AZ unit 9 Archery Bull

My dad drew it. I had it the last two years, it's an average elk hunt..coues get the XT it's the best bow out..............
 
Far from average..may be the best archery, public land, bull hunt anywhere..Wish I had a tag..Good luck to all that drew!!
 
I was joking about the bow also. I had a old Z-max and I upgraded to a XT. Thouhgt it would be a good idea to have a backup.
 
I drew unit 9 archery bull as did my good friend, we will be there from Sept.20- Oct.6. I have waited a long time to hunt this unit and still can't believe now it's my turn. I have spent a TON of time in this unit over the past 10 years just waiting for my turn on probably the best archery elk hunt anywhere!!!!!! Now I just need Sept.22 to hurry up and get here!! WOOOHOOO BABY!!!!!!!!

Later,
Geoff
 
I drew it after 10 years of applying and it will be alot of fun no matter what happens. I'll be there for the entire season also. A friend and his dad drew and will be with myself and guide friend. Monster Bulls on the ground! We hope!
 
Hey Coueskiller,
What kind of tacticts will you be using for your hunt. Sounds like you have spent a lot of years scouting and learning the area. Probably seen some real big stuff to keep you going out and putting in for the unit huh. A good friend of mine also drew the tag, any tips will help us out for his hunt if your willing to give some pointers.I think we will be doing a lot of calling and sitting water. What do ya think......
 
I got my tag in the mail today. Looking forward to seeing everyone up there. Good luck to all of the lucky tag holders.

MDnut
 
Oh yeah the tag was in the mail yesterday!!!! azsagebrush...ouch that hurt and aren't you supposed to be out tying up some bulls for me!!!! Also Sun. morning I saw a palmated bull just down the hill from where we parked the truck when we were looking for sheds, not a big bull but cool looking with the palmation and all. Shedreg if you plan on hunting water you better take a ticket and stand in line because there will be a stand or blind on every damn waterhole in that country so my advice to you would be get back off the water and cut them off on their way into water. We will mainly be calling and stalking but may hunt water during the week, it all depends on what the elk want to do! Even with how dry it was this spring there is still some big bulls running around that country, Good luck to all of you with tags and lets go let the air out of some BIG Az. bulls!!!!

Later,
Geoff
 
Thanks for the update Coueskiller, We checked all 16 of our trail cams Yesterday and pulled some good photos of elk and deer. Even caught lots of people posing for pictures as well. One guy was either blind or just being a cartoon, We got him taking a leak right next to the water hole our camera was on. Well good luck to you, and any additional ideas will really be a big help on this years hunt.

ShedReg!
 
My guess is that "cousekiller" will kill one of the top 5 bulls in the archery hunt in the unit.

Cousekiller, so came up and didn't call me, what's up with that? I went out in the afternoon and put up a camera and p/u 1 brown 7 pt. shed. Don't leave us hanging.

Azsagebrush
 
Azsage...thanks for puting the pressure on me!!!! Sorry I didn't call but I got a late start and just made a bonzi run, I will get ahold of you next time and we will go check out some big boys!!! After this weekend I will be up there every weekend, minus the coupe of days I need to spend in the treestand trying to stick this awesome coues buck I have got trail cam pic of this past week. Keep in touch man.

Later,
Geoff
 
So, not to start a pissing match but what is the water hole rules? If i had that tag and went to a water hole that had a blind and no one was in it i would sit down and hunt.(not in the blind) If a hunter came and said that was his blind i would tell him he should have been there when i got there first. I think its a crock of #### that someone, or any outfitter thinks that he owns a water hole just because he stuck a camera or makeshift blind on it. Its public land, and if the hole is not manned when a guy gets there i think it is his for the time he has his rear end parked on it. The moment he leaves its up for grabs.
So what do you think? I am just tired of outfitters and locals thinking they own the public land. Even more tiring is the outfitters who do not even have a tag trying to stake a claim on a water hole for a client that isnt there yet.
 
