AZ Quail Today Podcast
Welcome to AZ Quail Today, your go-to podcast for everything quail hunting in Arizona. From expert insights on local habitats to interviews with passionate hunters, join us as we dive into the world of quail hunting in Arizona.
Episodes
67 episodes
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...
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, ...
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 po...
Episode#63 Your Boots Will Carry You Nearly 70,000 Miles
We slow down and take boots seriously, from the surprising number of miles your feet cover in a lifetime to the deep history packed into everyday footwear. We trace how function shaped iconic designs, then land on real-world boot picks that hol...
Episode #62 How To Paddleboard With Your Dog Safely In Arizona Waters
We take our bird dogs paddleboarding and turn wipeouts, splashes, and river chaos into smart off-season training for Arizona hunters. We share what actually works to build fitness, confidence in water, and steadier obedience while keeping dogs ...
Episode #61 Valley Fever + Pop Quiz For Bird Dog Owner: Nate Istrate
We sit down with Nate Istrate to talk through a real valley fever scare in a hunting dog and what finally brought the symptoms under control. We share what to watch for in your bird dog, what the common tests can miss, and how to think about tr...
Episode #60 Summer Travels and Bird Dog Game Plan
We lay out a simple off-season plan for keeping our bird dogs conditioned through the Arizona heat while staying safe and consistent. We also share an update on Arizona quail season dates and why summer effort is where fall success really start...
Episode #59 How A Young Couple Builds A Life Of Hunting, Adventures And Clean Meat
We sit down with Sam and Annie to talk about how a young couple blends love, faith, and hunting into a future family life built on adventure. We swap stories from quail hunts and deer blinds, dig into clean meat and nutrition, and end with simp...
Episode #58 Handle The Handler for Better Bird Dogs: Conversation with Guy Sr. at Mollicone Kennels
We talk with Guy Molicone Sr. about why the handler is often the biggest variable in bird dog training and how small changes in language and timing create huge gains. We also get honest about e-collars, rule sets at home, and what great dogs ca...
Episode #57 Train The Bird Dog Mind: A Conversation w/ Guy Mollicone Sr.
We sit down with Pro bird dog trainer Guy Sr. of Mollicone Kennels to unpack what makes a reliable quail dog in Arizona and why handler habits matter as much as the dog’s talent. We talk predator psychology, offseason training that fits real li...
Episode #56 Bird Dog Boot Camp: Conversation with Nate Istrate
We catch up with Nate Istrate and get real about what changes when you send a bird dog to a serious trainer. We trade stories from the field and lay out a simple rule that makes every new hunter and dog handler better: only give commands you ca...
Episode #55 Inside An Arizona Bird Dog Clinic With Molicone Kennels | Part 2 of 2
We stay in the field with Guy Molicone Jr. and get honest about what bird dogs need most at each stage, from prey drive to steadiness and safe gun work. We trade stories and practical drills that help a dog love birds, learn control, and keep e...
Episode #54 Inside An Arizona Bird Dog Clinic With Molicone Kennels Part 1 of 2
We sit down with Guy Molicone Jr after a dog training clinic and break down what actually happened with a mix of dogs, skill levels, and real-world distractions. We dig into why foundation work matters, how to communicate clearly, and how to ke...
Episode #53 Interview with Guy Mollicone Jr | Bird Dog Basics That Actually Works
We sit down with pro dog trainer Guy Molicone Jr. to talk about what actually builds a reliable bird dog for Arizona quail hunting. We get honest about why rushing gun intro and bird exposure creates long-term problems and how a better relation...
Episode #52: Hike Strong, Hunt Better. Special Interview with Leslie Rice
We argue that hiking is the strongest lever a quail hunter can pull in the off season, then invite Leslie to share why desert miles build health, confidence and joy. We cover training basics, smart sun, scouting on foot and bucket-list routes i...
Episode #51 Desert Creek Deep Dive
We walk through a practical guide to Desert Creek Sportsman near Phoenix, from safe upland fields to rotating duck ponds, and why it’s ideal for dog work, mentoring, and building reliable hunts. We share personal plans, training insights, and c...
Episode #50 Ten Off-Season Habits For Better Bird Dogs
We lay out ten practical off-season moves to build safer, steadier, hunt-ready dogs while scouting smarter across Arizona. From e-bikes and live-bird reps to rattlesnake avoidance and mentorship work, we share the plan, the partners, and why it...
Episode #49 Winter Rain Update + Early Quail Pairing
We trace how a record-wet fall and a wetter-leaning winter pushed Gambel’s quail into early pairing, reshaped covey behavior, and set the stage for stronger brood success. Field stories, rainfall data, and practical takeaways connect rain patte...
Episode #48 Good Hunter, Bad Hunter
We draw a bright line between good hunters and bad ones, then test our own choices against it. Laws, fair chase, safety, respect for land, and field etiquette become the true measure, not just how well we shoot.• defining character over...
Episode #47 Arizona Quail Season Recap
We trace a season defined by a record-wet fall and a record-warm January, and how that mix changed quail behavior, calling, and our tactics in the field. From flow-state shooting to pairing biology and clutch sizes, we share wins, setbacks, and...
Episode #46 Field Notes From A Warm Arizona Quail Hunt
We walk through a late-season Arizona quail hunt that starts rough in open creosote and ends with a hard-earned double, with honest lessons on heat, dogs, gear, and calling. Warm, dry winter patterns, small coveys, and rattlesnake risk reshaped...
Episode #45 Field Lessons: Surprises, Successes, and Slip‑Ups in Quail Country
In this episode, Ryan unpacks one of his recent hunts and shares a number of surprising things he’s seeing out in the field. He talks through moments that went right, moments that went wrong, and the lessons learned along the way. Don’t miss th...
Episode #44 Top 10 Mistakes for the Quail Hunter - Part 2
In Part 2, we finish the list with five more mistakes that cost birds after the covey rises: rushing the shot, failing to come in low‑ready, forgetting to reload, moving too fast through birdy cover, and letting dogs bump birds out of range.&nb...
Episode #43 Top 10 Mistakes for the Quail Hunter - Part 1
This two‑part series breaks down the top 10 mistakes quail hunters make in the field and how to fix them with practical, real‑world tactics. Drawing from Arizona desert experience, dog work, and faith‑shaped stewardship, each episod...
Episode #43 Border Quail, Public Lands, and Pointers with Ray Trejo
This episode dives into the rugged borderlands of New Mexico with upland hunter, educator, and conservation advocate Ray Trejo of Branded Horse Shoe LLC. We talk Montezuma (Mearn’s) quail and what makes them so unique, running big co...