16A and other youth deer hunts

My 16 year old son has enough points for these hunts (7 non-resident), but I am not sure how good they are anymore. We are debating upon waiting a few more years and having him hunt the late desert muzzy hunt or hunting a junior hunt in 2016. Anyone have any info on how the 16A youth muzzy hunt went this last year or two? Thanks in advance for any info.

Bill

I wouldn't waste your points on 16a honestly. I live in the unit and spend alot of time in it. There just are not alot of deer anymore. I have two friends with kids who have had the muzzy hunt the last two years, and neither of them had a real enjoyable hunt or saw many bucks and these are very good local hunters. The herd has been down for many years, you'be be better off looking elsewhere, especially if you are wanting a mature class trophy. Many of the general hunts have better draw odds and similar success as the youth hunts in different units in the state.

The best bucks that I heard were taken on this hunt were these two 4 X 4's and a few 3 x3's.





Lots of smaller bucks taken though. High success for the kid's!

Thing is this is NOT a trophy hunt by design, nor should it be!

This is a muzzleloader hunt that is designed to give the kids a chance to hunt in a non-pressured situation, and to learn from a parent or mentor.

Unit 16A is going through some tough times and the AZ G&F Dept. is spending a heck of a lot of money to improve the habitat and reduce the pressure by predators on this deer herd.

If you are wanting for a young hunter to get a boomer buck, this probably isn't the hunt to put them in for.

If you have a new hunter, who is just getting into the hunting game, or needs a little more experience then this is a GREAT hunt to go on, in my opinion!

Here is a awesome buck that was taken by a young hunter on her youth muzzleloader hunt in the 15's. Again not a trophy hunt by design, but she sure got a good one!



Don Martin
Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

I have hunted 16a quite a bit. I have given up on this unit the deer herd is way down. there are deer in this unit as Don stated above, but they are far & few between in my opinion. If you want your kid to see a lot of deer than this is definitely not the unit IMO.