A real FREAK seen while elk scouting in Unit 10

DonMartin

DonMartin

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This weekend decided to take one of my archery hunters and one of my early rifle elk hunters in Unit 10 out to look at some bulls.

One of my guides, Eric Hively glasses up the weirdest bull I've ever seen.

He is a positive FREAK and I love 'em! He looks like a caribou on the left side, has palmated on the last 15 inches of his main beam. It is as wide as your hand with 5 points sticking out of it. His G-2 on the left side is over 25 inches long. He has dinky G-1's on both side and his G-2 on the right is small. Rest of his points on the left antler are great!

There was a very clean 350 6 X 6 with him. How many of you boys would take the freak over "Mr. Clean"?

My archer doesn't care for him, my rifle hunter, who has waited 15 years to get a tag, told me to put a yellow ribbon on his butt and on Sept. 30 he's a done deal!

We got video, but I don't know how to post it on these sites. Great bull, gotta love them freaks and geeks!

We saw 30 bulls, 20 of them over 300, with three being 370+. Going to be a great year in Unit for all those that drew archery, early rifle and even late rifle tags---if you know where to look!

Last year we had five archers and our "smallest" was a 339 7/8 7 X 6, while our largest was a 383 6 X 6.

Come on Sept. 16!!!

Don Martin
Arizona Wildlife Outfitters
 
Don,

In reading yoru posts over on AZOD, did you run into most of these bulls on the Boqullias Ranch? Can't wait to see the monsters you are able to take out of there this year.

John
 
Sounds like some great bulls. Did you get any pics of them? That guy with the Sep 30th hunt has the hunt of a lifetime. It looks like we'll have a photo soon of that bull. Good luck hope you guys get some huge bulls this year.
 
Great job.
Can't wait to see your hunter with that bull on the ground!

Chef
"I Love Animals...They're Delicious!"
 
Don, I talk to a guy in Arizona Monday and he said there really alot of big bulls this year horn grow was just outstanding. Are you seeing the same thing why you are out.
 
As to the antler growth, yep looks really good this year! Suspect there will a number of absolutely huge bulls taken on these archery hunts.

Even the little bulls got racks that are pushing 300...in the entire weekend of scouting we saw just two spikes, one 4 X 4 one 5 X 5 and a few 6 X 5's..The rest were 6 X 6's or BETTER!

Should be a lot of fun out there...

Can't tell you exactly where I saw all these bulls, but those that do the pre-season scouting and burn some serious glass will see good bulls.

Last weekend saw lots of "road hunters" who complained they weren't seeing much. No wonder, we saw just one great bull (360 class) off the road. The rest came after we parked, hiked and then set up the big glass.

Going back out tomorrow, to look at a different area.

Don
 
Sounds really good Don, I am leaving the 14 of Sept. and I am hunting in Unit 10. Good luck and always appreciate your post. Thanks and Kill some big ones. Okie
 
MB:

AS of today,, yes everything is still open....

Keep your fingers crossed.

Don

P.S. Who you hunting with? I see a couple of you guys from OK on the list. You might be interested in knowing that almost 50% of the 150 tags did go to NR's this year in Unit 10.
 
YEE HA.... There's some good news.
We drew the unit 10 archery bull tags this year. Went scouting last weekend, and blew the tranny in my new ford diesel, towing the toyhauler through prescott. Totally sucked. But we still managed to glass up 15 bulls, only a few bugles in the morning. can't wait, will be hunting hard for 2 weeks. appreciate the posts don and hope to see you out there.


John Hiller
 
John:

Guess you have the same luck as me with the FORDS. On Friday, while heading up there and towing the toyhauler, I blew the turbo pipe and limped back to Kingman at 6.8 MPG.

They fixed it Saturday and back I went. On Monday, the engine stalled and the check engine light came on. Seems as though some kind of sensor went out.

I also bent the steering stablizer (kinda tells you the area where I wasn't)so it wasn't good from that stand point.

I am in the FORD buy back program at this time with the truck...Suppose to get a '06...