Although some think they own them they do not. Its called RESPECT, you should have learned about it in school or from your parents. If someone is hunting a water hole the entire season, and you know it, and you get there five minutes earlier you are just being an a$$. Nobody is laying "claim" to anything. Its first come first serve. There are no written rules. It is a respect and ethics issue. Talk to the person who built the blind and find out when they plan on using it. Don't use it when they want to. And no, just because they put a camera on it doesn't mean they get it all to themselves. It's called sharing. Why should you be the one who goes around looking for other peoples blinds to sit in? They put in the effort to scout and build the blind. If all you want to do is go around and use other people's blinds all the time be ready to have your a$$ kicked one of these days. If you're there first use it, if you know someone else is using it, don't. It's not that hard to share. But yet again, everyone thinks it is, and it can be added to the list of hunters vs. hunters.
 
the truth is if you sit in a blind or a tree stand and someone tells you, you need to leave you tell them to pound sand cause in the state of arizona if you dont want anyone to use it then you need to take it with you everytime you leave because it becomes everyones property if you leave it in a tree. there are alot of fights over it during a hunt or they get so pissed they just ruin it for you so you will just leave it just sucks people act like kids over it if they think it is that good then pull up a sleeping bag the day before the hunt and mre's and dont leave till your done then. that is my opion on it.
 
Smalts, I had the tag last year. I'm from Utah. I didnt hesitate to sit on any water holes as long as I was there first. If somebody wants to reserve a water hole they better spend all day on it. If theres an existing ground blind made of limbs and brush and i like the location I use it, as long as its empty when I arrive. I'm not sure what I think of all the trail cameras. 16? When I go down there (early sept) with a video camera do you mind if I turn them off or should I just go find another water hole. I know what I think just currious what you have in mind?
 
true first come first serve, and no, nobody owns any water hole on public ground but if indeed they did put a blind/stand up before me then I will respect that and not hunt it while they are present, but hey those elk got to travel to get to the water and that ground is fair game, with only 75 permits and a ton of bulls we should all be able to get away from each other, but I'm sure there will be a few of us guys competing for a few big bulls but it all comes down to respect for one another.

Later,
Geoff
 
sremim, I read your post above. Do you sincerely believe that by building a blind it reserves a water hole for the entire season? I'm never anything but respectful to other hunters. If I know a hunter is using the blind( usually a vehicle parked nearby) I will leave him be. If I run into the hunter who built the blind I will usually come to an understanding. I dont think just because a blind has been built that a water hole is reserved. If youve ever been to unit 9 you would realize there will be either a treestand or a ground blind on every water hole. If its empty when I get to the water I use it. You would be an absolute sucker not to. I have never had any one come in after I've set up. I imagine its because they were showing me some respect. If your thinking of walking in on someone already in a blind you built with the intent to kick thier ass , maybe your the one who should have listened in school. You might also want to read the letter sent to tag holders on the subject.
 
"If someone is hunting a water hole the entire season, and you know it, and you get there five minutes earlier you are just being an a$$."

sremin,

This makes no sense at all. You are telling me if you leave a note on the waterhole stating that you will be on it the entire hunt, and I walk up to it before you get there in the morning, I am being a jerk??? You had better get up earlier. Give me a break. Next thing you know we will have a concierge taking reservations for the waterhols. Give me a break. First come, first served, BOTTOM LINE. If you want to hunt it the entire hunt, you better be there the entire hunt.
 
little,
Obviously you DID NOT read my post. I did say it is first come first serve. Did you miss that. You should re-read the post. And where did I say I would kick someones ass? And yes I'm always in 9.
 
