az4life

I would GUESS it is legal, but you probably should not have any weapon in the vehicle while doing it.

Definitely as a group. No advantage I know of as singles except maybe 1 or 2 could go and the others may not get drawn at all. Play the odds on this. Check the area you plan to hunt against the draw / success rates in the gama nd fish website. If you put in with more than 1 choice, you could also wind up being drawn for seperate units if you put in seperately too! Good Luck

Okay guys, spotlighting sounds like a fun thing to do if you have time to kill some evening. What sort of spotlight do you have? Do you use any light filters? I assume it is done from the vehicle primarily? I saw a spotlight in an ad recently with 10 million candle power! I think that is almost daylight! Maybe have to get me one of them and join you out in the hills. If I am not carefull, people in town might think the sun is coming up when I use it though. More info...

I generally like to get as far as possible from the roads without turning my hunting trip into a mainly hiking trip. I have found that getting up and starting to move toward my intended glassing high point works best if I have enough light to see my feet in front of me. This means I head out usually on a road or trail for the first 30 minutes or so moving fairly briskly which gets me into a place to sit a few minutes to watch others spook deer as they blaze in, at or just before sun up. I try to move to my spot slowly before full light I have spooked out too many deer trying to get to a glassing spot early before sunup so this method seems to work for me. As far as all day or not, it generally depends on the weather, the deer and the place I am hunting. Prefer to go out all day, moving to a few good spots within a mile or so of my first spot. Generally glass for 2-3 hours before moving to another vantage point. I move closer to camp as the day winds down so I limit my shots to something I can retrieve and get to before it is too dark. Energy snacks and fruits work well in the backpack and I take enough to last all day, just in case. Eat everything so I don't have to carry it back at night. I usually camp out in a tent and have great meals in the evenings. After Dinner I Kick back, Watch some DVDs on the PC and really rough it! HA HA LAter All

Treestandman I wrote the story of my encounter within 12 hours of the experience, on the night I got back from the trip since I did not want time to make the tale grow like many fish stories. I felt this would give me the most accurate reference when the memory faded. (I can say, it has not faded much if any to this day) The only part of the story where I may have "stretched the truth" was the distance that the cat finally stopped from me. I really believe it was more like 6 feet but even I could not believe that! So I doubled my first estimate. My estimate was based on the length of the tree root I swung at the cat and where he finally stopped. I was so close I could see the saliva on it's teeth and could have counted the whiskers on it's face so I really feel it was more like 6 feet, but I am not going to change the details now. Close call yes, and I am thankful to have survived. Being eaten alive was probably one of 2 ways I would hate to die. (being burned alive was the other) Be careful out there, because mountain lions ARE watching you!

Hey all, I am sort of showing up late to the dance, but on Oct 13, 2001 I was stalked and narrowly escaped an attack from a mtn lion while scouting elk in 6a. I was unarmed and the cat stalked me from 45 yards to about 12 feet before I scared him off ( scared him?? ). I never saw one before this in my 30 plus years hunting AZ and it was a life changing experience. It took me several months to get fairly confortable hunting again as I was watching for lions more than elk or deer. This cat was big and loud. Growling and Hissing the entire time he was moving toward me. Low crouched and focussed like the true predator they are. God only knows how I turned him away at that distance. I have the entire story posted on another site if you want it all. When the hunter becomes the hunted! I learned you do not go scouting without a gun Just in Case. I was unarmed and at least a half mile from my friend and 1/4 mile from the vehicle. I truly did see my life pass before my eyes and will NEVER forget that feeling! Since that time I have seen lots of tracks and scat from lions but still waiting with tag and gun in hand for the time I see one that I can harvest. Anyway, as I was reading the posts above I thought how this group has such a decent group of members! Thanks to you all for your opinions and stories. Thanks too for the limited censoring to protect the majority of the group from unnecesary defamatory or inflamatory remarks. Great job everyone!

