericforrester1]

I will be there soon 👍

[@iddddaduncan]

Man those birds are FAST!

[@kyle-ri5mz]

hey eric why did you get rid of the 250 for the raptor?

[@ericforrester1]

I don’t really have to have a HD truck and the raptor is so much more comfortable and capable off road.

[@andrewh9443]

Nice truck! 17” wheels might smooth out those dirt roads even more 😊 Love the video

[@ericforrester1]

Yep, a swap is on my list.

[@kenandrieling5885]

What kind of over under are you shooting?

[@ericforrester1]

Benelli 828u

[@kenandrieling5885]

@@ericforrester1 that's what I thought. Do you like it? I have an ethos and was going to get an 828 u

[@ericforrester1]

Yes, it is a sweet gun.

[@salihaykanat5560]

Süper

[@marvinlacsina2662]

Another good one Eric👍🏻… it’s not always about the shooting or how many birds you get… it’s also about the dog work and experiencing God’s creation.. well done Sir. Can’t wait for the next one👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻… Merry Christmas 🌲

[@ericforrester1]

Thanks, you too!

[@abduulkadirpolat1449]

Chukar? 1:24

[@ericforrester1]

Later in the season 👍

[@RustySprocket]

Headed down in a week for Mearns. Not my first trip to Arizona, but my first time hunting Mearns. Hoping to nail down my 6th and final North American quail species! Awesome vid dude! Loved it!

[@ericforrester1]

Thanks, good luck out there!

[@RustySprocket]

@@ericforrester1 Merry Christmas brother

[@Connor.Callahan]

What over/Under you using?

[@ericforrester1]

Benelli 828u