>Although some think they own them
>they do not. Its called
>RESPECT, you should have learned
>about it in school or
>from your parents. If someone
>is hunting a water hole
>the entire season, and you
>know it, and you get
>there five minutes earlier you
>are just being an a$$.
>Nobody is laying "claim" to
>anything. Its first come first
>serve. There are no written
>rules. It is a respect
>and ethics issue. Talk to
>the person who built the
>blind and find out when
>they plan on using it.
>Don't use it when they
>want to. And no, just
>because they put a camera
>on it doesn't mean they
>get it all to themselves.
>It's called sharing. Why should
>you be the one who
>goes around looking for other
>peoples blinds to sit in?
>They put in the effort
>to scout and build the
>blind. If all you want
>to do is go around
>and use other people's blinds
>all the time be
>ready to have your a$$
>kicked one of these days.
>If you're there first use
>it, if you know someone
>else is using it, don't.
>It's not that hard to
>share. But yet again, everyone
>thinks it is, and it
>can be added to the
>list of hunters vs. hunters.
>

You did a lot of contadictions in your statement.
First, because a guy has been sitting there in the past couple days he owns the water? Then the next sentence you said if you git there first its yours.
First off, how does a guy know that someone has been sitting in it in the past. How does someone know the blind isnt from last year?
My opinion is that unless you plan on getting to that blind early, you better not whine if someone beat you to it, if you hunted the day before or not. If so, you shouldnt plan on hunting water or staking any claim to it.
No one knows who was scouting it before hand, no one knows who built a blind, know one knows that the blind was from someone who had a tag last year.
Anyone who says anything like you said about "If someone
>is hunting a water hole
>the entire season, and you
>know it, and you get
>there five minutes earlier you
>are just being an a$$." is being the ass and staking claim on public land. That isnt sharing, its staking a claim. You want to stake a claim, lease land or go private. where is the sharing in the statement that some guy should have that water hole just because he was the first one on it the first morning of the season? so the first day makes it his all the rest of the season and maybe that guy decided to not hunt it one day but someone else should still not go there because of it? Sounds like your the type that would "stake a claim"
 
My point. So you said it would be disrespectful to turn off a camera if i wanted to video on a hole you had a camera on. Screw you, you got 16 cameras out there and can hunt in only one spot but you expect that someone should not #### with your other 15 spots? Let me guess, your an outfitter or guide.
your staking a claim, and it will not set well with most here.
My opinion is that it is first come first serve on ANY GIVEN DAY. If there is a treestand there tough crap. Outfitters will treestand 15 water holes and can only hunt one or 2 at a time and everyone else is supposed to check in with the outfitter to see what one is open that night? bull... If that is your attitude i wouldnt be surprised if your cameras end up floating in the water.
Respect and sharing is SHARING. NO ONE should expect anyone to avoid a water hole just because a camera or blind, or treestand is there.
 
LAST EDITED ON Aug-01-06 AT 05:27PM (MST)[p]>little,
>Obviously you DID NOT read my
>post. I did say it
>is first come first serve.
>Did you miss that. You
>should re-read the post. And
>where did I say I
>would kick someones ass? And
>yes I'm always in 9.
>

"If someone is hunting a water hole the entire season, and you know it, and you get there five minutes earlier you are just being an a$$."


a little contradiction there, you dont see it? if he was there 5 minutes earlier what dont you get about first come first serve? why is he an ass?
 
Sremin, I went back and read post 17. You should go into politics, you covered both sides of the issue . Hard to argue with your point when you agreed with both points of view.I will read your post closer in the future.Your SneeKee
 
There is no contradiction there. It is first come first serve, but the point of that statement is respect for other hunters. If you KNOW that someone is/has been hunting the same water hole for an entire season, chances are he will show up at the same time. Obviously he has his heart set on shooting a bull there, so why ruin it for him? If another hunter knows this and shows up earlier just to get the spot, yes it is being an ass. Most people don't sit at the same place the entire season, yet some do. Also, did you not read the part where I said to talk to the guy and figure out when they are/want to hunt it? It goes both ways. I see where it may seem I am contradicting myself, but I'm not. Not that it matters to me, I can't stand sitting. Its much more fun to chase them!!!
 