The mount ord side is one of the 1st places I ever hunted Coues on. At that time the bottom of the mt ord hill coming out of sunflower going toward rye, we had a turn off, and were able to take a road almost all the way up the hill with a 2wd chevy p/u that had a big cab-over unit on it. that was 20 plus yrs ago and now I see that road or what is left of it and it looks really tough for a quad even. Anyway, there are lots of deer but we could never get close enough so I just have memories of what could have been and that steep road. The north side of the highway has deer and lions too. As I recall the road was easier to drive! Good luck!

I have used FRS 2 milers in the past couple of years, but often use them as check ins only. Designated 1-2 hour check in times and see what is happening. Cobra and midland are what I have used. Small and lightweight taking 6 AAA batts. They last a 2-3 day weekend with mostly standby. Out of AZ, some states restrict them altogether! With the advent of good cell phones, it is now almost possible to talk to other hunters carrying cell phones in the wilderness. Mainly carry mine as safety unit in case of injury or to call for help after a kill. Interesting about the record disqualification. I did not know that!

I have seen rattlers out even in the Dec late hunt . We were out in 31-32 I think, between Safford and Fort Mojave ?? if I recollect. Anyway We had camped out and were nearly dead since we were sweating all day long with fighting daytime temps in the 80's and 90's. Really HOT temps for that time of the year! We saw a rattler and a gila monster plus tons of lizards during that trip. Amazing Now Whenever I see lizards out, I am on the lookout for snakes. One other case, I was about 18 and was quail hunting. I Dropped into a wash to cross to the other side and half way across, I heard my partner yell STOP, FREEZE. I started looking for the quail... He told me I was standing on a rattler. I looked down and coiled in the sand mostly covered, was a rattler. I was half on top of it with my foot. Sort of had it pinned down. We talked about it for a couple seconds and I pointed my shotgun toward the outside of my foot angling it out away from me making sure it was going to miss my foot, and fired the round in the chamber. I shot, and jumped back as the snake sort of flopped around split open in a couple places but not the head. It was Deafening to me and a big percussion felt on my foot, but better that than a bite being 25 miles from a hospital and 1- 2 miles from the truck. My friend shot it another time after I was clear and he bagged it up to have for dinner. He said it was full of sand when he cleaned it and kind of gritty to eat. I was glad I got out of it! Now I am quite afew years wiser, and try to look where I am going to step before I do it! Amazing the things that happen to one person when they go out in the wilds! Like Ernesto, I thanked God for helping me out of that one!

I have a couple of these JHP homebrew cams too! Made 1 last season and 1 the season before. Found the one that faced NE to work quite well, but that was in the winter before the late hunt. Some decent photos of does and a couple nice bucks at night. I built the 35mm and did each for less than $50 each. Soldering is a pain and I did toast 1 cannon owl in the process. Still thinking on the digital. Will try to scan and post some of these in the near future.

I would agree with the sentiment of others that the goal of the ban on mtn lion hunting kittens and females with kittens is just the tip of the iceberg. The Anti hunting looneys just cannot see that controlled, regulated hunting is the best way to maintain an equitable balance in human / lion co-existence. Their dirty lie is to make the general population believe hunters go out to kill little cudly kittens and "females" that are simply trying to take care of their families. (what a crock) Do any of you know of a hunter who would go out with a lion tag and shoot a kitten? In California, about 6 months ago, many of you may have read an instance of a mtn lion attacking a woman mtn biker. Several Other bikers were barely able to save her from a lion that was pulling her into the brush with a death grip on her face. When the game officers went to look for the lion (probably to see if it was hurt by the woman) they discovered the remains of another mtn biker apparently killed by a lion within the past couple of weeks. With a ban on hunting these predators, they have and will continue to hunt humans when their paths cross. Speaking from experience, I know what it is like to have one of these cats come at you with dinner on his mind! It is not fun, and hearing the store above brought it back to me like it was yesterday. I say that regulations regarding the hunting these animals like most other species is best left to the qualified and capable hands of the AZ Game and Fish experts. Cannot think of too many (1 or 2) cases of death or injury from lions here in our state and I believe the current proper management is the #1 proven tool . We responsible hunters need to keep those tree hugging peta idiots in their place, but I think california is too full of them so now they are moving here. My .02 worth

My .02 worth is what almost everyone else said! Non Typical. 3 miles sounds about right for me Just wondering is that 3 miles from the truck, uphill or downhill?

