Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Bowhunting Arizona archery mule deer in January

My Kansas whitetail hunt fell through and I'm really not wanting to miss my boys football games in November, so I'm thinking about giving southern Arizona a try for an archery muley hunt. Really like to hear any experiences, good or bad, just to help make my decision and not drag my brother-in-law on a nice camping trip he can tell about the rest of my life.

Not gonna tell you my area but near Tucson I have an area that holds a ton of 180-200+ inchers............

I got a 13a buck this year and Devin Beck in Tucson is mounting it for me. Thought I could use the money I'll save on shipping by picking it up personally and put it on gas to come out and hunt. Devin said he could point me to a few good areas in the 34 and 36 units. How much concern should I have over illegals/safety camping and bowhunting those areas?

I dont think I would hunt 36 alone.

Devin will give you a good-looking quality mount. He knows 33 well also. Any field pics of your 13A buck?

I had a 34A December Coues tag 4 years ago and did not glass up an illegal the whole season. I usually hunt 36c every year and have only seen illegals in the flats and once in the mountains, No camp problems. I have had a group of illegals skirt around the truck one night in 35A while quail hunting.

Last year in 36C we couldn't get rid of an IA until we told him we were calling BP.
Seen a very nice 5x5 MD on that hunt. not very wide, but thick and tall and deep.
I think Tom is hunting those big Muley in my back yard.lol! That being said, i'll keep that area a secret.

But I agree I would not hunt any of the 36's alone. Too much crap even during the slow season. Take it for what its worth, but I know.

I'd look to 33, 37B, 32, 37A, 37M(might be 38M now) if you wanna hunt desertish stuff close to Tucson if you were hunting alone. If you were hunting with someone, I would focus hands down in 36C in the Elkhorn ranch area and down close to the border line between MP 3 and MP 9.
That's my suggestion.

Kique

Thanks for the help, I'll try to post a picture of my strip buck from my work computer this afternoon. I get almost as much fun researching a new area and looking forward to seeing some new country as I get from the hunt. Makes the long summer months without anything to hunt easier to take. Never felt the need anywhere else, but is it legal to carry a firearm on you in camp and while archery hunting in Az?

You can carry a handgun on you for protection while hunting and obviously in camp you can have whatever firearm you want, shotgun for birds, rifle for varmints. Best probably to have a place to lock them in your vehicle.

Of course, don't overlook the 40s units for big bucks, a different mindset though and tough hunt at the best times, especially if you can't scout or haven't spent years previous.

Kent

Shh! *Grin*

Oh Tom...

Why'd ya say something like that?

Dont know.....my memory is bad.

Figured...grin...

Greg,
PM sent!









Just kidding Tom! LOL
You know trophy coues are moving in there now too.

Yep, a little higher up about 6-7 yrs ago I shot and lost a bonafied 130"er.

I still get sick about it.

I see em down in the flats all the time, as a matter of fact my bil shot a small spike one yr down low with his bow December 31st.

I give up, I've resized my picture and still can't get it to post. I may get my wife to try later but for now I'm beat. What would you say the chances of spotting/stalking a 160 class deer in these areas would be if you gave it about 9 hunting days?

Where I hunt there my cutoff is 170" so 160 would get a pass.

But I dont see any problem whatsoever...

You have good glass and a tripod?

I've got a set of 10x40 Zeiss Victory FL, SLIK tripod with a Jim White head. I helped a friend on the Kiabab about 3 years ago on a DIY rifle deer hunt in 12A west and got to use them on that hunt. Do you prefer a 15x bino over a spotting scope for the terrain and type of glassing your doing?

Yes, I like looking through both eyes versus one.

I use Swarovski 15x56's on a Manfrotto tripod.

My other set of binos I walk sround with are 8x32 Swaro EL's and I carry the big eyes in my backpack.

Lots of fun.

the best piece of advice i can give you is; dont start hunting till the freeze comes.

I've got a friend with a spotter and a pair of 15's I think, may just have to invite him along for the ride. Can you get a javelina tag in most of those units mentioned or are they on a draw?