Don
 
How did you get them to buy your truck back?
I have a 2004 f250 pds king ranch. and the egr valves are always plugged , and now the tranny is ##### all at 34000 miles. It's kind of disapointing when you spend 43000 for a truck.

thanx for the posting
john hiller [email protected]
 
My brother-in-law just gave up on his King Ranch and sold the pile. Bought a new Dodge instead. Definitely ate some cash on the deal but $45k for an unreliable ride is a bit steep.
 
my 88 f150 just got towed from flag,az to tucson because it is stuck in 4x4 low. transfer case is bad. i have a chit ton of horsepower to the rear wheels but i can only go about 35! sucks! i think dad is gonna get me in a Chevy
Casey
 
If you're hunt with RANDY, you'll do fine!

I've had so much problems with the FORD (multiple for the same thing) and complained so much, they finally gave in, and the truck has 44K for mileage.

I'm real disappointed in a $45K truck that isn't road worthy....

I'll try one more more FORD then back to the Toyotas (they have a new 3/4 ton diesel coming out).

Don
 
I think that 50% of the archery elk tags this year going to NR's is total crap! Show me any state in the west with the kind of quality elk hunting we have that did that?

Nope, just not right, but I'll tell you this. Starting next year it's back to the 10% rule and then the draw will get back tot he way it should be.

This will be the last year of the unrestrcited NR draw and the for the guys that got those NR tags, God bless 'em, but no more!

I'm the first to admit I get a bunch of NR's each year as clients, but these guys have put in for years and years and have paid the price for their success.

Bottom line is I'm an Arizona resident first

Arizona sportsman second

Arizona outfitter/guide third.

If I can't make a living at this business with the 10% cap in place, then I should get a real job.

Don Martin
 
Don, It took me 9 years to draw my first tag and 3 to draw the next. It doesn't matter to me if they go back to the 10% rule I well keep putting in and waiting on another chance. You all have alot things to be proud of as sportsman so keep up the good work.

Thanks for visiting with me.


Randy and I have become pretty good friends over the years.


I am ready to go.
 
I think if AZ residents can Tolerate just this one year, all will be back to better than normal for the residents of the fine state. We should remember that yes a lot of tags went to non residents. As Don points out, many have put in for years and at a fairly large expense considering most had to purchase a tag every year just for the hell of it. On average I think we can assume (bad word I know) that a non res that drew had about 10 points for a rough cost of $1,300.00, and cost of tag. So all said and done a non resident is, by the time he is done hunting in AZ will have offered up a fairly large chunk of change of which most of will end up in the AZ coffers one way or another. Guides, gas, food, taxes, you name it. AZ will profit from this cluster. It has to be a banner year for any and all guides in AZ, I would think. Now, with that said, I live in UT and favor the 10% caps in AZ for non residents. It is fair that a resident gets first crack. However, I don't like buying a license I don't use. I think its black mail. One other thing. If you consider 50% of the tags went to non residents closing their point status to a big fat zero, I think residents are going to be way ahead from here on out. Ten% cap and no points leave the non res with a fairly unlikely chance of ever drawing a premium tag. Well, maybe if a guy lives long enough.
Oh, and if SFW gets into AZ, eventually the public tags will slowly turn into wealth tags, so that will be even less available to the non res.
I'm not bashing SFW! I Just call it like I see it. And yes, SFW is responsible for some good deeds. However, in my opinion, at a considerable cost to all common folk. Of course our entire country is on the same trend, so why the heck not?
 
i paid out about 50 grand last year in Az. just in taxes. just last year. where's my sheep tag? or pronghorn permit? hell, i'll pay em $1300 a year, every year, for a guaranteed elk, pronghorn or sheep permit. and a kaibab deer tag. and that's $1300 per species, too. it's still the luck o' the draw. this year the draw was slanted in the non-rez's favor, especially for elk, because the diligent ones had a buncha bonus points and the azgfd upped the max bonus point permits to 20%. basically guaranteed everyone with max elk points a tag, but there were still like 7 that didn't get drawn. all residents too. saying that anyone deserves to get drawn because they've put out a buncha money ain't right. a guy deserves to get drawn because he put in. and the more times he applies, the better his odds are. but it still comes down to who was lucky that day. this is probably the first year that a buncha bonus points really mattered. if they stay with the 20% for max point applicants, next year will be good too, for residents. this will work for a few years until a buncha folks get a buncha points. i really think that there's a good chance that the azgfd knew what they were doing with bumping it up to 20%. hell, we all wanted it. i know i did. but i didn't one time think that it'd play into the non-rez's hand like it did. oh well, going to 10% per hunt next year will put the odds back in favor of the residents, in a big way. as it should be. i just had knee surgery last week, so maybe it's a good thing all i got was a deer tag. but i'd dang sure be out there no matter what. good luck to all lucky folks with an Az. tag, that is of course except the ones that book with uso. hope they all freeze in crappy tents, suffer with crappy guides and get "Arizona Revenge" from the crappy food.
 
