Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting AZ backpack elk hunt

Print Thread

Hop To

Page 1 of 3

AZ backpack elk hunt #10517206 10/03/15
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,206 Phoenix MikeS OP Campfire Regular
OP MikeS Campfire Regular Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,206 Phoenix	Spent the last few days in the Arizona high country backpack hunting for elk. It was a tough hunt with full moon and no bugles to be heard, but proved to be well worth the effort. Ended up solo as my brother broke his arm and clavicle the week before the hunt... About 1 mile in: Base camp at 9700' Full moon from camp opening morning: Typical bedding area, rifle in elk trail: Success: My freshly re-barrelled M70 in 6.5-06 dropped the bull in its tracks at sunrise on day 4, I then packed meat until 11PM that night, returning the next for some rib meat and the head. Too close for irons, switching to scope...

GB1

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10517230 10/03/15
Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 13,103 colorado 3 338rcm Campfire Outfitter
338rcm Campfire Outfitter 3 Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 13,103 colorado	Nice Bull!!! Congrats

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10517264 10/03/15
Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 2,021 Glendale, AZ R RoadRunner65 Campfire Regular
RoadRunner65 Campfire Regular R Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 2,021 Glendale, AZ	Great job on the bull. Looks like Flagstaff area. What unit were you in? Nice pictures of the hunt. Only a dingleberry, not yet a Turdlike person, maybe someday!!! Originally Posted by northern_dave I am happier than a retard in a room full of bouncy balls right now!! Joe.

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10517294 10/03/15
Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 45,115 North East Urth Valsdad Campfire 'Bwana
Valsdad Campfire 'Bwana Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 45,115 North East Urth	Nice job, White Mts? Flag area? I sure miss that State. Geno The desert is a true treasure for him who seeks refuge from men and the evil of men. In it is contentment In it is death and all you seek (Quoted from "The Bleeding of the Stone" Ibrahim Al-Koni) member of the cabal of dysfunctional squirrels?

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10517304 10/03/15
Joined: May 2005 Posts: 14,104 Boot Heel of New Mexico mudhen Campfire Outfitter
mudhen Campfire Outfitter Joined: May 2005 Posts: 14,104 Boot Heel of New Mexico	Wow! Nicely done. Thanks for posting great pictures, too. Ben Some days it takes most of the day for me to do practically nothing...

IC B2

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10517752 10/03/15
Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 10,824 rcamuglia Campfire Outfitter
rcamuglia Campfire Outfitter Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 10,824	Nice bull! Originally Posted by Bristoe The people wringing their hands over Trump's rhetoric don't know what time it is in America.

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10517862 10/03/15
Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 6,377 N.E. Mn./ Mt H handwerk Campfire Tracker
handwerk Campfire Tracker H Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 6,377 N.E. Mn./ Mt	how cool is that...congrats to you on a great trip.

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10518018 10/03/15
Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 1,061 Idaho Razz Campfire Regular
Razz Campfire Regular Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 1,061 Idaho	Excellent! Congratulations There's 2 dates they carve on your tombstone. Everyone knows what they mean. What's more important is time that is known as the little dash inbetween. Razz

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10518126 10/03/15
Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 3,904 Foley, Alabama D davidlea Campfire Tracker
davidlea Campfire Tracker D Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 3,904 Foley, Alabama	Great bull and pics! Congrats and thanks for the post. Nothing like doing it on your own. Golden............

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10518174 10/03/15
Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 8,780 WNY L Lawdwaz Campfire Outfitter
Lawdwaz Campfire Outfitter L Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 8,780 WNY	Beautiful bull, congratulations!

IC B3

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10518476 10/03/15
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,206 Phoenix MikeS OP Campfire Regular
OP MikeS Campfire Regular Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,206 Phoenix	Thanks guys. This was limited opportunity permit in a mostly wilderness designated area north of Flagstaff. AZGFD classifies it as limited opportunity due to the rugged terrain and lack of access. It pegged the satisfaction meter, but it was a lot of work as well. Too close for irons, switching to scope...

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10518732 10/03/15
Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,733 Hutchinson, KS P Proud_Dad Campfire Regular
Proud_Dad Campfire Regular P Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,733 Hutchinson, KS	Congratulations on a very nice bull! Hard-earned, no doubt, but would imagine that makes what you accomplished mean even more. "Kids don't remember their best day of television."

