Heat

What are your expectations? Are you willing to kill any buck or is it an 85 incher or nothing? That might help eliminate some of the units to consider from either a quality or drawing difficulty perspective.

Wanted to bring this back up to keep the interest. Here's some more options for discussion which might help us narrow down a place...some of these places are pretty bare bones and don't provide any food or lodging while others have the whole nine yards and there are some have something in the middle with either lodging or meals. I guess another thing to think about is how long would we want to stay? Keep seeing good things about Hunter's Creek Ranch, 4 Pines Ranch, Ridgeback Creek. Just saw one for Keechi Creek Ranch which looks good. Arrowhead Outfitters looks good but kinda pricey maybe compared to some others. Also have heard some pretty good stuff about Dos Plumas which is probably one of the closer outfits that has some decent reviews and will allow bow or gun. Langley Ranch is another to consider. All lot of the recommendations have been coming from archery related sites so many of them are archery only so filtering through them to find ones that will allow rifles is a little tougher.

The late archery hunts are a lot harder than the rut hunts but much easier to get drawn. Do you actually want a really good chance to shoot a bugling, rutting bull or do you just want a chance to hunt elk with a bow? If you want a good hunt with an excellent chance, only apply for the earlier archery hunts. If you just want to get out there, by all means try that late 22 hunt. Can still make it happen but you need to do your homework and have a bit of luck. Rifle hunts are all over the board. Someone else can address that. Good Luck!

Outstanding! Getting over the 200 inch mark is really freakin cool, especially with a bow! Score or no score you killed a deer of a lifetime. Enjoy your success!

What a fruitcake!

Keep after it man! If it makes you feel any better, I've hunted javelina with a bow on and off for about 25 years or so and still haven't put my tag on one yet. Go ahead and laugh, it's cool, I deserve it! I have killed an elk and a deer with the bow since then but need to get the javi monkey off my back! I've hit a few and not recovered them so it's not like I've not had any action but plenty of frustration for me no doubt! Keep your chin up and stick with it! It can happen when you least expect it. When I killed my archery buck in 2012, it was a very windy day where I thought I would have little chance to kill but a buck ended up basically in my lap and I made the best of it. You never know when that Murphy M!@#er F!@#er is going to take a day off! Stay after it and good luck!

Git R Done!

Hey Rob, I have a Kaibab map that has waterholes on it. Not sure about a book. The map was being sold on a website that was called Keys to the Kaibab or something like that. Hope this helps, Nick

Sorry but I can't help myself, minor pet peeve.... Cotton-top snowbirds that drive too slow, drink too much = Canadians Those birds you killed = Canada Geese Nice work!

You guys have been killin' it lately! Huge congrats!

Nice tribute to your friend and an ever nicer buck! Congratulations!

Gorgeous buck! Nice job.

Very Nice! Looks like the freezer is on its way to full for 2015!

Sat at home all weekend feeling like a fat girl that didn't get invited to the prom. My wife got sick and some other things came up so I stayed home and missed the fun. Might be able to squeeze a short hunt in around one of the upcoming weekends. Javi jinx continues...

Deer of a lifetime! Huge Congratulations!

Really nice javelina there! Congrats on your successful season.

Nice tribute, congrats on your success!

Awesome pics!

You got it, prayers sent.

Excellent trophy! Congratulations to all involved. Enjoy your success!

It only took me about 23 years, so I know the feeling. Keep at it, you'll get it done one day! Hopefully sooner than later. Excellent archery hunting conditions this year. Good Luck!

Let his air out!

I just noticed this thread. Great Job Marshall! I'm very happy for you! Looks tasty!

Way to get the New Year started! Congrats!

Wow, that one looks pretty big! Congratulations getting it done under tough conditions!