Hey Okiebugle,

Just wondering, did your dad have a unit 10 archery tag last year hunting with Randy Bryant. I met a father and son from OK in Seligman at the cafe right before the archery hunt last year and I had a nice visit.

Just curious.

Thanks,

CM
 
Don, I would sure like to see a picture of that freak! Anyway to put it on this site. How many archery hunters do you have this year? Good like to you and your clients, Buncoboy
 
I just got the video today from my hunter, and I will see if I can get an image onto this and other sites. I know he is sure one strange looking (but beautiful) bull. I can truly say I have never seen a bull like this! My archer said he'd pass on him, but I got to believe if we see him and get close to him, he's got to take him!

I spoke with my head guide Larry Sallee today and he mentioned to me that two years agao he saw the FREAK. He said he told me about him but my memory is short, just like a lot of other things about me, so I didn't remember the conversation.

Anyway, lots to do, hoping for another great season.

I'm going back to Unit 10 to do some more scouting next week, and now that I got Sony mini-dvd camera back, I'm hoping to get more-- and better--- footage of this guy and others.

You Arizona guys need to come to Phoenix tomorrow and attend the Conservation Bonus Point workhop we're doing at 7 p.m. at the Natnal Bank building.

Then on Saturday, at the same place, and at 9 a.m., you need to come to the meeting of the Sportsmen For Wildlife presentation and see what you think.

If they do what they say they can, might be a great opportunity for sportsmen to finally have a strong voice in AZ politics!

See ya there!

Don

Do
 
ALLMASS, I bet we were the ones you talk to. That was Randy cafe we were at. Didn't you kill that 390 bull on the Res. I thank you had your wife with you.

Are you going back this year. I am leaving Wednesday. Got lucky and drew.

Let me know what's been going on.
 
Don,
After driving your 4-runner I didn't think you would drive A domestic truck again. Toyotas kind of spoil a person.
Next time you see Eric, tell him Jeff said hello. I hunted with him in unit 9 during the bad year.
 
Jeff: Good to hear from you!

Yea, its tough, but I got a Toyhauler and the old rice rocket just wouldn't pull it. Course all the trouble I'm having with the big FORD makes me hope that Toyota puts out a 3/4 ton diesel soon! (I hear they are coming out)

Yea, Eric is gonna be there, he has a couple from Henderson NV that he is guiding. I got six hunters up there, gonna be a blast.

I just wish I could figure out how to get the tape of that caribou looking FREAK on the site. He is so totally awesome!

Eric glassed him up, but I told that he can't hunt 'em cause it was in my "honey hole". He's bummed to say the least. But there are lots of good bulls out there for those that will work for them.

Jeff, take care, good to hear from you!

Don
 
Don you should think about replacing that ford with a dodge power waton. I paid around 45K for my power wagon and it is already set up as a hunting rig from the factory. They don't come with a diesel yet, but I've heard that the 06 will.
 
I'm suppose to meet with FORD today to see about a replacement truck..if that doesn't work out...who knows..

Don
 
Okiebugle, Yes that was us and I just had a feeling that was you that got lucky this year with a unit 10 tag. Must be all that clean livin' back in OK. I hope you smash a giant. How did your dad do last year? I'll be up there again on the 16th-22nd so we may run into one another.

Good Luck!

CM
 
ALLMASS, Dad killed a nice 6x6 330 bull he shot the wrong ne he was happy though. I leave the 14th that is a Wednesday start hunting the 16th. Maybe we well run into each other. Are going back to the same place. Get a big one again.
 
9 years buying a NR license to get a point: $1200
A trip from Sacramento to Unit 9 every other year to learn the unit, video and scout: $5000 (5 x 1000)
A trip from Sacramento to Kingman to takes the hunter safety class (Thanks again Don): $1000 (I won't include the cost of the party in Vegas)
A unit 9 archery tag....Must be priceless because I am still waiting. Maybe next year.

