Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Arizona Archery Spot and Stalk Desert Mule Deer

Arizona public land (Arizona and public land is synonymous) archery spot and stalk desert mule deer with Greg from the campfire and Arizona Backcountry Guides. Does it get any better? The only thing I’ve ever bow hunted is southeastern whitetail so this was a totally new experience for me. There were no ambitions of a monster trophy buck, the plan was to make every stalk that presented itself in hopes of gaining experience and eventually connecting, potluck if you will. I figured the chances of a kill to be very slim, especially for a dude with an eastern handicap and a starvation stick.

On the first morning a darn good lone buck in the 160+ range was spotted. The stalk nearly worked to perfection but the wind shifted inside of 100 yards and he blew out. After that came many buck sightings, with a few monsters in the mix, but no real opportunity to get on one. The hunt was during the pre-rut to rut phase. Bucks were cruising for hot does and I couldn't catch up to them. With the third morning came success, I will never forget it. While not in the monster class, its definitely a buck that I am proud of, and a heck of a lot better than I expected with potluck.

We were on the hill the following two days and a gorgeous buck in the 170+ range presented a very up close and personal shot opportunity, but alas, no tag for me!

I can’t say enough about Greg and his sidekick Chris with Arizona Backcountry Guide Service. These guys are the real freaking deal, both of them. They run the slopes like mountain goats and the spotters with eagle eyes. I swear they have built in GPS and radars. Their motor doesn’t stop and they know where the deer are. To top it all off, they are darn good guys. A real gem. I will be back, and soon!

For the gearheads

Prime Rize with 60 lb limbs tuned at 62 lbs
QAD rest
Hogg It 7 pin sight
Tightspot Quiver
B Stinger 10" stabilizer
ACC 340 spine shaft with Blazer vanes
Viper Trick heads
Carter Quickie 1+ release.

The pack is a MR Dragon Slayer. I love the pack but with Big Eyes, tripod, water, coat, seating pad, rain gear (it rained 3 days in the desert, if you can believe it), lunch, etc. it fills up very fast and every strap has to be used for something. Add a bow strapped to the back and it is a full load for the 2300 CIs. I didn't carry a spotter but it would not have been fun to make room for it if so. Next time I will find a pack in the 3000 CI range.

The shot was quartering away at 43 yards and took out the on side lung. The buck ran about 50 yards laterally across the hill then turned and went about 100 yards down hill and smacked a mesquite, snapping it into. He was dead on the spot. The Viper Trick had him leaking pretty bad.

He had some cool junk going on at the left base.

Nice buck


That is a tough area to archery hunt

Big congrats to you

That is so the drag rope doesn't slip when dragging them out!


Good job!

Excellent! Congratulations all around!

Great stuff there ct! Congrats on a great buck, and doing it the hard way. GregW knows his stuff, no doubt. Thanks for the great pics.

Good job! Congrats.

Super job. Your excitement is evident in your smile. Congrats.

Thanks guys. The rush of an archery kill is something that first draws a beat of the chest like a caveman with primal instinct. Exciting to say the least!

Very nice!

Congrats!

We'll done man! Sounds like you had the right hunting partners and I know you dang near wore your arm out practicing before the hunt.

very cool! Great attitude going into the hunt, glad it worked out so well for you.

Clint, you are a bow hunting fool my friend. We enjoyed hunting with you guys.

Did I mention this was an over the counter tag? As real as it gets.

Great job Clint! Sounds like much fun! That's my kind of country right there...

John

How much is a hunt like this?