Your right about chasing the bugles. Just go and have fun. This thread got to serious. Maybe I will run into you down there in sept.
 
No elk at all in unit 9. If you are reading this, never put in for unit 9 again, OK....

The tank thing gets too serious out in 9. You got all this bickering and I've heard stories of people dumping gas in and around tanks, winching down trees to block roads that can get them close to it, etc. That is ridiculous

The funny thing is that if it keeps raining the way it is there will be water everywhere. And if you can't call and pursue, then you're in trouble because the same elk might not hit the same tank twice during the entire hunt.

***************************************************************
?Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!?
~George Carlin
 
Hey rackem, I dont doubt it. I drew this tag years ago. Found out the draw results in july, and from that point on every tank was "RESERVED", had notes saying that so an so reserved this tank for the archery hunt, please stay away. Some guys had up to 10 tanks reserved. Then you would start to see tree stands on tanks that had the seats cut to shreads. Kinda funny to watch these yahoos bicker over thier reserved tank. One guy in particular signed "Bubba, from Texas", so you know I used his treestand when he wasnt around.

AZG&F is the downfall of hunting in Arizona!!!!!
 
That's ridiculous, I can't believe people are that boneheaded. I was hunting deer in Unit 9 one year & was sitting at a water hole when a guy came tromping through. He saw me & I gave him a little wave & then he raised his rifle & stared me down in his scope for a good 10-15 seconds. I seriously thought he was gonna fire a shot at me. People like that piss me off. Pull your head out of your butt if you're one of them.
 
Back in 92, a guy "reserved" his tank with a stand and note. He didn't show and another archer used it, shot a nice 7x7, and left the penis and testicles draped over the stand with a note to the hunter thanking him for the use of his stand. Kinda funny.

RR
 
Its only a matter of time before someone is looking at someone through their scope, and the guy being looked at actually does shoot back. I'm surprised it hasn't happened yet. And, technically the person who shoots will not get into trouble. Last time I checked, it was legal just about everywhere to fear for you life when someone is pointing a gun at you and shoot them. It'll be a sad day for all hunters, but its bound to happen.
 
This is interesting reading regarding unit 9. These organizations have done a lot for elk hunting in AZ:

Every hunter dreams of putting that 400 class bull in his/her crosshairs. In Arizona, the unit most noted for fulfilling that dream is unit 9, on the edge of the Grand Canyon National Park. For most, drawing a tag in this unit is only a dream, but for the few that draw each year, it is a hunt of a lifetime. Even though this is one of the top units in Arizona for growing magnificent bulls, and has a diverse eco system which supports many other species, there has always been a perennial problem that has plagued it--lack of water. The south rim of the Grand Canyon has no natural water, so all the water that exists in unit 9 does so because earthen tanks and trick tanks were built years ago. In 2002 Arizona Game and Fish, with the help of Arizona Elk Society and local Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation chapters, hauled in over 150,000 gallons of water. Even with these valiant efforts, many elk were found dead in the middle of dried up tanks, never finding the water they so desperately needed. Getting reliable water to these animals has become a significant priority for the Arizona Game and Fish, the Arizona Elk Society, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. AES and RMEF have joined forces with Arizona Game and Fish to help put an end to the lack of water for elk and other wildlife in unit 9. Old water guzzlers critical to elk and other wildlife lack capacity to sustain the animals, and in most cases have fallen into such disrepair that they are of little or no use. Many of these drinkers only hold 1500 ? 2000 gallons, which is not nearly enough to keep them wet during our long, hot summer. Working in cooperation Arizona Game and Fish, AES, and RMEF have come up with a four phase package that will help stem the water shortage. In phase one (Currently under construction) AES and RMEF have raised $406,000 to help build 8 new guzzlers that will have 20,000 gallon water capacities. Phase two will be the construction of a new pipeline, which will feed 6 new guzzlers with a storage capacity of 8,000 gallons. These guzzlers will not have to store as much water, as they will have a reliable source of water feeding them. Phase three and four will be the renovation of earthen tanks and sealing with bentonite. All of this will be achieved using donated equipment and volunteer labor from all the parties involved.