I did get the 12AW Late tag this year, so it should be a great year.
 
Sounds like we could have a monstermuleys.com party on that 12AW hunt with all the folks who have drawn that hunt. My Dad & I have the same hunt as well.
 
Jim,
We should organize an after hours steak fry at a designated location for all the MM members hunting the Kaibab. If you will supply the steak I'll bring the beer or I'll bring the steak and you bring the beer. I don't know which would be the better deal.
The only other thing we would need is for someone to step up and supply the boxing gloves. And maybe an off duty doctor to sew up the unlucky few.
Just a friendly jab Jim!
I have crappy eye's as it is. I wouldn't need to add the Rocky effect to the picture.
Between your dads' musket and the 12 A hunt, will you be taking the entire month of November off from work? What a year for your dad...
 
You said it! I'm probably the last guy on the planet that can stay away from the office but...My Dad's pronghorn hunt starts the end of this month, then his Pauns hunt, then my general So. Utah deer tag, then the Kaibab, then his and my daughter's AZ elk tags, and finally my daughter's late muzzle muley junior hunt in AZ! Not to mention quail and waterfowl hunts along the way...it's going to be a busy hunting season around this household as we cashed in up to 15 years worth of bonus points in some cases to draw 6 2nd choice tags.

I reckon I can provide the meat and my Pop would BHOBB. I'll stick with the caffeine free diet cokes! As for the boxing gloves, nah, I prefer the battle of wits.

Seriously, has your crew started planning where they are going to set up camp on the Kaibab or are you guys going to shuttle back and forth between town? I'm actually going to leave a couple days before and plan on staying for the entire season. Probably will postpone our family Thanksgiving celebration until the following week or may have the rest of the family drive up and meet us in Fredonia at a friends house and do Thanksgiving there. At any rate, I'm going to try and "smell the roses" a bit as it may be a very long time before we see another one of these late season tags again.
 
Well Jim, I guess I'm hosed in both cases. Winning a battle of wits is a tough one for me, and as far as the boxing match. I've seen that you are a fair sized man. I think it was you that we stopped and talked to a few years ago on the Pauns. It was opening day about mid morning. We stopped in the road as we were exiting the area behind the Buntings? ranch. We were in a grey and white Ford Truck and you were the Passenger in a white Chevy, I think. Anyway, if I'm correct, because of your size, I think sparing with you might be a poor choice for most people. I could only see your hands and part of your head. If that was you and those body parts match the rest of you, it's fairly safe to say that a battle of wits is a much safer choice for me. My health care plan isn't what it used to be.

I agree. Pop would be a much better choice in this case. I rarely consume the barley and hop these days. And I want to be in tip top shape for 12A. I'm quite certain I'll never get the opportunity for another late Kaibab tag. I'm going to make the most of it.

We have not made any decisions as to camping on the unit or hunting from the house. Currently, Our focus is on #9 and big bulls. When that's over, we will make some serious plans about 12A. I suppose weather could play a role in our decision.
Last year we were down on #9 for the Late elk hunt. We were foolish enough to take larger camp trailers far off the highway. I just about messed myself on the one morning we woke up to a boat load of snow. Amazingly we got both trailers out with minimal damage. I don't ever want to be caught in that situation again. Ideally we would camp, get some wet weather, maybe even a bit of snow. But I hope the deep stuff holds off until after the hunt. Then let her blow!

"Smell the roses,? yes that's what it's all about! I took AZ hunter ed a couple of years ago. I took it with a particular ten years old who loved every minute of the class and spends lots of time trying to get me to take her shooting. I spent a little time soul searching after drawing the 12A tag and offered to sign the tag over to her. Oh . . . what a difficult decision that was!
Anyhow, she told me that she didn't want to take a deer and that she was just happy shooting a target. She is very sharp, I think she knows what the tag means to me.

Did JH ever contact you about a particular elk unit?
 
Cole,

Yes, Jeremy did email me and I gave him just about all the info I could think of to help him out in his unit. Talk about a lucky tag drawing fool, man that guy needs to be buying lottery tickets!

