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JakeL

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Posts posted by JakeL

  1. Posted · Report reply

    On the early hunt the deer will be spread out on top, and in the middle transition areas, and starting to enter the low areas many years also.  You'll want to be prepared to hunt where the deer are.  Sometimes on that hunt they'll almost all still be up high, sometimes concentrated in the middle or low.  Some people just get stuck hunting one elevation and the deer aren't there. One important note: just cuz you see sign on top doesn't mean the deer are still there. They might have moved down a few days ago.  The sign needs to be FRESH to be very meaningful on a hunt like this. 

    • Like 1

  4. Posted · Report reply

    I plan on being in the Reavis/Apache Lake area of the superstition wilderness.  How likely am I to find cell service at the tops of most of the ridges and mountains?  I’ve heard from some that only a very few of the very tallest points will have any signal.  I’ve heard from others that many of the peaks and high points will have some signal.  

     

    Anyone have ave experience with this they can share?  I use Verizon if that makes any difference.

  5. Posted · Report reply

    You can probably go up to a 69gr Sierra Match King no problem. In fact, that would be the bullet I would want to shoot. They perform very well on Coyotes and even bigger critters and shoot extremely well. I would stick with bullet weights between 50 and 69gr with a 10 twist. My Savage has a 12 twist and shoots the 69gr Match King into the .3s and prefers Reloader 17 with the heavier weights.

    I have only shot one Coyote with a 69 smk, it was at a much lower velocity than 22-250. (fired out of a 16" 223). Hit the yote broadside at 250 yards, classic behind shoulder lung shot. Bullet didn't upset very much, small exit wound. Coyote went 300-400 yards leaving almost no bloodtrail before dying.

     

    Based on that one experience, I'd recommend a 69 tipped matchking or maybe a vmax, elderly, or ballistic tip. But I'd be wary of the std smk with any impact velocities below 2300-2400 fps.

  11. Posted · Report reply

    I want to get out and find some more good places to hunt. I also want to be productive when I'm out looking for new places. What do you look for when finding new coyote (and other predators) habitat? What types of water sources are best? How far from water? Close to roads? Far back in? Certain vegetation or terrain? Do you hike around and look for sign? Drive around calling and listening at night?

     

    Now that you have found good habitat, what do you look for when choosing locations to make stands?

     

    I'm based out of Mesa, so most of the time I'm chasing predators in Sonoran desert type terrain on day trips. I'm not asking where you hunt, I'm asking for tips on the best way for me to find places to hunt.

  16. Posted · Report reply

    I've been archery deer hunting in that unit a few times. It's not the easiest unit to tag a big buck in. There's lots and lots of four wheelers and UTVs riding around certain areas. The deer are pretty spread out during the early season. And I can't say I've seen more than just a couple mature bucks. But it's a beautiful mountain with deer all over. My best advice is to do some scouting, and then if you're not seeing deer, change what you're doing or where you're doing it.

     

    This year I'll be one mountain south of you, on mt dutton, for the rifle hunt. Good luck.

  17. Posted · Report reply

    I'm in the East Valley...

     

    So I've tried taking a couple young neighbor kids (12 and 13) out for rabbits without any success. They are as determined as big game hunters going for bighorn sheep. I've been hiking around all over looking for rabbits so the next trip I take these kids on isn't a bust. But it seems like the only places I can find bunnies are subdivisions and golf courses. I've even tried a few spots that are riiiight about a quarter mile from a golf course. But it seems like all the bunnies stick to those no hunting zones like glue.

     

    Anybody know of places reasonably near the east valley a guy can go mentor some young hunters? Cottontails or jacks are fine. The boys want to skin and tan them, despite my warnings that desert bunnies may not have very nice fur... So really any rabbit would do for these guys.

  18. Posted · Report reply

    No point to shooting fmj bullets at bad guys unless you're bound by international treaties. If the military could use hunting bullets, they would. So load up the mag full with whatever you hunt with and you will be ready for totes and bad guys.

    • Like 1

  19. Posted · Report reply

    Whats the reasoning behind this? How do you guys expect it will change things?

     

    I was pretty surprised when I finally noticed it halfway through my application. I went through with it because I figure with only 2 points I'm basically just donating $13 and getting a bonus point. But I'm curious about why the dates switched and what it will change for the hunt.

  22. Posted · Report reply

    I'm in unit 1. From what I am hearing and seeing the rut is going here a little better than some other places. I've been stalking in on moving and bedded herds, making probably 2-6 stalks per day. Usually I just haven't quite closed the distanced beneath 60-80 yards. Sometimes I get close then try cow calling. Sometimes I bugle. Sometimes both. Sometimes neither. I'm beginning to realize I'm not as sneaky as I need to be to count on getting a shot just from sneaking.

     

    No matter what, every time I call, the herd moves away from me. Occasionally (rarely) a satellite will come in for a look, but they always sneak in downwind, so a shot hasn't happened there yet.

     

    Is my calling that bad? Or does the rut need to pick up more? Is anyone out there successfully calling bulls in right now? If so how?

  23. Posted · Report reply

    I'm hunting unit 1 right now. Seeing elk all day every day. Find some roads that go through elky looking country, if there are quakies you are good. (There don't have to be quakies, there's tons of elk in areas without). Get out there around 4 am, and drive 1 mile, then stop the engine, roll windows down, listen at least 5 minutes, then drive another 1 mile and then listen 5 min. Then another, and another. This won't help you see many elk, since they are usually off the roads a ways, but you'll hear them. Then if you start hiking towards them you might catch up to them if they aren't hiking away from you towards a bedding area.

     

    But anyways, the elk are all over. Right now they bugle every morning from 4 to 6:30, and then every night from 5-dark. Then most of the night too. Just listen and you'll figure out where you need to hike. The tough thing is to get close. usually if they are bugling right now they are moving, and you have to be in front of them. Elk hike way faster than people can.

     

    Good luck.

  24. Posted · Report reply

    So I've been getting into some good herds of elk this last week. Hopefully it's just a matter of time till I put one down. But I've been following some elk here, and it looks to me like there are several herds that are traveling up to 4 miles each evening to a feeding area, then 4 miles back in the morning to bed down. Seems pretty far... is this normal? How far have you encountered elk moving on their daily commute?

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