Navajo Reservation hunts?

J

jaybob

Guest
I was looking over the Navajo huntingregs and saw a couple hunts with good success rates. Pretty expensive tag, but do you guys with experience over there think it's worth doing 1 time? I would anticipate a fun hunt with lots of deer seen or a respectable chance for a 180" deer. I know that's asking a lot, but for $1000, it better be special! Thanks, happy holidays.
 
I have no idea about this area, but 1000 seems seems super cheap today. I would not expect much for 1000. Look around at what guys pay for a good deer and 1000 won't cover the deposit. Yes you might get lucky for a decent buck, but I would lay odds on only small (like 18 outside) for 1000. Seems like the really good hunts where you will actually have a chance and see a stud are over 5000 on private land. To each his own but for 1000 you could do it on your own and have just as much chance at a 18" deer in every state.
 
You could do very well on this hunt. There isn't a high deer density but there are some tremendous bucks. It's worth applying for. Some of the late hunts may require a guide if i'm not mistaken.
 
I was factoring in guided trip with tag costs. Tag alone 1000 should reflect a quality area. Not aware of many reservations that don't require hiring a indian guide.
 
Maybe "usa" will see your thread and respond to you. I believe he was there this past season with a friend of his for a hunt.
The holidays and he probably is busy like a lot of folks right now.

Brian
 
LAST EDITED ON Dec-24-06 AT 04:16PM (MST)[p]There are some hunts there that don't require a guide. I'm not a 100% sure what ones do and which ones don't. There are good bucks taken by guided and unguided hunters every year on the Navajo.
 
Your going to pay 1K for the general hunts and they are at the end of October. I believe the December trophy hunts are for 5 consectutive days of your choosing, and the hunt costs 4K and requires a guide.
It is advisable to hire a reputable guide that knows the area and where the big bucks are. You can harvest a 180+ inch class buck in both hunts.
If a guide isn't possible for the General hunt, do plenty of scouting and find anyone who is willing to share information, etc.
 
Shredog-Would you happen to know if there is a website to go to? I'd like to look at what is offered. Thanks-Jim
 
They do have a website, but they really don't keep it up to date.
Anyways, you can look at the regs within. They need someone to keep it up to date and provide more information and maybe some pictures. They should emulate what the Apaches have, the Jicarilla's that is.
Navajo site:
http://www.navajofishandwildlife.org

Jicarilla site:
http://www.jicarillahunt.com

Some different leadership needs to be in place, as the existing mgt does not do much to help the herds and also any other wildlife. We had a elk hunt up there in unit 2 and we stopped at the Fish and Wildlife office in Window Rock and there was a lady there that was the mgr and she was very helpful. I think she ended up quiting. Anyway, we didn't know we couldn't use an ATV up there, as we brought one, just in case we needed to haul
an elk somewhere. There were 4 tribal officers in a room and one of them said, "you better not take that ATV off the truck and if I see it off, I'm going to write you a ticket". My brother ended up getting a raghorn aa couple of days later and we went back to their main office, to check in the elk. We saw the same officers in the same room in the same position! In perspective to their laziness, we tried to camp at the campgrounds and they were all full of trash and nothing was kept up. It was pretty sad.
Their drawing system is pretty corrupt and have been putting in for years and not even been drawn. After the draw, you can call and see what tags were still available and the hunts that I put in for, had tags left over! One of my good friends, his son put in for a youth hunt and his Dad called in and they told him that he was drawn. They were real happy and they found out later that they didn't get drawn! Talk about being corrupt up there.
Just giving some realities here,
 
Right on, you can send me a PM and I can point you
in the right direction - units to put in for and
what to watch out for, etc.
Semper Fi.
 
Doing well so far on my Rez hunt. 3 for 3 so far. Drew 4 tags this year, Early Archery, General Rifle, Cow Elk and Late Season Archery Deer.

Got one more hunt coming up next week, which will be the Late Season Archery.

If you really want to have some fun and a chance at a decent big buck, consider putting in for Early Season Archery, which is a little cheaper than General Rifle. With plenty of time scouting, should do well if you plan to do this on your own.

The Late Season Archery is even better but very tough to draw and cost a little bit more.

Other option would be the Unit 12 Trophy hunt in December if you're willing to spend extra on tag and guide fees.

Nice thing about Rez hunt is that they don't allow using ATVs.

Good luck and have a nice day.
 

Click-a-Pic ... Details & Bigger Photos
Back
Top Bottom