12b west late mule deer--2015

Rasmutaz11c · Aug 17, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Aug-17-15 AT 10:30PM (MST)[p]Can anyone tell me what to expect for a 12b west late rifle muley hunt? I've killed deer and elk in units 22 and 9. I'm from WY and not afraid to work for a dream buck.

I've hunted by Jacobs Lake several years ago archery. Curious about the pressure, quantity/quality and camping in the unit. Should i bring a 4 wheeler? Can a guy get fuel anywhere? Really want to be prepared.

Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions.

Utah400Elk · Aug 17, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Aug-18-15 AT 05:34AM (MST)[p]I have hunted the 12 B West early hunt twice. First time was in 2006 and then again last year. On the late hunt you should see a lot of deer. The Bucksins will hold a lot of deer (and most of the hunters) but don't forget to look to the West side as well. I would spend time north of the rock quarry on the way to gunsight point. An ATV will make it easier to get away from the roads but I think the best deer are going to be found from a simple hike. I also like the canyon area by the cattle pond that is just off the road once you turn south towards gunsight. There is gas in Fredonia and all the supplies you could need. I have shredded tires on both hunts. The area can be very hard on tires so plan accordingly. Hope that helps.

Rasmutaz11c · Aug 18, 2015

Utah400Elk--

Thanks. Good to know about the tires. Also, thanks for the additional spots to check out.

tooele · Aug 18, 2015

Fredonia is your best bet for supplies. If you have Good tires roads aren't that bad. Been there on 8 hunts, never had a flat. Its more dusty/muddy than volcanic tire busting rocks. The Dust from the roads is so bad that you'll be getting out of your truck for the rest of the year. Its nothing like up on the Kaibab. Cedars, pinons true winter range hunt. Deer are kind of everywhere. If it gets wet roads can be slick. Quads can be helpful within a section of the unit, but you need to be able to move them easily from Day to day on a trailer as the unit is quite large. The issue I have found with quads on the late hunt is that it is often too cold or weather is too bad to really use them. I rarely see many people on them on the late hunt, but on the early hunt people are on them all the time.
Good luck

Rasmutaz11c · Aug 18, 2015

Tooele,

Thanks for the info. It's informative and helpful. Good to know about slick roads when wet. I think we'll pack a quad. Also, nice hearing deer can be anywhere.

I appreciate your input. Thanks.

Erik

tooele · Aug 19, 2015

Oh also on over 80 percent of the late hunts there has been snow/ice on the roads. Make sure you check the weather if the temperature is below freezing, snow on the roads and windy it will be an easy choice to leave the quads home. Good mud/snow tires/jeep etc have come in much more handy on the late hunt. The reality on the late hunt also is that most guys shoot bucks that aren't over 160. A few dandys are shot, but if you aren't very familiar with the unit or done a lot of scouting if you see a true 170 type buck you should certainly think about pulling the trigger. just keeping it real.

Rasmutaz11c · Aug 20, 2015

Tooele...thanks again.

Does that snow/ice seem to get the bucks moving and help the onset of the rut?

When you see deer, is it going to be groups of 5-10 or 20-30ish? I'm hearing many talk about finding water, is that still a big factor when there's snow and ice?

Is it pretty crazy with tons of people scouting/glassing for the person with the tag?

Thanks.

E.

ducksbucksandbulls · Aug 21, 2015

Bring your GPS
U can hunt the border of utah/arizona.
Know the # of the state line. Look on your map.
Some of the signs are off by several hundred yards. If there is a sign on the dirt roads marking the border.
Its true. some mornings are very cold, u don't want to ride atv. Was breaking/ removing ice on stock tank a couple inches thick so the animals could drink.
I found some good bucks crossing the state line back and forth.

Rasmutaz11c · Aug 22, 2015

Ducksbucksandbulls-- thanks.

Good info. I have no problem hanging on the border. Where do the majority of the big boys come from AZ or UT?

That's funny...I never really thought about ice on stock tanks.

I appreciate your help.

Erik

ducksbucksandbulls · Aug 22, 2015

come out of utah and drift back and forth in the sage brush flats mixed with PJ

whitetailrick · Aug 14, 2016

My son drew the 12b w late tag any pointers from your hunt from last year?

AZBORN · Aug 14, 2016

12B is primarily a migration hunt with a lot of deer coming out of Utah. For some reason the Utah deer like to come all the way into AZ even though there is a ton of winter range north of the AZ border in Utah. Just work hard and hunt all day. You will see the buck you will be very happy with. Glass the east and west side of Buckskins. Its a huge area and plenty of room for everyone. You may see a lot of people but they are not hunters, just helpers. Seems to many people these days have lost the great sense of accomplishment of hunting without someone doing the hunting for them. Anyway there are a lot fewer guns than people you will see, so don't let it alarm you. A friend shot a 190" class buck just driving into his glassing spot on top of the Skins. Be mobile and drive a lot to look at different areas. Mostly... DIY. No need for a guide.

whitetailrick · Aug 14, 2016

Thanks...... will do and will post any pics

Rasmutaz11c · Aug 14, 2016

This area is very easy to hunt. I would say without a doubt...don't shoot to early. The deer are migrating into the area and if you glass, walk around, are patient and watch for them midday...your son will be successful and have a great hunt.
Be ready to have one of them most fun trips you'll ever have and get ready to see boat loads of deer.
Send me your number and I am happen to dial you in to where we saw the most deer...I shot one of the most beautiful and perfectly symmetrical bucks ever...but it didn't make 180. I honestly wish I would have waited.
I've hunted wyoming 20+ years and this hunt was the best...because of the shear numbers of bucks running around.

