jonscaife

I wouldn't say any strip deer make their way over to 9......something's about a big ditch they are unwilling to cross. I know 9 holds some nice bucks though. My strategy for the January hunt is to hunt the units around my home, that way I can go out more without committing an entire day or weekend to travel and whatnot. More time in the field=more opportunity at deer. And IMO every unit in this state holds slammer bucks, you just got to find 'em.

Get a map, find spots that have few roads and hunt those spots. That unit is loaded with elk, it's just a matter of getting away from everyone else. Another tactic I love up there; find areas that hold a lot of elk but will get a ton of pressure opening morning, figure out the elks escape routes, hunt those cause other hunters WILL push them to you.

We've all been there. Those of you that haven't, the rest of us envy you, but if you hunt long enough you will experience it. Two years ago on the second day of the general deer hunt I glassed up a beautiful 4x4 mule deer. What would be the biggest buck I had ever taken if it worked out. I had a fool proof plan. Wind and terrain where all in my favor and I executed a perfect stalk. He had no idea I was there. I had an almost perfect set up to take my shot. I waited for the buck to give me a shot and....BANG!...the buck drops. I had just killed the biggest buck of my life......or so I thought. After waiting a half-hour and texting all my friends bragging about the deer I just bagged, I headed off to finally wrap my hands around those antlers. What I found next made my heart drop into my gut. Where I had expected to find a pilled up buck, I found only a few small drops of blood. I followed the tracks and the occasional drop of blood for about a hundred yards expecting to see my buck at any point but didn't. I called a buddy of mine to come help me track this buck and waited another hour or so for him to show figuring I would give this buck some more time to die. My buddy shows up and we track this buck for miles from his tracks and would find only a small drop of blood every couple hundred yards. As the sun began to set, we followed this bucks tracks into what my buddy called "a super highway of elk and deer tracks". We made several circles around this area trying to find another drop of blood but to no avail. We finally had to call it for the evening giving into the thought of a few cold ones and a warm bed. I watched that area for the next couple days hoping that I would glass up my wounded buck and I could wrap my tag around him but he never showed up. To this day I replay that day in my head over and over again. Was I patient enough with my shot placement? Was I shooting beyond my abilities even though it was well with in the range of what I felt I was capable of? Did I give the buck enough time to die? Was I thorough enough in my attempt to find him? In a situation like this it is very easy to second guess oneself. Many of you, I'm sure, can emphathize with the guilt associated with this kind of experience. Nobody wants to shoot an animal that they cannot claim. I hand to check the box on my questionaire from azgfd.....I had shot an animal I was not able to recover. This year, two years later, I draw the same tag. I know this unit very well and decided to hunt the same area. Opening day comes and goes with only a small 3x2, spooked and a looooong way off. With such little activity and the pressure of only having the first three days to hunt, I went into the second morning of the hunt knowing I had to get it done. I hike up to my glassing spot in the dark and wait for enough light to start glassing. I'm glassing for maybe 10 minutes when I spot a small buck. Just a small fork but I continue watching him knowing he probably wasn't alone. Sure enough a beautiful 4x4 feeds his way out from behind a juniper. Then deer just start popping out from everywhere. There must have been 7 or 8. All bucks. I didn't care about any of them......I just wanted that 4x4. As I start planning my stalk, I realize, these bucks are on the same ridge I took shot from two years earlier! Once again, the terrain and wind are both in my favor and I have an opportunity to execute a perfect stalk. During the stalk I'm able to keep the wind in my favor and junipers between me and the deer. I get to the area I plan to take a shot from, a small area without any obstructions between me and the deer but keeping me in the shade of a large juniper, shielding me from veiw of these bucks. I range the 4x4......370 yards. Well with in my range. As I prepare to take my shot another 4x4 feeds out from behind a bush. He looks bigger. Plans changed. I reposition my cross hairs on the bigger buck, waiting on him to give me a nice broadside look. He turns just enough......BANG! He takes a few step but is obviously hit. I reposition for another shot......BANG! He drops. This time I'm NOT taking my riflescope off him! If he gets up, I'm dropping him again. I watch him for what seems like 10 minutes....no movement at all. All of the other buck kind of trot off. All except the other 4x4. He sticks around wondering why his buddy wasn't getting up. I got a real good look at him.....a beautiful buck. He had REALLY deep forks. His frame was a little smaller than the one I shot but did his longer points make him a better buck? I started second guessing myself again....did I shoot the bigger buck? Did I take enough time to judge both bucks properly? Then it hit me....my buck is still down and he ain't getting up. And I will take this kind of second guessing over the other kind anytime! Finally the other buck trotted of, spooked, but not all that concerned about what just happened. I wait another 30 minutes and go off to wrap my hands around those beautiful antlers. The buck ended dropping within 100 yards of where I had taken the shot two years prior.....redemption. This the buck as it lay when I first came up on it; Then some more pics of it; I called up the same buddy that had helped me unsuccessfully track the buck from a few years back, this time to he help me pack out. Here's a pic of me and him with the buck; On the way out a jeep stopped to congratulate me on the buck. After talking with the 2 gentlemen, it turned out that his daughter and son where the ones with tags and they where both looking for their first deer. Well, it just so happened that my buddy and I had spotted a small buck on a ridge on the way out and told them about it. We helped them to the ridge and this young lady made a wonderful 170 yard shot. The buck ran for about 100 yards then pilled up. This girl was stoked! What a day! To be able to redeem myself and finally take a mature mule deer, then to be blessed enough to be able to witness a wonderful young lady take her first deer, hopefully passing on a love of hunting to this random young stranger. I don't know what experience I will treasure most And one last pic of the buck on my jeep;

