"It's really about what conditions were two years ago and last year. That's what determines your carry-over population.

Mastrup said there will always be spots that got a nice thunderstorm or two. But it's going to be very spotty at best. Sometimes, late rains such as those that rolled through parts of Southern California in April can help, if they produce a late flash of growth. But the season is generally set by what happens through the end of February or early March.

This may be a year in which hard-core desert hunters may want to give the birds a rest.

"Check your birds to see what age-class they are," said Mastrup. "If you're not seeing many young birds, it's a good, sportsmanlike thing to give them a break. You're dipping into next year's breeders. You can't save them in the bank, so it's not exactly a one-for-one deal. But in these lean years, it's not a bad idea to back off and go pursue something else -- like mountain quail or blue grouse.

"In general," he said, "my best advice to quail hunters this year is to head north."