Arizona Hunting

[ShednElkmaster]

Well with my wife being from Mesa, Az and a few friends living in the Pheonix and Mesa area I have decided to start looking into potential hunting down in Arizona. I am from Utah and love hunting elk. I am looking for pointers about Coues deer and elk.

Posted this in the Arizona forum as well.

A friend told me to start putting in for a coues deer hunt outside of Pheonix heading to Tuscon. It is a late hunt that goes into January. He said it's tough but they've shot a few in the past. Any other late hunts that start around November and go into January? I am looking for some hunts when I am down for the holidays(probably next year) already spent too much hunting elk this year in Utah!

As far as elk go I have seen a few elk in the southeast desert. Aslo seen some around Flagstaff driving to Utah. How is the hunting out there it seems pretty sparse? Any tips for a non-resident to start building points for elk? I am thinking about putting in for hunts along the Mogian Rim. Any other places to consider?

I would be happy to trade info about Utah or even help out here in Utah hunting elk, deer, cougar or bighorn sheep. Just looking for some out of state options. Thanks!

 

[NeverStopHuntin]

Arizona IMO has the best elk hunting in the world. If you want to draw a trophy unit be prepared for the long haul. 10-15+ years. Some of the areas close to Flagstaff are easier to draw and have lots of bulls but typically don't produce as many bulls over 350. If you are willing to pick up a bow your draw odds will increase and you should be hunting prime rut. They also started some late archery hunts for elk. Very difficult hunt but the opportunity is there for an awesome bull

 

[Atrain]

The Deer hunts that run from Dec through Jan are Archery and they are over the counter tags... There are Dec rut hunts but they just cut the tags back and they will require building points to draw.