Kaibab Bucks!!!!Where art thou????

[Blackknight]

Does anybody out there know how to find these bucks, in the Kaibab,with true experience. I mean on a regular basis what to truely look for. Once again I am planning on doing a archery deer hunt up there and I need some help from the old timers and from the good dedicated hunters!!!! If you have some areas to share or past hunting stories please share!!!! This will be my third year in a row going up there and I need some help. I know these new friends of mine from California drive 14 hrs to get there and they always kill big deer. It makes some of us native folks here look like we dont know squat!!! Its a little embarrasing.

 

[RockyMtnOyster]

Sorry Blacknight, can't tell you where the bucks are. I plan on joining the Kiabab archery deer circus myself this year (first time). For me, just going to get out there a few days early and scout it, see if I can find a bachelor buck or herd and put a stalk on them before somebody else does.
Good luck to you.

RockyMtnOyster

 

[MichaelJ]

From what I've heard, hike as far and long as you possibly can, and look in the most unlikely of spots or the nastiest, hardest terrain you can find. Those bucks are smart and know when hunting season starts so hike far and long and think like a buck; "Where is nobody going to look for me?"

Michael

"What I could do, I was doing, and that was simply putting my butt on the line for my country, the country that I loved, so that all the protestors and the academics and the liberal intelligentsia back home could enjoy the right to protest against people like me, the hated middleclass." --Gary R. Smith, US Special Forces

 

[sremim]

Will your friends from california not share their information?

 

[JohnnyLegend]

I have hunted there several times, but the last time was in 99' and it was so crowded and such a circus that it wasn't much fun. I can only presume it has gotten worse. In fact, I was going to go back in 04', but the biologist in Flagstaff said it was unreal with people well into the thousands and he said the hunt experience was even harder to enjoy.

Now with that out of the way, I have seen some nice mulies there and missed a good one in 98'. The big boys tuck into the thick stuff pretty quickly once the scouting and traffic starts. Hunt the thick timber as far away from the roads as possible. If you are patient enough, set up a tree stand in one of the thick canyons/areas where you have found alot of trails and sign. We came very close to scoring this way on a couple occasions.

Best of luck and hope there isn't as much traffic on the Kaibab these days. I did put in for the ML hunt, figured I would add a point before the 2007 increases kick in.

JL

 

[caelkhnter]

Have not been in a long time, but I have heard the Warm fire really devastated a large part of the Plateau. Might want to inquire in advance with those who have been up there post fire to see if your old hunting grounds are huntable this year.

 

[Bura Nut]

The Kaibab isnt an area you learn quickly. Also the time of year you hunt naturally makes a huge difference. The warm fire burnt the east side more than the west but actually the deer will be helped by the fire. My suggestion would be question your buddies from CA then call someone who hunts the Kaibab on a regular basis and pay them for a map service helping you isolate where your hunt will start. Then glass your butt off at the right times and move if you need to so you locate a buck and put on a stalk. Call Duwane Adams 520-385-4995........ Or Call Ryan Hatch and pay them for some of their knowledge and get a map for a starting point..... Thanks, Allen Taylor......

 

[caelkhnter]

Bura have you been up to Kaibab since the fire? I heard from the father of a firefighter who fought the fire, who had some pictures, and said it looked bad. I was told a fair amount of the West side was hit pretty hard, from just about at Jacob Lodge down to the big meadows right before the Kaibab Lodge. From the pictures it did not look like it would be good to hunt this season. I suppose with the right amount of monsoon rain grass could start growing by Sept, but from the pictures it looked like nothing more than alot of black sticks.

 

[Boskee]

LAST EDITED ON Jul-14-06 AT 09:52AM (MST)[p]Kaibab is one of those areas where the deer move toward the food source. There's nothing like a little footwork and preseason scouting to help you find them since the conditions change up there as the drought cycle takes it's toll and thinning and fires change the vegetation on the plateau. Where they may have been last year may not be where the food is this year. Your friends from CA seem to know the area from experience and the only way your going to be able to compete with them is by investing the time to learn what they have seen first hand and remembered.

 

[tooele]

Just went up there the East side is pretty burnt, should be awesome in a year or 2. My opinion is that it will push those thousands of bow hunters into an even smaller area.

