varnco

I am heading out this weekend to do a little OTC action up in 24A Curious on thoughts of using a call during non-rut period (like this weekend). My inclination is no, that it may actually have an adverse affect rather than a positive effect. Thoughts or experiences from those that have been hunting Coues in the summer? Thanks.

His online store.

Well, I gave it my best and it wasn't enough. After 4 trips of scouting, 5 days of hunting (plus one full day of scouting before the hunt), I called it quits, as I hadn't seen a single bull. My buddy who hunted with me saw a bull, but unfortunately missed. I also had done quite a bit of work on Google Earth, had over 100 water tanks/springs marked. Had scouted mainly the Northern side of the unit and scouted saddle mountain, white horse hills, maverick butte, missouri bill hill. But then no rain in months, and all the tanks that had water in them previously were nothing but dust. We found 1 trick tank that had water in December, but the only sign there was for deer and coyote. Day 1 - Found a water source on the SE side of the mountain and sat trails leading to the water, as the water was at a campsite and there were about 3 other people sitting the actual water hole. hiked in about 1 mile into forest, found trails, scat, rubs, and thought great. No sighting of an elk - just squirrels. In the PM we moved over to an area near burns and glassed until dark and spotted 5 does. Day2 - Switched it up and moved to the canyons near Bear Jaw on the N side, and as we're walking up the canyon (i am in the canyon, he is up on the ridge looking over flats to the right), he sees out of the corner of his eye an elk walking in parallel with him through some thick trees.. what luck. He shoots and misses twice - what bad luck. Hike in 2 miles up canyon 1 and move over to canyon 2 and hike out. See nothing. Day 3 - Go back to canyons again hike up/out 2 miles each way (covered actually 5 miles) in a new canyon area (starts with an A) and see nothing except 2 hunters who hadn't seen anything. Day 4 - switch it up and go further north and sit up on a hill near the radio towers and 523 where there are two trick tanks that likely have water and glass 360* and see nothing until dark (saddle mountain area) Day 5 - Go back to the canyon area and hike in even further, to 9200ft and see nothing. Switch over to Bear Jaw and hike down and see nothing. Had cameras setup day before day 1 north of Shultz tank and picked the cameras up (along trails leading down to shultz tank) and had pictures of 7 different hunters, 5 cows and 1 bull. Hunters were during the day and the elk were at night. I want to thank everyone on this forum for all their tips. I'm missing something in my technique. questions for those that hunt canyons: 1. How the heck do you get through the thick forests with the twigs, aspen leaves and pine cones crunching away and not alerting every animal within 200 yards of your presence? 2. We saw tons of sign - fresh trail tracks, fresh(er) scat, rubs, bedding areas, but didn't see buy 1 elk which was luck, since we were both walking the same direction (deeper up a canyon/into woods). With all the sign, shouldn't we have seen more elk? I know hunting isn't a guarantee, and we almost had one... Thanks again.

So, I have a bull tag for 7E at the beginning of December, and it will likely be below freezing at night, but likely above freezing during the day. So, should I be worried about the camper I am renting and the pipes or fresh water tank freezing and busting? How do others who hunt up north camp in the winter? Thanks

FWIW, I just got back from Flagstaff, and when the temp dropped below 25 at night, the water pump froze overnight - no water in the a.m.We put a Buddy heater under the camper as we went off hunting, and when we returned that night, everything was fine.

Cold weather helped out in freezing our water pipes. No elk unfortunately. Just one that got away. Maybe next time.

I have the Dec 1 tag, and thought we would get some snow by now, but it's been pretty dry and warm. Thought on the impact it will have? I was expecting some snow by now, driving them down a bit, not sure now. Going to head out for one more scout after Thanksgiving. Warm weather No rain No snow Upcoming full moon Did a tough hunt just get tougher?

Congrats! Hoping to tag out in next 2 days in same unit. Not hearing many shots, but they're there!

