New to Arizona

[AME]

Hello All,

 

First time posting. Recommend to this forum by a user after they read a post of mine on a different hunting forum. I just moved to the copper basin and wanted some local opinions on some questions and thoughts I had. I can't get my residency this year, so will be mainly focusing on upland and predators, maybe get a bear tag.

I am very unfamiliar with the environment down here. I have been living in Montana for the last four years, and have never lived anywhere as arid as Arizona. One big thing that's different is the lack of streams or creeks. It seems that any water source that isn't a major river, lake, or reservoir is pretty temporary. Is there seeps or springs that are wet all year?

Also, do game animals have any weather/seasonal related movement habits that are unique to this environment? During the December and January deer seasons, are deer still up at elevation, or do they come down? 

I'm planning to hunt locally, but probably in the north of the state as well once I have residency. I am excited to learn how to hunt this country, but it is fairly daunting. It's incredibly different from what I am used to. Thanks for the information in advance,

 

AME

[catclaw]

Good luck. Yes, water is scarce

[Coues247]

43 minutes ago, catclaw said:

Good luck. Yes, water is scarce

Catclaw out here sharing the big secrets online. 

[PRDATR]

Welcome. Not much here for Upland as far as opportunities go. Pretty much just quail. The only natural lake dried up years ago, and it wasn't much to begin with. While water isn't plentiful it can be found all over.

Lots of desert lakes and quite a few in the high country that get stocked with trout. Haigler Creek is a good place to get your feet wet. We are in a prolonged drought. The Mogollon Rim and White Mountains are places to go.

I've never been to Montana but it's on my bucket list. From the NE originally.

[catclaw]

🤫

Not everyone needs to know water is scarce

[Flatlander]

2 hours ago, AME said:

Hello All,

 

First time posting. Recommend to this forum by a user after they read a post of mine on a different hunting forum. I just moved to the copper basin and wanted some local opinions on some questions and thoughts I had. I can't get my residency this year, so will be mainly focusing on upland and predators, maybe get a bear tag.

I am very unfamiliar with the environment down here. I have been living in Montana for the last four years, and have never lived anywhere as arid as Arizona. One big thing that's different is the lack of streams or creeks. It seems that any water source that isn't a major river, lake, or reservoir is pretty temporary. Is there seeps or springs that are wet all year?

Also, do game animals have any weather/seasonal related movement habits that are unique to this environment? During the December and January deer seasons, are deer still up at elevation, or do they come down? 

I'm planning to hunt locally, but probably in the north of the state as well once I have residency. I am excited to learn how to hunt this country, but it is fairly daunting. It's incredibly different from what I am used to. Thanks for the information in advance,

 

AME

Yes, there are perennial water sources. Some naturally occurring and some man made. The ones you can find that aren’t right on a road are pretty clutch.

Migrations are less drastic in most of AZ than in other Rocky Mountain states. But it does happen. There are places where the elk move quite a ways to rut and then back to recover. Coues deer tend to have a home range and hold tight outside of the rut. Then bucks can wander all over gods green earth. Desert mule deer tend to be unpredictable wanderers most of the year. In some areas we hunt, once the rut kicks in it seems like all the bucks show up in one area, albeit at different times over a few weeks. Super hard to find the same desert muley twice. High elevation deer rarely migrate due to snow other than north of the Colorado River.

A lot of it is similar to Montana if you hunted open country. Just lower densities. Get a tripod, put the best binoculars you can buy on it and start glassing.

Good luck. Tons of opportunity in this state if you know how to take advantage of it.

Also, the quail hunting can be pretty good in S. AZ.

[AME]

Thanks all. Good information here, looking forward to getting out into this country. If it would just cool off a little ... 😉

 

AME

 

 

[HyNoon]

3 hours ago, AME said:

Thanks all. Good information here, looking forward to getting out into this country. If it would just cool off a little ... 😉

 

AME

 

 

Hah that's not happening any time soon. What part of Montana are you from, I got some family up there and lived up there briefly when I was younger.

[Edge]

Welcome to AZ

 In order to get out and enjoy the desert in summer you may need to adjust your hours.

I get up at 3a and hit the trails by 4a. I can work outside until around noon then head home. Still, I want the discipline to get up at 2a and enjoy another hour in the hills but it's tough. 

 

[Bowman1964]

Welcome! What PRDATR, Flatlander, and Edge said above. Arizona is a great State to be in if you love being outside. Slather the sunscreen and drink water! 😀

Bill

 

[AME]

1 hour ago, HyNoon said:

Hah that's not happening any time soon. What part of Montana are you from, I got some family up there and lived up there briefly when I was younger.

I was living in Butte for the last four years going to school. Hunted mostly in the southwest part of the state, but had some friends from Central Montana, so hunted the Judith Basin a little bit. Beautiful country, but man is it expensive to live there. 

 

AME

[Flatlander]

48 minutes ago, AME said:

I was living in Butte for the last four years going to school. Hunted mostly in the southwest part of the state, but had some friends from Central Montana, so hunted the Judith Basin a little bit. Beautiful country, but man is it expensive to live there. 

 

AME

My parents spend their summers in Clancy. It’s perfect. Wish a guy could make a living there.

[HyNoon]

15 hours ago, AME said:

I was living in Butte for the last four years going to school. Hunted mostly in the southwest part of the state, but had some friends from Central Montana, so hunted the Judith Basin a little bit. Beautiful country, but man is it expensive to live there. 

 

AME

 

14 hours ago, Flatlander said:

My parents spend their summers in Clancy. It’s perfect. Wish a guy could make a living there.

That's he truth. I lived in billings and my parents moved down here for the same reasons. Hard to make a living. 

[PRDATR]

Well I say go out early and stay out until 1 or so. Only way you will know what it's like, if you get stuck out there.

Pick a day when it's not too brutal, like today. And head out around 4 and stay until dark. That is if, you want to see game get up and move. They will bed in the shade but get up and move as the sun gets high, usually around 10-12. They will also get up to stretch and feed.

Not much different I'm sure then where you're from.