PLK · Aug 15, 2016

I hunted 12b west late in 2014 with Arizona Strip Guides. I am an experienced big game hunter but live in Pennsylvania so I decided to hire an outfitter as I could not scout the unit and realized this might be my only AZ rifle hunt. I killed a 190+ buck and that was the biggest buck we saw in 8 days of hunting. I passed on this buck on the second day of the hunt and then found him again on the 8th day of the hunt. Another guided hunter killed a 215" buck on the 2nd day of the hunt. Other than that, I didn't hear of any other big deer that were killed. We did see quite a few deer but the temperature was fairly warm and therefore the migration was not yet in full swing. As for the availability of supplies, I would drive the extra 10 miles to Kanab, Utah as there is much more available there than in Fredonia, AZ. There is a nice campground in Kanab that will charge you approx. $5 to take a shower and a good grocery store nearby. Make sure to stop in at Muley Crazy to check out the giant mule deer in there. You might want to wait until your hunt is over before you visit Muley Crazy as you may have unrealistic expectations after your visit there. I thought the roads were good but be prepared for lots of dust, make sure to have good tires on your vehicle. You will definitely see other hunters but I really didn't think it was crowded. There will be trophy hunters looking for giant deer but most people will shoot the first 170" deer that they see. Make sure to bring good binoculars/spotting scope and a tripod and pray for snow in southern Utah and up on the Kaibab.

AZBORN · Aug 16, 2016

We applaud the tag holders in 2014 who made a decision to earn their buck no matter the outcome. Not thinking 100% success on a 200" buck was something to be purchased, but rather earned (there's a hire-a-guide frenzy that we see now with internet/social media).
The 2014 hunters (res & non-res)who woke up on their own without someone slapping the tent door. Who made their own breakfast. Who jumped into the driver seat of the truck, not the backseat... and set out to do something significant each day...and left the outcome to GOD. Many of you scored big, even though the guide camps thought they were monitoring the units success. Many of you tried hard on your own. We applaud you and respect you for your effort. Its YOUR hunting storied we want to hear.

azhuntin · Aug 16, 2016

Congrats on a great buck PLK! Don't pay attention to AZBOZO, who obviously has some issues.

PLK · Aug 16, 2016

Thanks for the kind words. Contrary to some of the earlier posts, I did not have a posse of guides looking for a buck for me. I hunted DIY in Idaho last year and killed a 180+ buck and I'm hunting DIY in Colorado this year also. Sometimes you just have to know your limitations based upon time restraints and distance from home etc. I'm a fly fishing guide and I take people fishing all the time who can catch fish on their own but really enjoy a day with a guide to shorten the learning curve and don't have a week to learn where all the big fish are and what fly they are taking. If I am lucky enough to ever draw 12b west late again I probably would go DIY but I have no regrets of going guided in 2014. To each their own.

AZBORN · Aug 16, 2016

PLK No hard feelings. I don't know you. I never mentioned you at all in my post. However I did acknowledge others, and in a back handed way it was obvious I was referring to your post. I apologize. You are probably a good person, seeing as you are a hunter / fisherman. But, me and all the guys I know here in AZ don't have to like how you chose to hunt. Only because it effects all of us in a negative way. The pressure on the monster muleys has become excessive in recent times. Making it harder and harder for the DIY guys (majority of hunters) to locate a 190+ buck. You validated that reality by informing us that the only good bucks went to guides and paying clients that year.
Simi-local guides with very local helpers live on top of the deer year round. They take pics and give them names. The pressure is on the guides because they have people giving them a lot of money to do that. The bigger bucks can't stand this pressure forever and the hunt quality is worse now than ever. Its TRUE.
We are losing the quantity of giant bucks in AZ. Don't compare it to a fishing guide. Monster Bucks are not "caught and released"

muleybull · Aug 27, 2016

Some good info, but be careful of it. If you have 12BW and not the full 12B unit then some of this info will put you in the wrong unit.

12BW is outside the forest boundary in mainly low lying country. You wont see as many migrating deer from Utah in the west hunt. Not to say it doesn't happen, but a majority of these deer are in the main 12B unit.

You'll be hunting a lot of resident bucks, with a few that make the trip to search for does when the rut kicks in.

My personal feeling on this, don't get too caught up in score. When you see a buck that turns your crank, then that's your buck.

If your a score guy, then there are definitely some good scoring bucks in there. You'll see lots of deer, and lots of bucks.

I agree with an earlier post, don't go into Muley Crazy till your done! That place can ruin a guy that's going into his hunt. But make sure you check the place out, its awesome!

Good luck, post us up some pics and have fun.

www.muleybulloutfitters.com

azhuntin · Aug 27, 2016

Muleybull,

I believe your info is incorrect. If you have the 12b tag you can hunt the Paria plateau as well as 12bw, basically all the areas that have been mentioned above. If you have the 12bw tag you can hunt everything except the Paria Plateau, you can hunt pretty much everything west of the house rock Valley road, except of course the pauns in utah and 12a, 12bw has the migrating deer from utah and the Paria is low deer density with resident deer.