I would guess just fatty tisue in the hypodermal layer of the skin. Its been a wet year and the deer have put on some serious fat imo

So let me lay this out here, I asking for help. Basically just for some advice on what I already plan on doing. On opening morning, my plan is to glass a canyon that opens up to a hill side that is chock full of prickly pear. The unit I'm hunting is up north and all the cactus fruit is just now getting ripe. My question is, how much time should I dedicate to this one canyon/hillside? Should I glass pretty thoroughly then move on to another area or plan on glassing that same hillside all day in hopes that a bear moves in? As the afternoon turns to evening, my plan is to start calling towards the start of the canyon in hopes that the sound travels through it and brings in anything in there. Good idea? Or should I call from further down the canyon where it widens up? Any advice, criticism, or other banter is more than welcome!

I'm in northern az but I've found excellent antler growth. Found these two bucks the other day, they are not monsters by any stretch but are very, very young bucks from a "sub-par" unit. I think that these 2 deer, although young, illustrate the fact that we have had far above average horn growth, at least here in northern az. Although I'm sure it's very similar in the south end of the state. Sorry about the pic quality, it was taken in low light through my spotting scope with my phone.

Thnx for all the advice guys! I'm definitely a newbie when it comes to bear but it's probably the one animal I want most in this state

The canyons are about 3/4 mile long before they open up with the hillside being a couple acres or so. And tons of sign in the area but I haven't actually seen a bear.

Sweet!

Depends on unit and hunt. Scout, scout, scout, scout, scout, scout and when your done scouting, scout some more. You'll find the bulls where they are, then hunt them accordingly.

Rad write up! Gets me stoked for bear! To start back up!

This bull was taken from 8: I figure if it's floating around the insta then it's safe to post. Good luck to all with tags, you lucky SOBs

These are some sweet bucks! Looks like you have a killer spot!

When I say no monster bucks I'm talking 200" monster "strip" size bucks. There are a few nice mature 4x4s to be had in both units.

As the time draws closer, pm me. I live in the area and I may be able to take you out. I have some spots where we would get on some bucks, maybe we can work something out.

Oh, and about elevation; don't out think yourself in regards to elevation. There's some spots in 20a that can get a surprising amount of snow and that can push the deer lower but you should be fine in the areas you mentioned.

Both 20a and 17b are great units and have tons of deer. There is a lot of pressure in both units and don't expect to see any monster bucks, but you shouldn't have an issue finding some mature bucks and getting some stalks in any of those spots you mentioned. Those are fun areas. Go out, explore, and have fun! Just pay it aback by posting a story and pics!

Learn to do it yourself. It is shockingly easy. I can do a deer with kitchen knives and a grinder attachment for a kitchen aid in just a couple hours. You have the satisfaction of doing it yourself and know your getting your meat.

Ditto for a3

Y you lie!!!!!

I'll be heading up to Utah in September around the 13th or so. As of now I'll be going to Zion for the first couple days then up to provo for a few then take the long way back home. So my main question is, does anyone know of any rivers/creeks up there that are just a can't miss? While in provo I plan on hitting the provo river just below deer creek dam a few times. Anywhere else? I don't mind going out of the way a bit if the fishing is worth it. Any thoughts fellas? Thnx!

Since I didn't pull a tag this year I am thinking of putting in for some of the left-overs. I got some questions though for anyone who knows or has any experience with getting left-over tags. First, the website says that they will start taking applications on by mail on April 20th, does this mean that they will throw away any that come earlier or will they put them in a pile and start opening them on the 20th? Second, does obtaining a left-over have any affect on ones bonus points? I poured over the regs and couldn't find any info on it so if you have the answers let me know! Thnx a ton friends!

Do your homework and be prepared for a lot of other hunters. I have killed a 340 bull and helped out on a 320, 310, and 300 inche bull all on the general hunt over the years. I wouldn't expect anything over 350 but a good 6x6 is possibility if you work your butt off.

I know it's a long shot but I got to at least give it a shot. The freezer is lookin pretty thin right now!

Thnx for the info guys!