The AES is proud to be involved in this project. Since it's inception in 2001, the Arizona Elk Society has raised in excess of $1,716,000.00 that has been matched with funds from other partners for water projects, habitat restoration, and more, totaling $6,600,000.00. We hope that between water hauling, grassland burns and seeding, juniper, pinion and pine tree thinning, fence modification and removal, cattle grazing allotment reconfiguration and much more, that we will continue to improve the quality of Arizona?s ecosystem, and that elk will be insured their place among our diverse wildlife.
 
Well said AZTrophy. That would definitley help the unit. It is sad to look at my trail cam pics and see bulls with magnificent racks and their ribs are showing. I wasn't aware that such an effort was going on up there.

Hats off to these orgs.

***************************************************************
?Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!?
~George Carlin
 
Those kiddie pools( Blue hard plastice ones) make great watering holes about a 1/2 mile down the trail from the tank put one in next to the trail leading back to the tank, bury it to the ground level and fill it with water and you have a waterhole, Best thing is it does work(better in dry years) elk can smell the water and will use this small out the way tanks.
so you can still hunt close to those other tanks you just got to know where the elk are travelling to and from.

First come first served AND I DON'T CARE if your late, it you want to hunt the tank bad enough you will get there first PERIOD.
 
Getting closer!!!! Man I'm pumped and will be up this weekend scouting hope to see some hard horned bulls, the velvet should be coming off any day now!! Only 40 days left till we pull into camp!!!!!!!!

Later,
Geoff
 
You get the hunt the biggest bulls in the world during the rut. They will be screaming their heads off chasing cow, trashing trees and busting antlers. While the hell would you want to sit in a blind or in a tree? Avoid the disputes and shoot 'em before they ever get to water!
 
Yea! I got a report yesterday that everything is great up there. Green and lush and wet with more horn growth still to come. Some giants have already been seen! Is anybody exicited? Duh!
 
horns are done growing. Green doesn't help much now except to help the rut if the moisture stays.
 
why the hell do so many people think elk horns in az continue to grow into august. you are all confused or misinformed. the elk are done growing. don't get your hopes up for the big gian 380+ bulls this unit is known for this yr. the drought affected most bulls in the unit quite a bit. even up to 30" of growth on the whoppers.
 
According to "azsagebrush" in this previous post. Cousekiller should have pictures or a story about the death of one of the "TOP 5 " bulls killed in Unit 9. Well Cousekiller did his guess come true? How did you do? Really haven't heard of any good elk coming from the Unit... Hope you guys killed we just ran into lots of people and the elk really didn't get going until the last day we were able to hunt. Good luck to everybody in the last few days of the hunt.
 
You guys want to see a unit 9 bull from this year. This bull was killed on opening day. I haven't seen bigger out of there yet. This clearly shows what happens to the back ends of bulls during a drought, but still a hog. Any guesses on the score out there??? If there is bigger lets see it.....

4522aec5700da809.jpg


Rackem

***************************************************************
?Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!?
~George Carlin
 
That's a way nice bull. One of the best I have seen so far come out of 9. What's the story. Who was the hunter? Ect....
 
"Those kiddie pools( Blue hard plastice ones) make great watering holes about a 1/2 mile down the trail from the tank put one in next to the trail leading back to the tank, bury it to the ground level and fill it with water and you have a waterhole, Best thing is it does work(better in dry years) elk can smell the water and will use this small out the way tanks."

How is this different than baiting?