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10519160 10/03/15
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,422 NW Montana R Robster Campfire Regular
Robster Campfire Regular R Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,422 NW Montana	Great country! Great bull!! congrats!!! Life is but the memories we've created.....Sully Erna

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10520252 10/04/15
Joined: Mar 2001 Posts: 6,969 Colorado Springs, Colorado USA KC Campfire Tracker
KC Campfire Tracker Joined: Mar 2001 Posts: 6,969 Colorado Springs, Colorado USA	Nice bull. Congratulations. How far did you have to pack out the meat? Did you pack it on your back? Or did you use a horse? KC Wind in my hair, Sun on my face, I gazed at the wide open spaces, And I was at home.

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10520712 10/04/15
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 3,576 Northwest Missouri 7 7mmMato Campfire Tracker
7mmMato Campfire Tracker 7 Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 3,576 Northwest Missouri	Well Done I've always been different with one foot over the line.....

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt KC #10520820 10/04/15
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,206 Phoenix MikeS OP Campfire Regular
OP MikeS Campfire Regular Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,206 Phoenix	Originally Posted by KC Nice bull. Congratulations. How far did you have to pack out the meat? Did you pack it on your back? Or did you use a horse? KC By downhilling to a different trailhead I was able to get the pack out to less than two miles. It was on my back in my MR6500 pack which while heavy, carries well and is tough as nails. I'll definitely have something 4 legged lined up for the next time though. Too close for irons, switching to scope...

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10520828 10/04/15
Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,649 BOI T Taco2fiddy7 Campfire Regular
Taco2fiddy7 Campfire Regular T Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,649 BOI	Good job and great bull

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10521004 10/04/15
Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 13,096 Kodiak & AZ D dennisinaz Campfire Outfitter
dennisinaz Campfire Outfitter D Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 13,096 Kodiak & AZ	you had to back pack into here? How did the chainsaw get in there? Nice bull though. NRA Benefactor Member Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10521058 10/04/15
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,206 Phoenix MikeS OP Campfire Regular
OP MikeS Campfire Regular Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,206 Phoenix	The elk range vertically about 1500' daily in this area from what I've seen. This bull was intercepted 1000 vertical feet below my camp at dawn leaving where they feed at night. Have a nice day. Last edited by MikeS; 10/04/15. Too close for irons, switching to scope...

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10522154 10/04/15
Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 13,096 Kodiak & AZ D dennisinaz Campfire Outfitter
dennisinaz Campfire Outfitter D Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 13,096 Kodiak & AZ	Not sure what that means, you backpacked in and then pose a bull on a logged tree. It was a legit question. I hope it was easy to pack to the truck where you killed him. NRA Benefactor Member Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10522312 10/04/15
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,206 Phoenix MikeS OP Campfire Regular
OP MikeS Campfire Regular Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,206 Phoenix	I backpacked in and hunted both uphill and downhill from my base camp. With no bugling, by Sunday and Monday mornings I was working on intercepting them downhill from camp. It was not an easy pack to the truck by any means. Have you ever hunted the Peaks Hunt area? Too close for irons, switching to scope...

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10522348 10/04/15
Joined: May 2006 Posts: 649 Pocatello, Idaho 2 24mileboy Campfire Regular
24mileboy Campfire Regular 2 Joined: May 2006 Posts: 649 Pocatello, Idaho	Congratulations!

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10525342 10/05/15
Joined: Sep 2015 Posts: 7 MarcusW New Member
MarcusW New Member Joined: Sep 2015 Posts: 7	Beautiful bull and great story, I aspire to get out and hunt Elk like this next year. How long have you been backpack hunting elk and if you could give one piece of advice to someone doing it for the first time what would it be?

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MarcusW #10526082 10/05/15
Joined: May 2011 Posts: 890 3 32_20fan Campfire Regular
32_20fan Campfire Regular 3 Joined: May 2011 Posts: 890	Originally Posted by MarcusW Beautiful bull and great story, I aspire to get out and hunt Elk like this next year. How long have you been backpack hunting elk and if you could give one piece of advice to someone doing it for the first time what would it be? ....be in top physical shape! Seem obvious but can't be underestimated when chasing those smelly critters up and down the topography they like to escape to when the pressure hits.

