Heat

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!

There is some really good advice here by some experienced waterfowlers. Coues Pursuit made a great point about not shooting hens. To expand on that I highly recommend you get very good at identifying ducks. Not just being able to tell what drake is what when he is sitting on the water, but what hen is what when they are on the wing. I learned my lesson when my duck hunting buddy who has more experience hunting waterfowl than anyone I know killed a hybrid duck on a refuge. He got a ticket for shooting too many hen mallards, even though this duck clearly had some pintail genes. Point is be absolutely certain about what your are shooting at or don't shoot at all. The best thing you can do is exactly what you are doing now (don't be afraid to ask questions), and then just go out and give it a go. You'll learn quickly by your mistakes unless you're hardheaded like me and things have to be beaten into your brain. Thanks for the different version of hen to drake ratio Coues Pursuit. I actually have more hens than drakes so I'm going to try that next time. I generally hunt early in the season and some hard to get to areas, so maybe that's why the >drakes do OK. I always thought of the colors being attractive. Your way makes a ton of sense though, especially late in the season.

Dang, that was pretty sweet footage! Let's hear the rest!

Great story and pics! Thanks for sharing your adventure with us. Congratulations on your nice wilderness backpack buck!

Way to earn her "stripes"! Thanks for sharing your hunt with us.

Looks like you guys did good! Congratulations to your cousin on a very nice bull! No better reminder of God's magnificence than to be in the woods during the elk rut! Thanks for sharing.

Nice job making it happen! Congratulations!

If you're opposed to driving to Whitewater from Tucson, I'm afraid I'm not going to be much help. I've had almost all my action along either the Gila River East of Yuma or on the Refuges on the Colorado north of Yuma. When the Colorado still flowed past Morelos Dam back in the day there was some really good hunting along the Colorado between Yuma and San Luis. I'm afraid things have changed a bunch since then though. Try the stock ponds in the desert or possibly the San Pedro River. Maybe there are some wet spots along the Santa Cruz you can try, otherwise I recommend bigger water. Good Luck, Nick