MZ Hunt Unit 9

GP · Mar 27, 2015

I drew this hunt and was hoping for any thoughts on guides or DIY hunts in this unit.

Would love to get a 350 plus bull. Is this possible?

Thanks!!

huntin50 · Mar 27, 2015

You have a great chance of getting a 350 plus bull with out a guide IMO. Go a few days early so you get an idea of what your finding. That will help you not pull the trigger too soon. Don't get hung up on the score, enjoy the hunt.

YukonDall · Mar 27, 2015

I DREW UNIT 9 BOW IN 2013, BULLS WHERE NOT BE HIND EVERY BUSH AT ALL. BUT..........MY GUIDE WAS STEVE CHAPPELL. HE HAS CHAPPELL GUIDE SERVICE. STEVE TOOK ME TOO THE BULLS ON MY FIRST EVER BOW HUNT........KILLED A NICE 6X6. STEVE DOES LOTS OF LOCATING OF BULLS THAT WILL SAVE A BUNCH OF DAYS SCOUTING (HOMEWORK). HE ALSO KNOWS WHY THE BULLS ARE IN A CERTAIN LOCATION. HE IS FUN TO HUNT WITH AS WELL.....GOOD GUY !!!.....................................YD.

sirroyal · Mar 27, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Mar-27-15 AT 09:31PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Mar-27-15 AT 09:21?PM (MST)

Let me know if I can help! I guide in unit 9.
This is going to be a great horn growth year should be able to do better that 350.
I personally know of several bulls that made it thru last year that were 370 to 400. Meaning they will be bigger this year!
Pm for more info! Or text me at 928-899-2558
SirRoyal
It's a Paradox , Unbelievable but
true!

Codylee1985 · Mar 27, 2015

Go DIY!

U drew a bad a$$ hunt during an awesome time of year!!! Go as far ahead of time as you can and find the bulls. In my opinion a 350 bull DIY is more impressive than a 390 w a guide. It's what YOU can find and as long as you enjoy the hunt w friends and family that's what it's all about! Congrats and either way you decide to go your in for a treat!!!

Bwht4x4 · Mar 30, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Mar-30-15 AT 03:45PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Mar-30-15 AT 03:24?PM (MST)

I had a unit 9 archery elk tag back in 2009 with season dates of Sept 11-24th. During that hunt they basically didn't rut. We had a little bugling on a couple of days, but not enough to chase or call them in.

In unit 9 I hear each year is different, but this years muzzy hunt dates of Sept 11-17th would have me a little spooked based on my 2009 hunt. On my hunt I shot the biggest bull I found on the 8th day, which a 320" bull. I shot him over water and he never bugled once as he came in. My buddy also killed a bull on water that also never made a sound. We actually didn't see that many elk overall, but I think it was mainly due to our inexperience with hunting the unit. I would shoot the first 350+ bull in that unit without thinking twice.

We lived 10+ hours from the unit and made one trip out to scout and then arrived 7 days early to scout. If I were you I wouldn't scout, but get there 5-7 days early and scout hard. It's a giant unit and from what I could tell there were elk in nearly every square foot of the unit.

I'm sure some folks will laugh at our little DIY bulls (<350"), but here they are:

Go prepared for the hardest and gnarliest rain you could ever imagine. You could loose a day or two of hunting to rain if the monsoons hit hard.

jodog · Mar 30, 2015

99% of the time I would say DIY all the way but with a AZ unit 9 muzzy tag......If you don't really know the unit and don't live right on top of it,I would hire Steve Chappell, I wouldn't want a big posy , just one great guide and maybe a cameraman. You don't get a tag like that very often. Go to Colorado next year otc and do a DIY. This year I would want all the odds stacked in my favor because you have a tag where some GREAT bulls roam. Good luck !!

YukonDall · Mar 30, 2015

EXACTLY JODOG.......GOOD CALL. THATS WHAT I DID, THEN WENT TO COLORADO OTC.......DID NOT SEE MUCH...............YD.

sirroyal · Mar 30, 2015

Bwht4x4 Good job on tagging out in a tough year! 50% of the bulls in 9 are killed off water!
SirRoyal
It's a Paradox , Unbelievable but
true!

AZ4life · Apr 1, 2015

I know Jay Scott and co hunt the unit alot and would love to guide someone with your tag. I don't know him, but everything he puts out I think is real honest and he and his partner Dar would be my choice if I was in your shoes.