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10526340 10/05/15
Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 4,213 Southern Colorado Alamosa Campfire Tracker
Alamosa Campfire Tracker Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 4,213 Southern Colorado	You should feel real good about taking a nice bull that way - private land, DIY, spike camp - there are just not a lot of guys capable of doing that. Congratulations. Well deserved!

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt Alamosa #10526806 10/05/15
Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 14,463 Northern Arizona S SU35 Campfire Outfitter
SU35 Campfire Outfitter S Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 14,463 Northern Arizona	That's a really nice bull. The reason for the cuts is that the FS wants Aspen to take over in there.

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10526912 10/05/15
Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 25,840 Western N.Y. D dvdegeorge Campfire Ranger
dvdegeorge Campfire Ranger D Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 25,840 Western N.Y.	Congrats great bull! My dog is a member of the "Turd Like Clan" Covert Trail Cameras are JUNK 3 Time Dinkathon Champion #DinkGOAT

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10526942 10/05/15
Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 18,917 NM S SLM Campfire Ranger
SLM Campfire Ranger S Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 18,917 NM	Nice bull.....Congrats.

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt SLM #10526958 10/05/15
Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 27,692 Western NC hillbillybear Campfire Ranger
hillbillybear Campfire Ranger Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 27,692 Western NC	Congratulations, Member: Clan of the Turdlike People. Courage is Fear that has said its Prayers �If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.� Ronald Reagan.

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10527558 10/05/15
Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 13,096 Kodiak & AZ D dennisinaz Campfire Outfitter
dennisinaz Campfire Outfitter D Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 13,096 Kodiak & AZ	Originally Posted by MikeS I backpacked in and hunted both uphill and downhill from my base camp. With no bugling, by Sunday and Monday mornings I was working on intercepting them downhill from camp. It was not an easy pack to the truck by any means. Have you ever hunted the Peaks Hunt area? Not since 1991. It was all unit big unit then. I killed my bull clear over by dog knob but chased a big bull all the way to 10,000 feet! NRA Benefactor Member Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10541162 10/08/15
Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 4,482 Flagstaff AZ huntinaz Campfire Tracker
huntinaz Campfire Tracker Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 4,482 Flagstaff AZ	Great bull! My wife will be chasing cows up there tomorrow and next week a friend has an any elk tag in there. Can't wait for morning.

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10541654 10/08/15
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,206 Phoenix MikeS OP Campfire Regular
OP MikeS Campfire Regular Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,206 Phoenix	Good luck! That last weather front may have them bugling by now. Too close for irons, switching to scope...

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt huntinaz #10541748 10/08/15
Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 45,115 North East Urth Valsdad Campfire 'Bwana
Valsdad Campfire 'Bwana Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 45,115 North East Urth	Originally Posted by huntinaz Great bull! My wife will be chasing cows up there tomorrow and next week a friend has an any elk tag in there. Can't wait for morning. Dang, you folks are making me jealous. I didn't put in for any deer. elk, sheep etc this year as we had household size moves and new jobs etc to deal with. And today I was just trying to find a way to show my brother, who's moving to Flag 1-Nov, with online maps where our spring javelina camp is as he may decide to hunt or maybe just come for a visit. I sure miss AZ. Good luck to all you AZ folks this fall. I'll be putting in for elk and deer next year, I've got a nice new to me 9.3 to take along for a walk in the woods. Geno The desert is a true treasure for him who seeks refuge from men and the evil of men. In it is contentment In it is death and all you seek (Quoted from "The Bleeding of the Stone" Ibrahim Al-Koni) member of the cabal of dysfunctional squirrels?

