Check Stations, Surveys and Wing Barrels
Hunters add eyes and ears to wildlife management in Arizona.
Many of our small game species are monitored annually through check stations, informal and formal surveys, and wing barrels. During opening weekend of the early dove hunt, Department personnel man check stations for doves at Robbins Butte Wildlife Management Area and other locations where they collect information on the species, age, molt and number of doves harvested by hunters. This information helps inform dove harvest structures in Arizona and nationally.
This map identifies wing barrel locations (red points) for collection of Montezuma (Mearns') quail wings in southeastern Arizona.
Likewise, on opening weekend for desert quail (Gambel’s and scaled), the Department runs check stations near Oracle and Oro Valley in southern Arizona where hunters are asked to present wings of quail harvested for identification and age.
Hunters are also asked how many cottontails or jackrabbits they observed while hunting.
When Montezuma quail season opens, hunters are asked to submit wings to wing barrels in designated locations with harvest information.
Wings collected from the wing barrels are later classified by species, age and sex, and the harvest information is used to monitor quail population trends in Arizona. Often at big game check stations, like the Kaibab deer check station in the fall, hunters are asked to report how many Abert’s squirrels they observed while hunting. Observations like this help provide an index of squirrel abundance in areas where more detailed surveys are not feasible.
Band-tailed pigeons
Hunters who pursue band-tailed pigeons, chukars and dusky grouse are asked to contact the Department to provide information on bird locations so that we can better monitor these birds that are less frequently hunted. Hunters who indicate that they hunt band-tailed pigeons, ducks and/or doves may also be asked by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to submit reports or wings for national surveys.
Statewide, a sample of all hunters and those who indicated they hunted small game when they purchased a license are sent an annual small game survey via email and/or post. Completing this survey with as much detail as possible helps the Department to identify and maintain key areas where we can focus habitat efforts or other conservation activities to aid and enhance small game populations and increase hunting opportunities in Arizona.
(R12-4-308 Wildlife Inspections, Check Stations, and Roadblocks)