4a archery bull tag

azelkhunter · Aug 9, 2006

Drew a 4a archery tag just wondering about water and horn growth this year? Anyone have any opinion?

AZtrophyhunter · Aug 9, 2006

First 310-330 bull you see shoot it!!!!

hunter1 · Aug 10, 2006

i disagree on that, 4a has some very good bulls there are not 370 bulls around every tree but you can find um and you will see them here and there depending on how hard you hunt and how long you stay. i would hold out for a 330-350 class i think is very doable.

AZtrophyhunter · Aug 10, 2006

First 310-330 bull you see shoot it!!!

cbryant11 · Aug 10, 2006

i agree with aztrophyhunter,,, 330 is a great bull for 4a i have been in that area alot and i dont know if i ever saw a bull i thought would go over 360 and 330 to 360 is very few but thats just what i have seen,,,,,cbryant

paul · Aug 10, 2006

I have spent alot of time in that unit over the last 20 years and have seen alot over the years!! If you do your homework you can harvest a decent Bull!! Your not going to see the quality of Horn that other units in AZ can produce like 9,10,21, Apache Res. ect. You can expect to see some 310-380 bulls if you hunt the J/C country. And yes there are some sleeper 390-400 bulls in and along the Eastern part of Chevlon around the Butte.
you drew a great tag!!

AZtrophyhunter · Aug 10, 2006

I'm not trying to sound like I know everything here, but I grew up in the area have spent a lot of time in that unit. I love the area, I think it's one the best places in the state. I've hunted deer, turkey, elk, & cut a whole crap load of firewood. I've also taken numerous fishing trips to woods canyon lake, willow springs, bear canyon, & chevlon canyon. Never in all my years have I see a bull that exceeded 330. I also had a good lengthy conversation with the game warden in that unit who's been there for quite some time. He told me he had seen maybe 3 bulls that would score 350 in all those years. I've never seen a picture of a 350 bull out of there, I've never heard of anybody killing a 350 bull out of there, & I've never found any sheds that would go 350. Until someone shows me proof like a picture or something I won't believe it. None of this "my brother saw a 400 bull", or, "they are in there you just have to work hard blah, blah". Show me the money!

On another note, the archery bull hunt in there is a kick in the pants. I had the tag in 2004 & killed a nice 6 point. Would I put in for 4A again? You bet your ass I would!

Bugler · Aug 12, 2006

I have seen them with my own eyes. last year my wife missed a bull that would easily score 350 inches. The bulls are there and I have said it before every unit in the state thht has Elk can produce 350 inch bulls. Every one. 4 a is good but not my first choice. Finding those bulls is very tough.
Bugler

pigbulls · Aug 14, 2006

>Drew a 4a archery tag just
>wondering about water and horn
>growth this year? Anyone have
>any opinion?

Aztrophyhunter,,no hard feelings, but if a 320 bull is the largest bull you've seen in 4a your a blind man.

Great hunt! Lots of bulls.
With the dates pushed back like they are this year your at a slight disadvantage, The big bulls will already be hearded up.
Hunt hard and a 350 bull is not out of the question....

AZtrophyhunter · Aug 14, 2006

Well, agree to disagree I guess. I would like to see some pictures if you have some pig, that would be great. Did you grow up in the area?

And 320? I said 330! One time I saw a 330-340ish bull while turkey hunting. Nice bull, probably had about 20 cows w/ him. Definetly the heard bull in the area. By far the biggest I've seen.

How about this, we start a thread titled, "Attn 4A archery bull hunters" after the season. Then, all of those who drew tags in there can post pics of what they got. A trophy of course is in the eye of the beholder, but I'd be willing to be not a single one scores over 350. IMO, if you hold out for 350 you're coming home empty handed, I feel that's good information to know. I went in there with high expectations in 2004 & was a little dissapointed.

I know several people who would wholeheartedly agree with me, including the game warden in the unit. It's just not a trophy producing unit. Of course there's a monster or two in there, but have realistic expectations cause they are few & far between.

Here is a pic of the bull I took, I don't know if it will work...guess we'll find out!

AZtrophyhunter · Aug 14, 2006

Whoa thats small! Anybody know how to change the kb size of a pic?