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt Valsdad #10541774 10/08/15
Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 9,466 J Jcubed Campfire Outfitter
Jcubed Campfire Outfitter J Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 9,466	Originally Posted by Valsdad Originally Posted by huntinaz Great bull! My wife will be chasing cows up there tomorrow and next week a friend has an any elk tag in there. Can't wait for morning. Dang, you folks are making me jealous. I didn't put in for any deer. elk, sheep etc this year as we had household size moves and new jobs etc to deal with. And today I was just trying to find a way to show my brother, who's moving to Flag 1-Nov, with online maps where our spring javelina camp is as he may decide to hunt or maybe just come for a visit. I sure miss AZ. Good luck to all you AZ folks this fall. I'll be putting in for elk and deer next year, I've got a nice new to me 9.3 to take along for a walk in the woods. Geno Where did you live in AZ? what are you thinking for next year (elk)? PM if necessary

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10553618 10/11/15
Joined: May 2005 Posts: 9,611 Central Texas P powdr Campfire Outfitter
powdr Campfire Outfitter P Joined: May 2005 Posts: 9,611 Central Texas	Mike, what bullet did you use? powdr

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10556896 10/12/15
Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,611 Nebraska Ghostwalker Campfire Regular
Ghostwalker Campfire Regular Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,611 Nebraska	Very nice bull you got there, well done.

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt powdr #10557040 10/12/15
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,206 Phoenix MikeS OP Campfire Regular
OP MikeS Campfire Regular Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,206 Phoenix	Originally Posted by powdr Mike, what bullet did you use? powdr Barnes 127 LRX w/ H4831 for 2980 FPS @ muzzle. Too close for irons, switching to scope...

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10557076 10/12/15
Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 17,778 Wyoming W WyoCoyoteHunter Campfire Ranger
WyoCoyoteHunter Campfire Ranger W Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 17,778 Wyoming	Great work and fine hunt!!! Thanks.. Molon Labe

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt MikeS #10559318 10/13/15
Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 18,910 Missouri 1 10gaugemag Campfire Ranger
10gaugemag Campfire Ranger 1 Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 18,910 Missouri	Awesome bull and from what I can tell nice rifle as well. Good shooting and congrats! The last time that bear ate a lawyer he had the runs for 33 days!

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt dennisinaz #10576630 10/17/15
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 17,230 Arizona Sycamore Campfire Ranger
Sycamore Campfire Ranger Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 17,230 Arizona	Originally Posted by dennisinaz Not sure what that means, you backpacked in and then pose a bull on a logged tree. It was a legit question. I hope it was easy to pack to the truck where you killed him. dennis, stump might be fairly old, or might be from cleanup of a fire. sometimes they get permission to use motors (chainsaws) in wilderness. lot of the land around the peaks is wilderness now, but hasn't always been. Sycamore Originally Posted by jorgeI ...Actually Sycamore, you are sort of right....

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt Jcubed #10581338 10/18/15
Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 45,115 North East Urth Valsdad Campfire 'Bwana
Valsdad Campfire 'Bwana Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 45,115 North East Urth	Sorry J, I missed following up my post. I'll send PM. OH, White Mtns and over west on the "river". Two COMLETELY different climates! Yes, elk maybe, spring HAM javelina for sure. Deer depending on if successful on elk. (hard to afford both) Geno Last edited by Valsdad; 10/18/15. The desert is a true treasure for him who seeks refuge from men and the evil of men. In it is contentment In it is death and all you seek (Quoted from "The Bleeding of the Stone" Ibrahim Al-Koni) member of the cabal of dysfunctional squirrels?

Re: AZ backpack elk hunt Alamosa #10585404 10/19/15
Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 5,492 Between the Treasure and Magic A Akbob5 Campfire Tracker
Akbob5 Campfire Tracker A Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 5,492 Between the Treasure and Magic	Originally Posted by Alamosa You should feel real good about taking a nice bull that way - private land, DIY, spike camp - there are just not a lot of guys capable of doing that. Congratulations. Well deserved! Alamosa nailed it! Congrats on a great bull, done the hard way! Bob Enjoy life now -- it has an expiration date. ~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~

Page 1 of 3

Moderated by RickBin

Link Copied to Clipboard

AX24

393 members (16penny, 10gaugeman, 1badf350, 1eyedmule, 10gaugemag, 17CalFan, 48 invisible), 2,565 guests, and 1,327 robots.

Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod

April
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30

Forum Statistics

Forums81

Topics1,191,492

Posts18,472,011

Members73,936

Most Online11,491
Jul 7th, 2023