I hear you about concerns about getting a trailer a bit too far back in when the bad weather moves in. I can tell you that the late hunt on the Kaibab lat year had to have quite a few outfits stuck back in there for a spell as the snow was deep and wet. My teenaged boy drew the tag last fall and only had a few days to hunt due to school commitments (I also think he had a certain young lady on his mind that overwhelmed his good senses about my urging him to miss a few days of school to find a great buck on the Kaibab. Ah the foolishness of youth! When heis in his 30's and still hasn't drawn another Kaibab or Strip tag he'll be kicking himself for sure) and he missed a shot at a nice buck in the burn area. We watched it for a good long time and he was calm and ready to make the shot but the deer was swarmed with does and I had him hold up until a clearer shot presented itself. Long story short, the buck started to get nervous and swapped ends and when his large rack waved around in all its splendor, well, the boy fired the .270 while he was looking at the antlers and we all know how that works out.

The snow was a real treat to hunt in and I kinda doubt I'm going to get that lucky two years in a row, in fact, since I have the tag it will no doubt break records for high temps and lack of precipitation! Hate to say it but I am a Jonah when it comes to "good hunting weather" so everyone better bring the T-shirts, shorts, and sun block on the late Kaibab hunt this year.

Whatever the weather is or isn't, we're all sure to have a good time and enjoy some of the most spectacular country in the west. Heres's a photo I took just a bit after noon on the first Saturday of the hunt about 4 hours before the snow started falling.... http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/User_files/4324fa6b3c81b913
 
Try this link...
IMG_0237.jpg
 
Jeremy is a class act. He has made a deal with the devil, maybe. LOL! I don't think anybody has that kind of luck draw super tags, except the rest of his family. Actually, he plays by the rules and works hard at doing his homework. I'm excited for him, and I hope he takes a great bull. See! Nice guys? don't always finish last.
I'm sure he appreciated the info you passed his way.
The Kaibab photo is something, when you consider how it all looked shortly thereafter.
 
Jim,
Have you heard from Jean and Dale?
They went to Fredonia last week for the archery hunt.
I would be interested to know how he's done .
I think I have their # up there somewhere.
neb
 
Azbucksnort, on that last photo I was right in the area when you took that picture. There were some doe out feeding on it right around that time. It's crazy how clear and calm it was and then the snow started that afternoon.
 
Nate,

Yes, I heard from them this morning. Jean called and was looking for RH's # as she had something to drop off at his place. They bought a new quad and had some problems with it when they were out in the field so they took it in to a dealer in Kanab that fixed them up. She said the hunting was grim in the area they went to with only a few does and no buck sightings. They were going to move out to the west and have a go at it. If you need to talk to them it sounded like they might spend the night in Fredonia tonight and them head out in the AM.

Does one of your girls have a tag on the 16A late deer hunt?

Regards,
Jim
 
I had been explaining to my son how quickly the weather can turn when you're hunting on the late hunts throughout the west. He was questioning why I had him pack his windproof/waterproof jacket in his pack when it was "so nice out and it ain't gonna snow Dad, are you crazy?"...yeah, right! He was surprised when we were putting on a stalk a few hours later in a light snowfall and then in a driving snow storm when we were driving out that night. A huge 5X5 with a droptine was 5 yards off the road and bounded into some brush and pines. What a sight to see one of the big boys.

Back in 1990 I saw two super bucks in this same area. One was a huge typical that looked like a smaller bull elk. He was absolutely fantastic but was able to give me the slip for the duration of the hunt. The other was an old buck that was a giant forked horn. His tines looked like Louisville Slugger baseball bats laying almost straight out. He was herding does down that littel horse/hiking trail that heads down into the canyon. I debated blasting him but still had a few days to hunt and really wanted a 4X4 or better. I watched him for awhile until he had all the deer heading down the canyon and they all went out of sight. I think about that old boy whenever I'm in that area. I bet he had seen it all.

I've got a ticket to the show for this November, it oughtta be fun!
 
Jim,
I called yesterday and missed them.
We don't have any 16A tags .
My son and older daughter and I all have 35A Nov. whitetail tags but may not make it between school and my NV elk tag.
Both of my Daughters have unit 9 elk tags( one cow; one bull).
I've got a Reservation cow tag also so ,like you, I'll be pretty busy in about 2 weeks.
I think all the time off is going to cost a trip to Hawaii in March per the Boss.
I guess it doesn't make sense to make it if you don't spend it.
neb
 

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