KO · Aug 14, 2006

LAST EDITED ON Aug-15-06 AT 00:24AM (MST)[p]Didn't realize the picture was that small, just typical for the bulls in that area

Bugler · Aug 14, 2006

I think we are in agreement, Like i said they are there just like in every unit, but they are tough to find. We were on my wifes hunt last year and for 6 days straight plus two before. Saw three "shooters" I would consider for the unit two were 320 maybe a little better , Maybe, but the one she missed was definately a good one. 50 inch main beams close to 50 inch wide huge tail and 21 inch sword points, killer looking wave to the tail it was a great bull, She got greedy...Came home empty handed but she had a good time. I told her to shoot the smaller bull at 160 yds broadside which was a pretty easy sot for her but she wanted the big boy and i dont blame her really but she missed ..
I have a bull tag this year and we'll see what the ole man can do..

AZtrophyhunter · Aug 15, 2006

The 300 Rem UM didn't get the job done? lol!Congrats on the tag JD, where did you get drawn?

pigbulls · Aug 15, 2006

I grew up in Phoenix and my close buddy owns a cabin at kohls Ranch, but that is besides the point. Im not trying to stretch this into somthing that 4a is not, Its not unit 9 or 10 or 1, I realize that, but it does hold some big bulls... But you have to get off the rim road to find them.....

I will agree with you on the percentage of people killing 350 class bulls wil be low this year, but remember that only 5% of those hunters have the pontential or know how!!!

Bugler · Aug 15, 2006

Joel, She missed, if she had listened to me she would have had a nice bull down.. You should hav heard her 3 hours into opening morning yelling at me " If i was paying for this hunt you would already know where these bulls were!" blah blah blah. Then I tried to calm her down and she jerked away saying dont touch me and fell into a cedar on her butt.,. You can imagine she wasnt too happy with me when I began horse laughing. Come to think of it taht probably wasnt the best thing to do but it was Funny.
I drew A ML bull tag this year in 6a. November but I love that hunt especially if we get snow, I am praying for Heavy snow ...
How bout you did you draw anything?

AZtrophyhunter · Aug 16, 2006

Haha! That's funny, gave me a good laugh here at work which I needed. Good luck on your hunt, I hope you take a nice one. I got a deer tag in my secret place.

It's not north of the ditch, but it's a great unit. 14 bp's now for antelope, can't wait till I get that tag. Going to Colorado in early November for deer & trying to put together an archery Kaibab hunt. Life is good!

buglinst · Aug 16, 2006

Don't be discouraged. My partner and I drew a 4b tag about 10 years ago. Thinking we had scored big time with the tag, we set out to some of the local shops for practice, bs, etc... We soon found out that ,they were happy for us and our getting a tag, but we definatly didn't score on a great tag. "keep your sights low and don't go home disappointed."

We hunted hard for 10 days and came home with a 3006x6 and a 3406x7. It's what you make of it.

good luck on your hunt

Steve

p.s. wish me luck in unit 8. Can't wait.
btw... I have been putting in for 4b.

maddglasser · Aug 16, 2006

I myself took a 336" bull in there 5 yrs ago. I also had a hunter take a 354" in archery. I had an early rifle hunter take a368 bull in there. I believe that the unit has some sleeper bulls in it. I don't think it is unit 9 by any means but I would say to hold out for a 330 or better bull. They are in there. Problem is is so many 280-310 bulls there it is hard to hold out! I have guided or hunted that unit for 11yrs. It is my second choice preceded by 9. Hunt north near Clear Creek Canyon and Chevelon Butte. HUNT THE CEDARS.

AZtrophyhunter · Aug 16, 2006

Hey glasser, check your inbox.

maddglasser · Aug 16, 2006

Az check your in box

montaho · Aug 24, 2006

LAST EDITED ON Aug-24-06 AT 10:19PM (MST)[p]>I've never found any sheds
>that would go 350. Until
>someone shows me proof like
>a picture or something I
>won't believe it. None of
>this "my brother saw a
>400 bull", or, "they are
>in there you just have
>to work hard blah, blah".
>Show me the money!
>
Here you go AZTrophy hunter!
My partner and I killed 2 bulls in 2003 in Unit 4A, this was the largest approx 367 P&Y

Is that proof positive

montaho · Aug 24, 2006

Here's a 367 P&Y archery 4A bull from 2003

Still don't believe???

A better shot:

AZtrophyhunter · Aug 24, 2006

There you go! Very nice! Do you have any other pics? Those 3rds are awesome, they usually don't grow good 3rd's in there but those are lonnnnnnng. Thanks for sharing.