AZ area #9 late bull tag

mtsheep · Nov 13, 2006

Were getting things ready to leave for AZ next weekend and scout for the week before the late elk season in area #9, the season opens on Nov. 24. Has northern AZ received any storms in the last few weeks or is it dry like last year ?

HullinPhx · Nov 13, 2006

Not as dry as last year, but still pretty dry.

Good Luck on your hunt

John

okiebugle · Nov 13, 2006

Good luck tough hunt!

daveinaz · Nov 14, 2006

>Were getting things ready to leave
>for AZ next weekend and
>scout for the week before
>the late elk season in
>area #9, the season opens
>on Nov. 24. Has northern
>AZ received any storms in
>the last few weeks or
>is it dry like last
>year ?

Very little moisture so far this year. A few inches of snow on the San Francisco peaks and Bill Williams mountain, but that's about all. Temps have been holding pretty much at normal or a little above - nights have finally started to cool off to the mid- low-20s in Flagstaff and the South Rim.

Good luck with your hunt - lots of good bulls in the unit, but it can be a tough hunt.

Looking forward to the pictures when you get him.

Dave

CAelknuts · Nov 14, 2006

Actually, if you don't have snow, you'd rather have warm and dry than cool and wet. At least with warm and dry, you'll have them hitting tanks. It can be a good hunt, but is pretty tough. If it were me and the weather is warm, I'd park my butt on a tank in the afternoons. I'd find one of those rare spots where you can glass for the mornings and hunt that way before heading to sit on water.

mtsheep · Nov 15, 2006

thanks guys for your input, I'm looking forward to seeing some new country. I must say it is going to be a little bit different hunting elk in the flat to rolling land.

redrabbit · Nov 15, 2006

The 10 day forecast is dry. Good luck on your hunt.

Doug~RR

Shedreg · Nov 15, 2006

Try the areas around the Lower and Upper Lockwood area. All along the borders of unit 7 and the rez.
Especially going up from Willows Trick tank, north and south.
Also, there are waterholes and trick tanks adjacent to Dent and Sayer. It's been hot and dry and the animals are using the waterholes heavily. Have a friend who has a shooter in unit 10 and he said they went scouting and they heard bugling over there last weekend!

mtsheep · Nov 15, 2006

I have heard of the lockwood area but the forest service map doesn't have any area called "lockwood" on it, or maybe is does but I didn't see it. Where is the lockwood area located ?

Shedreg · Nov 15, 2006

It is in the bottom right side of the unit. It is where
Unit 7, Unit 9 and the Navajo meet.
You can come from the Cedar Ranch Rd and go through the
rez and come on from the bottom of Lockwood. Lot of elk in that area. The Kaibab Forest map should show it.

mtsheep · Nov 15, 2006

Thanks shedreg,, I'll look at the map when I get home tonight

fin little · Nov 15, 2006

I had the tag with these same weater conditions and my cousin had the tag a few years later with 8 inches of snow on the ground. I think cold and dry are the best conditions you could hope for on the 9 late hunt. I killed a 340 6x7 coming to water and my cousin went home empty. If the weather holds the elk will water as early as mid afternoon. The cold mornings should keep them up and feeding a little longer in the mornings. You should have a fun hunt. Good luck mtsheep.

Shedreg · Nov 15, 2006

You have any questions, feel free to ask, etc.

CAelknuts · Nov 15, 2006

From my limited experience, COLD and dry are not good. I hunted on that tag back in the mid '90s and we were into bulls consistently the first few days when it was warm and dry. Then a big cold front rolled in the the temps dropped down into the teens, but no snow. Never saw another bull once it got really cold.

fin little · Nov 15, 2006

When I said cold and dry I meant like the current conditions, Warm enough to thaw the water holes in the afternoon. Unit 9 is thick and hard to glass you need to be able to spot the elk either feeding or watering. If you need to warm up the restaraunt at the Anazi Inn in Cameron is outstanding. Enjoy.

rackem406 · Nov 17, 2006

Take a close look at the bull before you shoot or you might end up with half of a 380 bull. It's tought to find a bull that's not broken up bad in that unit, although I was seeing more intact bulls after the rut then last year. Good luck and we can't wait to see the pics.

Rackem

http://www.needgod.com/

Hornhog2 · Nov 18, 2006

I talked to a buddy a couple weeks ago that said alot of the tanks are dry. There is a couple I know of that shouldn't be and should have some good bulls near by. Look around Russell tank and Woodbridge tank, ( both on maps ), Then hunt off the rim of the basin. You can see a little off the rim, you just need to find the right canyon. Although the hunting will be tough this time of year, it's an outstanding unit with a ton of good bulls. I'm jealous! Good luck!