MM
 
Awesome bull there and from the pic I would say 370-380...
I took a nice 6x7 on day 5 that was not the monster I had hoped for but a great bull none the less, I passed on alot of bulls some bigger and some smaller but when my bull came in everthing was just too perfect to pass up, he came in textbook screaming the whole way one shot @ 40yds and 150yds and a few seconds later he was done. This was my first bull with a bow and I knew he wasn't that monster bull in my dreams but I am not disappointed one bit about my bull.

Lster,
Geoff
 
"We checked all 16 of our trail cams Yesterday and pulled some good photos of elk and deer."

That ain't nothin'. I've launched my own personal Big Game satellite into orbit. I get 24/7 high resolution satellite images (1 pixel = 1 elk hair width) continuously and I also get infrared images so I can see what there are doing at nighttime. I also have peizo load-cellsinstalled on the paths so I know excatly how much each animal weighs. Beat that!!!

MM
 
Coueskiller lets see your first archery bull. Don't tease us....

Rackem

***************************************************************
?Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!?
~George Carlin
 
Rackem, I got pics but don't know how to post them as I think they need to be resized and like I said he aint no monster by any means but hey I'm happy with it. Shoot me your email and I will send you the pics if you want to post them.

Later,
Geoff
 
Killer I just PM'd you

Rackem

***************************************************************
?Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!?
~George Carlin
 
Nothing to be ashamed of there. Way better than my first archery bull....

4522e4fb2d5109e4.jpg


4522e5172db7c1fb.jpg



Rackem

***************************************************************
?Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!?
~George Carlin
 
Rackem,
Thanks for the nice words and posting the pics for me. Now if I can just be one of those guys who draws a tag like that in back 2 back years!!!!

Later,
Geoff
 
Congrats on a very fine bull....Man I hope I can draw in the near future, rackem this time you will have to stay in camp with us a little longer.I wish I was still in camp now and chasing big rutting bulls.
 
And here's Coueskillers friend's bull.

4522f94d10c2c2e7.jpg


Rackem

***************************************************************
?Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!?
~George Carlin
 
Next time I won't overcommit myself and tell my vehicles to not break down. I want to be out there when you drop a big bull in 9. Enough about bulls for you though, you need to start concentrating on your NV muley hunt!!! :7

Rackem

***************************************************************
?Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!?
~George Carlin
 
4 yards that would be a rush, good job.
rackem my elk fever is starting to come down some and yes I am getting excited for the deer hunt now.Good luck in Colorado hope you harvest a nice one.
Take care..
 
Nice Bull Looks like you had a great hunt, How's the nerves at 4 yds.

Muskeg man
Water is not baiting ask any Game warden they will tell you it not. Now corn, hay and such is.
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-03-06 AT 08:20PM (MST)[p]I tried to up-load a photo and muffed it up. Maybe later...
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-04-06 AT 09:55AM (MST)[p]Sounds like you spend alot of time in front of a computer or TV screen. Not enough time acutally burning some gas, learning the roads and areas. I got an idea how about we "operate in the realm of reality" and act like your reply was one of the biggest waist of times in MM history!!!
BEAT THAT!!!!
 
If all quit fighting over water holes and stared stalking bulls their success would be much higher! I did a hunt in 9 last year and we missed 5 bulls in 1 day ( Iwas not not shooting ).It got kinda funny. But instead of fighting over laws and ethics do what the other hunters aren't doing--------------------go hunting! That is what elk hunting is--------------------------- not Elk waiting!
 
I never posted the score of that bull so here you go.

389 3/8 gross

Rackem

***************************************************************
?Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!?
~George Carlin
 
"389 3/8 gross"

Very nice bull, looks a little better than that. To bad we didn't get the rain when we needed it. Lots of short top ends in 9 this year for sure.
 
I just returned from 17 days in unit 9. I saw a couple of monsters but couldn't get them killed. It was an unbelievable hunt and I'll never forget those bulls! I just hope I get to do it again someday.
 

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