AZ Late Bull - Lessons Learned & Success

Thank you for taking the time to write this up. I am trying to plan an elk hunt with my son next year. I hope ours is as successful as yours.

I learned a lot from your write up and it answered some concerns of mine. We are in southwest Alabama, so we won't get to have all the scouting time that you had. As you said, the scouting can be as much fun as the hunt.

Congratulations on a productive hunt!

Great story. Late hunts can be difficult. Gun weight can be a problem. I have gone to the Eberlestock for portability, knowing the I may lose the snap shot - if it happens. I've hunted several elk during my 60+ years in AZ. No two hunts were the same, but each brings its own kind of smile to my face. The toast alone was worth the effort - the meat an added bonus.

Thanks for putting your story out there. Your highs and lows. A Little something for everybody either to learn or having been in your shoes
Thanks for sharing

Happy hunting sucess. Long and nice read though.

Nice elk hunt congratulation.

Really enjoyed reading your story. I know the disappointment when you put in a lot of time and effort into scouting and find your "hot spot" is known by others. That in itself can deflate the enthusiasm immensley.

Nice write up!

I had a 6a whitetail tag this past season and you aren't kidding about the roads in the southern half of the unit. It took us 2.5 hours to go the 6 miles back to check out a glassing point that I wanted to check out after looking at in on Google Earth. Despite being awesome country, the risk of destroying the vehicle prevented any return trips.

Nicely done and welcome to AZ hunting!
Schmitty

That was a fun read thanks! My wife drew a AZ late bull tag this year and we are excited.

deer-humper said:

That was a fun read thanks! My wife drew a AZ late bull tag this year and we are excited.

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I too, drew a late Rifle, bull elk tag in Ariz. and will be toting, a 7.5 pound Tikka T3 stainless lite, .270 WSM with 140 AccuBond's at 3,140 FPS that should be good, to 700 yards, if need be! I'll be carrying it, in a Kifaru Gun Bearer and using shooting sticks for sitting shots or, over a Pack, prone. From all the stuff I've read about Ariz. Late Hunts and my own previous years of, Hunting experience, PATIENCE and passing up some smaller Bulls, is "Key"! I've sold my, 9 to 10 pound, "Big Guns" as they are usually NOT necessary unless, shooting from Mountain to Mountain ( not my cup of, tea ) as I like, walking, stalking, glassing then, moving on, to cover more country.
Enjoyed your story and glad you learned from it! Yup, any "reasonable" deer/ Elk cal and lighter weight Rifle in .270/ .308 Win, 7MM08, .30-06 up to 7 Mag / 270- .300 WSM's are fine with, a good, expanding bullet as,.. Accuracy,..Kills !

deer-humper said:

That was a fun read thanks! My wife drew a AZ late bull tag this year and we are excited.

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What unit did she draw?

Rick Richard said:

Really enjoyed reading your story. I know the disappointment when you put in a lot of time and effort into scouting and find your "hot spot" is known by others. That in itself can deflate the enthusiasm immensley.

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@ dirt, From what I have been reading about, Late Rifle Hunts in Az. Scouting, is pretty much useless, due to the huge volume of Hunters in some "mid tier" units and the Locals scout the piszz out of it early, for Bow season. Plus, they have driven the animals into the remote canyons by the time THAT Hunt, rolls around! Finding the Guides camp in your "Remote spot" had to be, seriously disappointing! When my son and I go we will set camp just off of, a main FR near where, we "think" the Elk are and stay mobile, till we find them. I plan on getting there the day before the opener to see where the crowds are and to try to Glass up, some Elk. We will be walking / Glassing the edges of Canyon walls and maybe a mountain top "Burn Area", covering lots of ground everyday, looking for that, 280-320 inch "average Bull" for the first 5 Days then,.. any ole Raghorn for, the meat! You might want to watch Travis Volk's, YouTube video DIY late rifle Az. Elk 2017 and 2014 as, it's pretty informative! My son shot a descent Bull Moose with, a Bow at 40 yards, last year and after he "whacked him" out trotted, the "Big boy" kinda like what happened to you! Yup,.. it "happens" but your Hunt, ended, OK !

@idaho, I agree totally. Early season scouting in that area to find elk is pretty useless. We were scouting to find a remote area "potentially" away from other hunters, since there were so many tags available. The southern half of 6A is rough country with lots of canyons. I'm not familiar with other AZ units, but I would suspect the further you can get from a smooth road, and the rougher it is, the better your chances for a big bull.

On a side note, we talked to some hunters in an adjacent unit to 6a on the second day of late bull. The forest service was doing a controlled burn in that unit. Smoke everywhere and no visibility. Almost like they planned it for opening day of late bull. Luckily we didn't have to deal with that, but it might be an issue in some areas this year as well.

Good luck! I hope your hunt is successful!

"dirthead1" Unit 9 Late Rifle