Congrats! Hoping to get there.. started on east side, moving to north side (near mountain) now going further north... we'll find em!

Been hitting everywhere since Thursday (thursday was scouting). setup some cameras north of Shultz tank as backup in case we don't tag out over the weekend. Hit Locket's meadow area on day 1 in the a.m. walking in 1 mile finding trails and signs everywhere, but couldn't get a sighting.. I think there were 3 people sitting the water there.... in the late afternoon, we hit the area near sugarloaf, but no dice but a few Muleys. Day 2 we went over to the canyon areas on the North side, my buddy spotted a 4x4, but unfortunately missed his shot and it bolted like a bat out of heck. Hiked into the canyon 2 miles and that's the only one we saw, but did jump one other that we heard. Day 3 we hiked back into the canyon on the North side hoping the same 4x4 would show, but no dice. So we packed up and went over 2 canyons over and hiked in about 1.5 miles and saw nothing. As we were transitioning to another area, we bumped into a few hunters who hadn't see anything. Day 4 tomorrow... we're going to the north side again, but staying out of the canyons and heading away from canyons North a bit more to the pinion/juniper areas hoping to find a trick tank that might have some water and hunt the general area, not sit the tank. Good luck to everyone hanging in past the weekend. Concerning the roads, many are not marked as closed and many don't know that you need to download or get a map of the forest so you know which are open and which are not. If you see closed roads with a gate that's locked, then you see a road with no gate, I can see how one would assume it's an open road (it isn't gated off). I accidentally went up one by accident myself.

Up here now in 7e on the east side, near 89, for one final scouting session and to check a couple of cameras placed last week. Hoping for the best and thank you to everyone with their thoughts and tips.

Well, I am stumped. This past Friday's scouting, I didn't see a single Elk nor Deer - just older scat, hoof marks and bone dry tanks on the West/Northwest side of the unit (west of 89) I am going up Wed & Thu to continue scouting before opening day on Friday. They're in there somewhere...

Just scouted today. Lower elevation tanks on the north east side are bone dry... Looks like they've been dry for months. Whole area is dry...tons of dry tanks and hi temps. I am guessing they are still high.

Thanks. I've scouted up there 4x, expecting there to be snow by now, and perhaps them pushed down, so I've been scouting the N and West side of the unit most. Going up with my buddy this weekend to scout out the east/south side of the unit this weekend, since the temps are still so high and no snow to push them down. I figure all the hunts likely pushed them up, which is the wilderness/more mountainous area, on the east side of the peaks.

Thought about a canvas tent. Anyone use one in winter? Pros and cons?

Sold

I have an almost new (I would say new) Vortex Viper HST 4-16 x 44 scope (VHS-4309) with a VMR-1 (MOA) reticle that I would like to trade for Vortex Viper HD 12 x 50 Binoculars. It has never been mounted and is flawless. I will sell it for $450 You can see details of this scope here: http://www.vortexoptics.com/product/vortex-viper-hs-t-4-16x44-riflescope-with-vmr-1-moa-reticle/reticle I will post pictures of the actual scope tonight. Thanks.

Ttt

Pictures attached of the scope.

Interested in a trade for Vortex Viper HST 4 - 16 x 44 scope?

I have the same setup. Very nice... extremely accurate.

I am hungry now, and excited for my 7e hunt in Dec. Congrats!

I heard about a camp in the Prescott area for the spring Javelina hunt where they'll help you bag your first Javelina if you're a first-timer Javelina. They do it as a service to encourage hunting (Don't charge $500). I don't recall where/what it's called and Google isn't helping. A pro at Cabelas told me about it during his Turkey education course this past spring. Anyone know what I'm talking about? Thanks!

Thanks! Main goal was to learn roads, find areas I am not going to hunt, and look for those dark canyons with nearby areas to feed.

Going up to 7E to get familiar with unit this month. Is it worth it to put up a few trail cameras or a waste of time at this point, since the bulls will be long gone by December? Thanks