Allen, you called it. I had a 2 or 3 of those same guys (Dumb Dumber and Dumberer) Blow several nice Stalks I had set up this year. I have noted it is getting worse as time goes by. The inexperience and just foolish behavior or the goofs makes me a more defensive hunter. You just don't know what the other guy is going to do to you because he doesn't see you, or doesn't care about you. Sad to say, but this year I had 1 case where a Doofus walked up the ridge about 1 mile from me and plowed his way across the top of the ridge right past me. He spooked 2 bedded bucks I was watchin and another larger one I never even saw until he bolted across the canyon 1/2 mile ahead of Doofus. All the while, Talking into his radio, but he really didn't need to since he was so loud. I could hear his voice for a mile away at times. He finally got within 10 yards of me and stopped to use his radio again and take care of a nature call. Started to walk again as I stood up in plain view. I cleared my throat, and he looked around, and stared right at me for a few seconds so I waved my hand and smiled. He looked around some more and started walking. I heard him tell his partner on the radio tat he thought he heard a deer, but is must have been a rabbit or bird. Un believable! I thought he saw me, but he apparently did not. I met his partners in a truck down on the road later and told them about the encounter, and they said it was one of their uncles. They said he told them he didn't see any other hunters, or deer. He hasn't got a deer in years, but he always hikes a lot and shoots a box or 2 of bullets in trying to bag one! Defensive is the safest way to hunt. My hunting buddy lost a nice buck to 2 goofs last year too. Very similar set-up but they just yelled their way up and down the canyon as they moved thoght the brush about 1/4 mile apart. Blew out the buck he has been watching for 1/2 the day. Take care and watch out for the Dumb ones!

Ditto on the great folks on this site. Never met any face to face, but just chatting and posting here give you a sense of the quality of folks sharing experiences. I have not pulled out the scattergun for about 10 years but used to hunt dove, Quail and occasionally ducks. I have limited hunt trips to Elk and coues with an occaxional javelina depending on what I get drawn for. Give us some details and I think you will find a few to link up with. I'm in NW Valley (Peoria) but hunt Coues in 24b, 22, 21, and a few others mostly.

Well, my experience is glassing and stalking is the best way to get a good deer. I have had a few big ones jump up when I least expected them and missed them as a result. I used to hunt with guys that loved to do the "pushes" down draws and hillsides, tossing rocks and making noises but they were not all that productive. Too many times you are in the wrong position to see anything of the deer to get a shot off. You hear it and maybe see a tail or antler, but the time is so short you cannot get a decent look to tell if it is one you would want. These Coues are too smart for that anyway. While doing these pushes, I have stepped within inches of them before they spooked. They really do know WHEN to jump so you don't have a shot! Few exceptions, but overall, the spot, stalk works the best, and gives you the best look at your target. Not to mention safety! Just what the dang ANTIs want to see is a hunter stomping around and shooting at anything that moves.. I know that is not the position anyone has defended, but you know how the story CAN get spun in the liberal ANTIs mind. Does and ANTI have a mind? My .02 worth...

Good questions but I think a lot of it tends to be the right place at the right time. I have to say my average # this year was 10-12 per day. My hunt partner saw about 15 per day average from spots adjacent to mine. This is the ocunt of deer that I could see in an area that I could reasonably get to to make a shot. I often times glass the saddle of one ridge and will sot deer on the ridge behind theo nie I am hunting. I don't really count these since even with a spotting scope it is tough to tell anything about them. I have hunted in the past when we saw nothing for a day at a time. I talk to hunters that just get frustrated because they don 't know how to glass. That just means More for us that take the time!