T

 

[_droptine_]

So you won't hunt their spot but you will tell thousands of people on this board where it is?

 

[NMHUNTNUTT1]

whhooops!

 

[Bura Nut]

Jim, I was talking with Duwane yesterday afternoon about this fire and reviewed all the pictures on the fire service website showing the deer in among the burn and showing us the timeline of what burned and when. Duwane was up scouting when this fire was going and spoke to USFW about the re-seeding efforts planned primarily for erosion control. Give me your email and I will send you a topo of the areas hit which will give you a great idea of what/where the fire affected. It really hit the top but fortunately the winter range is still intact in most parts........... Thanks, Allen Taylor......

 

[Blackknight]

Whoops nothing!!! I didnt say exactly where they hunt but a general area just like a map service. You will have to put forth a little effort to find them as Buranut will state!! If Droptine doesnt like the info on this posting then I would suggest dont reply with dumb remarks. I thought this site was supposed to be informative and for helping out others but replies like that is just plain stupid! Anyhow, thanks to the rest of you for your input.

 

[_droptine_]

LAST EDITED ON Jul-14-06 AT 05:50PM (MST)[p]I have never hunted the Kaibab and I don't plan on it in the near future. Therefore, that information does me no good. While you didn't post more specifics, I bet there will be at least a few more people hunting in the general area that you alluded to because of your post.

I am sorry that I offended you. I know that if I had given out some very specific info to a person in confidence and then saw information about that area similar to what you had posted, I would be pretty upset.

 

[Blackknight]

Well Im glad you cleared things up!! But the way I see it is this. If we are all supposed to be side by side with one another whether its hunting or serving our country why do we all keep stuff such a secret. I bet some of the spots you have were givin to you by someone else. I know some of us have spent a lot of time in the field and arent running to give that info out but if you know you can help out your fellow hunter I think it is a great thing to do. So in all, I dont mind sharing info that I have. Im usually Blessed in life anyways because I give so much and expect very little. So to those who are hush hush about everything well its a shame they preach about the land of the free and how we should preserve whats ours!!!! We all need to open our hearts a little. Well enough of that. What are these bucks eating up there anyways. If Buranut can explain a little bit about the Kaibab food sources and what to look for I know it will help. Thanks to all!!!

 

[mike111]

Could someone please direct me to a map of the areas burned by this fire. Or send me an email at [email protected] of where to look for a map.
Thanks

 

[Aztrophytaker]

tell em gilbert

 

[mike111]

Thanks for the map Jim.

 

[caelkhnter]

Mike glad I could be of help, and I should thank Bura who sent me the map. Thanks Bura

 

[Boskee]

Blackknight, while I see your viewpoint and most certainly respect your ideals. Here is where the problem lies with you or anyone else for that matter, we never reveal where you are hunting to just one person. Oh it may seem that way but it never works out that way because relationships change, people have to talk it's human nature and in our willingness to help others pointing people towards a spot my actually influece the wildlife management in that portion of the area. Hunting success also breeds conversation and as such attracts those that listened well to the area and before you know it there's 10 people that told 20 people that told 40 people all looking around in that area. Have you ever noticed that most taxidermists are very skilled hunters for some reason! So while I respect your ideals please understand that an internet forum is open to hundreds of individuals and you very openly asked for information for you and your friends last year in several areas and this year you are doing the same and then offering up information about several areas and then things start to get a little crowded. I'm sure that a mesa that you wanted information on last year had a few individuals intrigued and had a slight increase in traffic. Well while I no longer hunt there a good friend does and he couldn't understand where all the new traffic came from! Getting information and help is fine but posting it on a general forum can surely lead to the demise of somebodies honey hole in short order! Take it for what it's worth!

 

[AZbowhntr]

I have a quail hunting spot about 10 minutes from where I live. I have always done real well there. Anyway, this last year I invited a friend (neighbor) to come out with me hunting on a Saturday morning. He asked if he could bring a friend and said he would make sure that his friend wouldn't go telling everyone else. What was I supposed to say. So we all go out and did very well. The next week Chef and I go out and guess what. The friend that my neighbor invited is out there with some other guys hunting. Guess I learned my lesson.