Heat

Heard some not so positive stories coming out of that unit this year from stolen stands to way too many helpers and numbnuts driving where you aren't supposed to. Sounds par for the course these days which is terribly sad. All that considered you still have an elk tag in God's glorious outdoors. Hope you guys make the best of it. Good Luck!

Lion

Score is anybody's guess unless the sheep is dead and a tape has been put on it. I could be way off base but this is what I reckon based on my experience, which isn't that much compared to some guys out there. Looks a lot like Mike Cupell's ram he killed in 43B in 2012. http://www.boone-crockett.org/news/trophyWatch_detail.asp?area=news&ID=E6B71D1C-F233-4870-8505-069C403FE0E3

REALLY good ram! Around 170 is my guess. Horns are heavy but very tight curl. Ideally you would like to see more drop to add more to length but he is plenty long and plenty heavy! Shooter in any unit! I'm curious what unit you took the pic? You can send me a PM, I'm all tagged out on desert sheep, so no worries about competing with me for a tag. LOL

There are chukar on the AZ Strip. I have no clue about guides. Maybe a place to shoot pen raised birds also but not positive about that.

Can you tell us more about your hunt? What an awesome bull elk!

Great job on a nice looking bull! Congratulations!

I had a Unit 1 archery bull elk tag in 2012. There are elk all over that unit, in every habitat type, from top to bottom, side to side. Depends on what kind of country you want to hunt. Some recommendations for getting into elk... 1. Get up a couple of hours before the sun gets up. 2. Turn off the lantern, trucks, quads, anything else that makes noise and listen for bugles. Where I camped on my hunt a couple of years ago I literally could not sleep from all the bugles around my tent for the first 3 or 4 nights or so. 3. Figure out which way the wind in blowing as soon as the sun comes up. Slowly, quietly work your way into the wind. If you walk long enough, quietly enough, and keep your nose into the wind, eventually you will see, hear, or smell elk. This is not a theory, this is a fact if you execute. 4. Once you see them, make a plan to approach downwind. Can you make a move for an ambush? Are they already coming your way? Once you have a lock on where they are, move less, make less noise, and get ready to shoot. Watch the wind! 5. If you are familiar with elk behavior and what the elk sounds mean, try calling, but whatever you do, don't just start blasting the woods with your bugle or cow call if the elk are not in the mood. This is a tactic usually used best by a seasoned elk hunter. Call sparingly if you must call at all. Whatever you do, don't just drive around and bugle at elk then get back on your quad or in your truck if you don't get the response you're after. Many tag holders would be well served to heed this advice, but this is just my opinion and you are likely to get many different opinions on the topic of calling. To each his own. A positive mental attitude is the best weapon and tactic you can employ. Keep your chin up and the smile wide...you're in the best unit in the world for bull elk! Enjoy! Nick

That pic with the spike bull elk is too cool! Thanks for sharing!

Wanted to bring this back up to the top again. I've had a few nibbles but no takers yet. If anybody is interested let me know. PM's are best. FYI, Vortex warranty is lifetime, no fault, and fully transferable. Buy with confidence!

After a ton of deliberating, I've decided that I want to go a different direction with my hunting optics. Currently for sale or trade I have the following: Vortex Kaibab 15x56 Binoculars - Bought these binos in the fall of 2010 in anticipation of my desert bighorn sheep hunt (sheep success mojo included ). Lightly used. No scratches on the lenses whatsoever. Coatings in great condition. I still have the original box and paperwork that's included. Covers for lenses intact, comes with tripod adapter. $850 OBO includes shipping and insurance Pentax DCF SP 10x50 Binoculars - I've had a pair of 10x50 SP's for quite a while now. These are great optics for Arizona. Light enough to go handheld, bright and strong enough to glass off a tripod. I had a pair that got ruined on a hunt (entirely my fault) also in 2010 and Pentax replaced with a brand new set. These have only been out of the case a few times. Excellent condition. No scratches on the lenses or coatings. Includes tripod adapter. $400 OBO includes shipping and insurance Slik PRO EZ Tripod with pan head - $75 OBO plus actual cost to ship (will include with Kaibab's for $50, won't sell alone unless Kaibabs sell first). What I am ultimately after is a set of Vortex Razor HD 12X50 binoculars. I would consider a trade for these. Let me know if you have any ideas. All reasonable offers welcome. Hope it works out!

Congratulations on your Strip buck! Very Nice!

Wow! That is a gnarly looking rack on that bull! Congrats on your first!

Saw this a couple of weeks ago. I was under the impression that it was on the AZ side near Eherenberg, which is just across the river from Blythe. Who knows though.

http://www.outdoorhub.com/how-to/2014/09/18/keep-duck-id-skills-sharp-tips/?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=September%2019%202014%20Daily%20Newswire%20(1)&utm_content=&spMailingID=47011606&spUserID=NDQxNTMxMzU0NjAS1&spJobID=522389797&spReportId=NTIyMzg5Nzk3S0

PS you might want to put this in the Small Game Forum, might get some more looks/attention.

Sending a PM

They don't hand out tickets for felonies typically. Normally felonies earn you a ride to the clink.

Right On Adam! That is so cool!

Ruger SP 101 3 inch

I'm 40 years old and have been hunting in Arizona's high country since I was 8. In that time I have only seen 1 rattlesnake in the woods. Odds are long to come across a rattler but not impossible. Honestly the thought never even crosses my mind when in that country. Go get your bull and forget about the buzz worms! What are the odds of lightning striking the same place twice?

You are NOT alone! I have often wondered this myself. I agree that the habitat seems good. I wonder if anybody more involved with the Game and Fish or AZDBSS has any info about this? Thought I read something about this not too long ago, but I've slept a few times since then...

Let me clarify as it seems one poster misinterpreted what I meant to get across. By all means, bring food, but don't pack like it's your only means of survival for a month...point is, don't over do it, that's all.

Thanks for coming back on and filling us in on the rest of the scoop and putting a couple of stills up. Very nice 5x5 man! I would shoot that bull in a heartbeat! You done good!

That grin on the young man's face says it all! Thanks for sharing!