Like many other posters have said, the ballistic tips are very good for the coues size game. The only thing is, if the shot is placed incorrectly, you have a lot of damaged meat due to the "Blow out" factor. My inlaws used 85-120 grain ballistic tips on 3 antelope this year in wyoming. I was amazed at what the 85 grain in a 7mm 08 did to an antelope at 200 yards. I thought no way could an 85 grain slug have enough stopping power, but was I ever wrong! I would guess that the longer range shots need a little more weight to hold together and have enough energy (ft lbs) left to knock an animal down at 350- plus yards. Nuf said, My vote is the 120- grain ballistic tip for small deer or lopes.

Couestaxi Ditto on the congratulations! We all can hardly wait to see photos and hear the tale.

Just got back from 3 days of hunting. Saw lots of deer and wound up with a 3 x 2 and a 3 x 3. Took them this morning at about 9 am and within 5 seconds and 50 yards of each other. Long story short, I Missed the bigger one due to misjudging the range across the canyon, He was the only one we saw, then after standing still for 2 shots he he ran under a pinion tree and gave up his little buddy in the process. Took a shot for the deer with antlers under the tree, and 2 deer came bolting out. My parter dropped the one that came out high with 2 shots and I got the lsmaller one that went down low with 1 shot. We had at least a 2 mile hike out of the rugged area, and had to make 2 trips to get both deer and our gear. Very NASTY hiking in and mostly steep downhill going out. Anyway, He the bigger one might be the one I got photos of on my game camera! Have to study the night photos more to be sure. Exciting hunt. More information to follow. How did everyone else do?

Out4fun sorry, but 24a is not an area I know best. Lots of others that post here including Amanda may be able to head you in the right direction. I generally agree, the deer are out there! just stay behind the binos and pick them out of the thick stuff. Rut should be on, so they will be up after the does! Good hunting.

Casey I have taken some decent deer over the years but a serious slump has been hangin on me like the stink on a skunk. After about 4 years of nuthing but blisters on my feet, I broke that slump this year with a Wyoming Antelope and an AZ Coues. Coues have been my favorite to hunt since the challenge is quite high compared to other game. I figured last year my scope was the problem after I missed 3 deer at 150-350 yards. My hunting partner told me that he knew something was wrong since I never shoot that bad. He pointed out that ever since I got that scope replaced 5 years earlier, I had not taken any big game. The Tasco silver antler was a replacement for a great 25 year old tasco I smashed in a fall while hunting. The new Tasco was just not enough for my 300 win mag and it's zero point sort of ratcheted up and left with every shot I took. Consequently my new 3-9x50 Leupold is leaps and bounds better. It takes the 300's kicking and keeps on hitting. Rembrandt It was my first "double down" and the first time we both were successful on the same hunting trip. I even surprised myself by carrying the deer all the way back to the vehicle. A rugged hike of at least 2 miles that I didn't think I could do. Being an office worker, I was not sure I could carry one out as far back in off the beaten path as we were. I am glad you were not tossing me in with the upset locals I wrote about. Didn't think it sounded like I was on their side, but hey, that just gives us both more typing practice stating and re-stating... I have seen you post here quite a few times, and wonder why you don't register? Anyway, the deer Roast was great again!. Gotta go check ebay for a few goodies. Later Venison is on the table, got to go for now...