Pruney · Apr 1, 2015

GP,

I recommend DIY. I had the archery tag in 2011 and did not kill a bull. Too many reasons to list, but I did post a summary of my hunt here.

[http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID33/1682.html]

Pruney

sirroyal · Apr 3, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Apr-03-15 AT 09:14AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Apr-03-15 AT 09:08?AM (MST)

Pruney, 2011 unit 9 archery was very tough hunt. You guys did good!

The very first day of the hunt was excellent.One of my buddies guided a guy to a 390" class bull and killed him on day 1.

The next 5 days of that hunt which I'm sure you remember it rained and rained and rained.
In a unit where 50% of the big bulls are killed off water this is significant. There was water every . Needless to say waterhole hunting was nil.

I waited a week due to the rain before I showed up to hunting camp. There was 4 archery tags in my other buddies camp. He called and told me all about the rain. And nothing was talking and it was really tough! I told him I would check.out a little honey hole I knew about which very seldom gets pressure. I found 17 bulls screaming there heads off and no one hunting them!

I continued on to camp and guess where we went? We hunted those bulls to no avail for several days calling and stalking .
We moved around the unit also thru out the last week.

By the last day There were 2 bulls killed a 350" and 300" bull .
One tag would go unfilled because one father wanted his son to kill first.

6. The Last day the last tag to fill. It had dried out really good. 9 being the arid unit that it is. My buddy And I talked and made a decision to put the fireman on a tank where I first found all those bulls . We dropped him and his family off on the road to the tank that afternoon . Told him stay there you will kill this afternoon. We took off for unit 10 early rifle.

I'm in 10 scouting I get a call just before dark big bull down. Off I went back to 9.
He had shot a 370 class bull! Man we were pumped.

This monster 7x8 is what we were trying to kill thru the hunt!

This is what he killed.

SirRoyal
It's a Paradox , Unbelievable but
true!

sirroyal · Apr 3, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Apr-03-15 AT 07:27AM (MST)[p]I can't get the other photo to post! Sorry!

SirRoyal
It's a Paradox , Unbelievable but
true!

DonMartin · Apr 16, 2015

You got a GREAT tag! Probably see you up there!

Looks like a good year, looks like I may have hunters for both the muzzleloader AND archery hunts!

Not to mention 6A too..

Good luck on your hunt!

Don Martin
Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

Idcurs · Apr 22, 2015

If you know anything at all about elk you can kill a bull 350 or bigger on your hunt dyi.This is one of the very best units for bulls over 350.You have the nav one one side and the park and supai on the other. Bulls have a lot of country to hide in during the late rifle season.Pre scout a few times over the summer,look for lots of cows and rubs.Most times you will see bulls early in the open before they hard horn.I have hunted 9 many times and have never been disapointed.

vmcfadden · Apr 22, 2015

From what I've heard and read my 12 year old nephew could kill a 350 bull in that unit if you hunt hard. Good luck. Post pictures and story we will be waiting hoping for a tag next year.

wildfin · Apr 22, 2015

If you get a 350 you wont get larger,you should consider tag soup before a 350 you will only hunt 9 once.there is many places to go meat hunting.

fin little · Apr 22, 2015

A 350 bull is a pretty dam big bull. Just sayin. Im really familiar with 9 , spent 25+ years down there chasing ruttin bulls. A 350 DIY Bull is a hard one to pass. Most of all soak it in. You have a rare opportunity.

CAelknuts · May 1, 2015

So, Wildfin, how many legitimate 350" bulls have you killed? Even one? Do you really know just how big a 350 class bull actually is?

AZMZHunter · May 2, 2015

My 18 year old son and 16 year old son both drew this tag. My 18 year old may enlist in the Navy when he graduates from HS next month and may not be able to hunt with the tag. Does anybody know how to go about donating the tag to a make a wish type foundation? Also, I will definately be there with my 16 year old boy. Does anybody have any ideas where to start my scouting?

Thanks

wildfin · May 2, 2015

I have 3 in the 340 plus size and passed on a 370 size in 9 and had a 390 plus jump the res fence 80 yards away and stand there waiting for his cows to jump over, that was plenty stress and pasted on large sized bulls for another week trying to get the res bull never did. the bull I wanted was plenty over 350 and had broken off almost all off one side by opener.to me that is not a unit you settle for an average bull,dont do it and make sure you know what you are looking at if you dont want to shoot average bull. enjoy your self dont make it a bad hunt counting inches.