6AYoteHunter

The 6 mm creedmoor with a 22" barrel and a +2 gas tube is probably the most versatile round you could pick.

You need to determine if you ever plan to get a btx. That is when you will want the 115. It is kind of bulky for a stx. The 115 for sure requires a much stronger tripod and head than most are used to running. At the minimum you need a gitzo gt2542 or a rrs tfc-24l with like an outdoorsman fluid head for a 115 or it will vibrate and negate the benefits of the larger lense.

My Dad got a crossbow permit after he had an orthopedic surgeon tell him he couldn't shoot a bow anymore. He got injured saving a young gal from getting crushed by a falling load. He did extensive testing with his fancy Ten Point crossbow and determined his lethal distance was 60 yards which was no different from his PSE bow. Those bolts just don't have the same mass as a durable arrow. The part that bothers him and I are when you see guys running around with a loaded crossbow. You cannot really run around with your bow drawn back. So that shouldn't be allowed. He implemented his own self imposed rule to never wind up the crossbow until he was ready to shoot. During archery javelina season I was able to shoot way faster than him with this restriction. So IMHO if they allow crossbows they shouldn't be loaded all the time. Keep it somewhat a challenge trying to load it at 30 yards without spooking the game.

The brush out my front door tears up any pants and I always wear gaiters. Only spend extra money on rain pants or glassing insulated pants. I found BDU style pants with ripstop are the best. I spend at least 100 days a year busting through oak brush, catclaw, manzanita, plus all the other random plants in the way. Was on an elk hunt last year and saw new Kuiu and Sitka pants tear.

Nightforce, Zeiss, Tangent Theta, or Zero Compromise all track true and very durable.

Replace action spring and magazine spring

If you need parts https://www.gunpartscorp.com/gun-manufacturer/remington/shotguns-rem/1100/parts-list-rem1100

Hey maybe someone that knows what they are doing can fix all the IT issues at the G&F.

Make sure have lots of help for the pack out. 23 and 27 are the only AZ units I would pass on a bull due to terrain. My 23 bull tipped over backwards off a cliff on an oak tree growing in oak brush. Had to de-bone a lot of it balancing on the bull. Packout was insane...and waited for him to leave the really bad spots in the canyon before shooting. Could barely walk after sleeping and had two friends helping. Have packed out other bulls solo over further distances but brush plus steep loose rock and the occasional cliff is tough.

That's basically how most of the unit is. I killed a bull in 23 on easier terrain and it still took 8 hours for 3 of us to pack it out.

Flatline is accurate. The ones I have seen you would need to highlight the 23N vs 23S boundary line based on the AZGFD notes.

For those that are not aware, Please attended the AZGFD meeting April 1st. See info below: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/az_bear_lion_bobcat

The terrain is different in that unit so the elk have different patterns vs other more popular units. There is no decent winter range for them other than sycamore canyon. That can significantly impact antler growth some years. The same bull can swing back forth from 280 to 340 class depending on green up in that unit. If someone is willing to learn those elk it is a very fun hunt. This year I think the antler growth should start out well so there is hope for really nice looking bulls. Mild winters with later warmer storms esp in spring favor 6B

I hunt coyotes in 6A during antelope fawning all the way until Aug. I killed an entire pack trying to get a newborn fawn on Mud Tanks, but that herd is still not doing well. Lots of antelope off the 229, 81A, and 214. Biggest antelope buck I ever saw on the hoof was a few years ago off Schnebly hill road while bear hunting. He looked every bit 95". Problem with 6A is it takes too much time to go from buck to buck and they have endless places to hide. That allows for lots and lots of hold over bucks though and it wouldn't surprise me if they didn't break a top 10 record in the next few years. It's not a 100% success hunt and most mature bucks are 75" class so people need to be realistic about that.

Oh and FYI us AZ natives cannot stand California so don't talk about that if you want help.

Please do NOT scout during active hunts. This is a good way to ruin a hunt for someone else. July is a perfect time to see elk. Sorry to break it to you but 10 points doesn't give you many options anymore despite the fairy tales told by celebrity hunters.

For #4 buck Fiocchi makes nickel plated 2 3/4" and Federal makes copper plated buffered 2 3/4" & 3". Remington only offers hardened lead buffered but it does pattern well in Kicks and Patternmaster chokes.

You should consider talking with Shadow Valley Outfitters or becoming quick friends with some locals. They can get you away from the hunting pressure in easier to draw units. Finding the bigger bulls is a gamble right now without knowledge of the area. The drought and predators have taken a heavy toll on the herds so plan to hunt hard. Buy a cat tag for sure. Due to the camera ban some bulls will be missed so that could work to your advantage big time. Last couple years have been bad for guys so there will be hold over bulls for sure.

Type in the following email address "AZHuntGuidelines@azgfd.gov" At the very least explain that hunting of these predators helps keep the prey and predator population more stable and wildlife populations recovered the last 100 years because of these efforts. It reduces major disease outbreaks, starvation, and increases genetic diversity. As managers of wildlife the AZGFD should be focusing on the health of the wildlife as a whole. Any bans would be a step back from efforts proven to benefit all wildlife species.

The guides and the hunters I knew that were up there said a desert tag was way better this year. They got absolutely crushed up north. Terrible time finding any bucks. Guys that have hunted up there for 50 years said they saw less deer than they have seen scouting for sheep tags. One of the tag holders said he saw more coyotes than deer. Almost no fawn survival last 2 years. So it will take some time to recover. Very sad.

What you should try to chase is 160-170" mule deer in southern units near excellent water sources or a 100+" coues. There are still enough of them around to make it a possibility.

Our mule deer herd took a pretty big hit the last couple years. One of the mule deer herds near my house dropped from 32 to only 5 survivors. Coues herd went from 28 to 2 in the same spot. It will take years to bounce back. Ask the guides this year. Dwuane Adams said most difficult hunt in 40+ years. My Dad said he has never seen it this bad. Areas that got hit the worse had higher populations of cats. If you find pockets that the cats missed then good bucks can be found. Don't expect to find a 180 class mule deer anywhere in the next few years. Dwuane's entire camp never saw that class deer and they have killed more 200+" deer than anyone.

Javelina and either turkey or bear. Had 5 points for turkey and bear. Tags are getting scarcer.

Yep too many. Growing in state population, guys lying about residency, and legit out of state guys. Then to think AZGFD sponsors hunting celebrities to hunt and promote AZ. The only hope now is to increase the numbers of critters out there. Priority #1 should be increasing the number and quality of water sources.

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