Hey everyone, Please don't shoot the messenger... As I said, I have always found Dana Quite likeable and knowledgeable and a credit to the G&F. I've Chatted with him often in the field and on the phone several times over the past 10 years or so. As far as a regular routine, I almost aways see Dana on the opening Friday or Saturday, or at least get a card from him at my campsite. This year we had no contact at all even though I was camped in a normal spot, so I have to believe they could have been right about the normal routine and the snow. I definitely agree it was disturbing to have so many people "keeping track of him". About 5 years ago I personally made a comment to Dana about seeing him so regular, roughly the same time and same place during the late hunt, and he sort of laughed and said it was a regular route for him but if he was that predictable, he would have to change his routine. In my post, I just made the point that the local folks were pretty upset about some info that was very specific on the website. There were a lot of hunters, but I have other places that are easier and closer to hunt if it gets to be worse in that area. A longer Hike in takes many of the road hunters out of play anyway. For me to hear the comments out of the blue from 3 different groups of area hunters, sure made me take notice. I even told some of these hunters that he was a good guy, but that sort of made them look at me like I was harboring a fugitive or something. Being out-numbered, and in the obvious minority I didn't push the issue but filed it away for reference. I definitely appreciate the G&F officers and the work they do, and definitely would assist any of them if the tide was against them. I can only imagine the difficulty in being the only person for hundreds of miles to take care of the situations that arise in wildlife management. Again. Not my intent to harass or condone intimidation of anyone. Maybe I should have just called him directly and told him what I heard instead of posting it. Sorry to ruffle the flocks feathers....

I will post this in the recipe section but FYI... Crocked it overnight on low and only used apple juice to simmer in. Apple juice with Venison Rocks! ?Best venison I ever had. I could ave easily past it off as beef to more queasy eaters! No apple flavor left either. It just tasted like super Lean, great beef! Easy, fast and Great!

Thanks Griz Sure was a fun hunt. I saw so many deer that it never got boring. I sure did notice the lack of activity on Friday after the snowfall that morning. The deer seemed to stay down out of sight, but following that melt off, they made up for lost time. Continual movement almost all day long. I saw so many hunters in the area I was, It was unbelievable. They were running into each other and made planning a stalk difficult. Not knowing where they were going or what they see. One example, I was putting a stalk on a 3x4 about 900 yards away, and when I was about half way to him, my partner said they must have seen me since there were deer running all over the hillside, up and over away from me! Turns out 2 other hunters were heading down the slope uphill from me to try for a 2x2 we passed on that was closer to us. One other note... Many of the regular Local hunters around Superior, Globe, & Miami are really upset at AZ G&F officer for the area since he basically spelled out giving perfect directions for anyone using the G&F website a couple prime areas in the past. These spots are Not as good anymore. Locals used to be able to get deer prety easy, but now the people from all over the state add lots more pressure. Hunters do tend to be sensitive about guarding prime areas, and many of them feel G&F has broken that honor code. From what I was told If I was Dana, I don't think I would stop in the area for information or a bite to eat. Only 2 years ago, these folks seemed to like him... Now they keep track of him and have strong opposite opinions of G&F. One guy told me that "the (expletive) didn't take his normal opening day route around the unit due to a little extra snow". I have met him several times and he is a nice likeable guy, but there is really some anymosity toward him I have not seen before. I Don't know if Dana reads the discussion boards, but it is Food for thought anyway. One campsite of regular local hunters had about 20 people in it and a party on Sat nite had about 50 hunters most from local towns that don't camp out. Later.. Got to go heal up the sore muscles and season the venison roast in the crock pot!

I noted the deer seem to be in the early stages of rut in 24b. Some extra daytime movement and some early tending of does was what I saw. On Sunday, we saw one buck really chasing a doe around a hillside, but she was not receptive. Other than one other playful chasing episode, we didn't really see active rutting behavior like is normal when we hunt after Christmas. Several times we saw smaller bucks together, and groups of as many as 7 does with no visible buck. We saw Lots of deer, during the hunt. It must have been a good year for them since mine had a layer of fat under the hide thicker than I have ever seen on one of these coes deer. Got a Roast in the crock pot for tonight. BTW I will try to get a couple digital pics posted from my game camera. Sure was fun to build and have it work so well.