bookcliffs

Thanks for getting back with me and the photos and info. I don't know the 27 rim country very well at all. I've been on the rim east of Strayhorse and out towards the NM border, but wasn't thinking Coues at the time. A couple of guys have talked about hunting west of Strayhorse and I rode into the Saunders Cabin once, but I remember it being one-thick bugger, hard to hunt. Anyway, that eastern country towards NM seems to be calling out to me. I'm thinking of checking it out again. I have not hunted that country south of Bear Mountain on the east side of the Blue, I did take a bear on the northwest area of Bear Mtn. It is good looking country, and I bet you would never see another hunter back in there. Even though the whitetail population in 27 is increasing, it can be spotty. The south /central part of the unit is probably best for numbers. I am sure there are big bucks in there that have never seen a hunter, and die of old age, if they don't get eaten by lion first. I'm not surprised you took a bear on the north side. We've always entered that country from the north and up the Lanphier trail. That country is lousy with bear and we've always seen elk and deer. If we go up to the Bear Mountain ridge then over the top into Bear Valley and Little Blue Creek that's some real nice country with parks and water. I'm thinking of camping at about 7200 feet and hunting down to maybe 5800 ft elevation. I've never rode down the Little Blue into the lower country, but might check it out this summer. The closest way to get into that country is from the New Mexico side but that's not in the cards. It would be nice if there are some nice bucks in there and it would be better if it were huntable, but it sure is nice country to be in. We bumped into a couple of high school kids from Springerville on an elk hunt a few years back. They were riding those mountains bareback...what a hoot!

Thanks for getting back with me and the photos and info. I don't know the 27 rim country very well at all. I've been on the rim east of Strayhorse and out towards the NM border, but wasn't thinking Coues at the time. A couple of guys have talked about hunting west of Strayhorse and I rode into the Saunders Cabin once, but I remember it being one-thick bugger, hard to hunt. Anyway, that eastern country towards NM seems to be calling out to me. I'm thinking of checking it out again.

Bill, About 10 or 15 years ago my pal, Bill and I road off the rim on our mules and right into what I think may have been Saunders Cabin. There was a smelly green bear hide there and as I remember no evidence that the cabin was being taken care of. I was thinking about hunting 10 miles east of Strayhorse, south of Bear Mountain, but you think west of Strayhorse may be a better bet? Hope you're doing well. Rollin Adams Gilbert, AZ

Thanks for the great information on 27. I've packed in for elk and set up camp east of Bear Mountain in years past. I think it was about about a 3 to 4 hour mule ride providing you had no wrecks. There was an old corral and a nice spring there and I'm thinking if we hunted south of that area it might be good country for coues. That would put it about 10 miles east of Strayhorse and a couple miles west of the NM border. That country had a pretty good elk herd and a lot of bear and I'm thinking far enough away except for hunters on horseback or some crazed young-buck that has a strong back and a good set of legs. Horseback is stickly transportation. They're noisy enough to push game before you see them or you can't get off fast enough to get set up for a shot before they're out of sight. Patience and glassing is the same. Thanks for you help.

Thanks for the info. I've hunted 27 for elk & muleys before the wolves took over. Seen a lot of elk and bear in Double Cienega and North Fork and also to the east in the Blues and the Bear Mountain area. Do you figure a good place to start looking for nice coues bucks is just off the rim in the primitive area? That seems pretty remote...anyone know any trails for access?

I have a string of mules I use to pack in for hunting so I won't bother other hunters or find Snickers wrappers on the trail. Is there an Arizona unit that has a remote, or roadless, or wilderness area that could be packed into...that may have some water for the mules? How about the Galiuro Wilderness in unit 32 or maybe down south in one of the 36 units? I'd sure appreciate any help from some of you ol' salts that are on this forum. Much thanks. bookcliffs 4/2011