5B south gets two "F"s ???

desperatehills · Jan 20, 2016

I don't put to much weight on the information printed in eastmans but I do subscribe and read the MRS. My wife and I are planning on hunting 5bs archery either this year or next. I have spoke with a few MM'er and the hunt sounds like a perfect fit for my wife and I. Enough elk to stay busy, not the biggest bulls but reasonable terrain for us to get one out if we get lucky. Why does Eastmans give this hunt two F's. I think the catagories were access and crowding. With 11 points we are not to far from other hunts but even with 13 points 5bs sounds like a blast from what I have heard here. What are your thoughts?

azbiggame · Jan 20, 2016

I would agree with Eastmans ... to many Roads and quads going where there are none and tags.Look to units with more square miles for better hunt.Good Luck ... Bruce & SilverGrand

brian390 · Jan 20, 2016

LAST EDITED ON Jan-20-16 AT 06:40PM (MST)[p]If you're a resident which I'm assuming you are, with your 11 points you would be really close to getting some of these better units in my opinion which are, unit 7 west, unit 8, unit 1, unit 3a/3c. These units are known for bigger bulls and for quality hunts. I believe with about 12 plus points you are guaranteed a tag in 7 west. You would be pretty much guaranteed a 3a/3c tag with 13 plus points. You would be pretty much guaranteed a unit 8 tag with 10 plus points. With 14 plus points you're pretty much guaranteed a unit 1 tag.

5b south does have a lot of elk but so do the units that I just mentioned. 5b south would have more pressure from hunters than some of these other units but it would still be a really fun hunt with opportunities. Do whatever you feel would be best for you and good luck on whatever you decide.

desperatehills · Jan 20, 2016

I am a non resident. Arizona has been a investment for a once in a lifetime hunt. I don't need a monster for it to be a great hunt. We have hunted in Oregon for years in over the counter units. Crowds can certainly ruin a hunt for us but we don't usually need to get far from the road to be alone. We hike a lot when we hunt but I have to be realistic. My wife and I need to be within a mile or so of a road or we will likely lose meat. I think most the units in Arizona would be so much better than what I am use to.

Here are a few things I am hopeful for when we come to hunt...

A nice camp. We will bring a travel trailer and our dogs. We can hunt from camp or drive a short distance and hike from there.

Reasonable terrain. My wife and I can't get a elk out of a huge canyon so no sense dropping in one unless there is a road in the bottom.

Satalite Bulls. I know they drive some people nuts but we have never experienced it. Having more than one bull around would be great if you are happy with any bull.

Seeing elk most days. We realize most the good archery units have around a 30% success rate. If we see elk more days than not we will have a great time, successful or not

I don't mind waiting a few more years to hunt. I am nearing retirement (4 more years) and think a Arizona elk hunt would be a great retirement gift to myself. I also think the points I have now will get me a hunt that would satisfy my hopes. Building points for years creates pressure, thanks for helping me make the right choice.

brian390 · Jan 20, 2016

LAST EDITED ON Jan-21-16 AT 03:53AM (MST)[p]Ok cool. 5b south I think you would be satisfied with a tag there. Good luck on your hunt.

I don't see why 5b south would have an F for access. When I go to 5b south I rarely run into private property or issues. Maybe someone else on here might know.

sagebrush · Jan 20, 2016

Only took 9 points to draw that tag last year. Start planning your hunt.

I would come a week early just to learn the unit and plan on spending the entire season. The second week will actually be the best this year due to the early start. It will be a fun hunt and way less crowded than an OR or CO OTC hunt. Send me a PM when you have your tag in hand.

"You can fly a helicopter to the top of Everest and say you've been there. The problem with that is you were an a$$hole when you started and you're still an a$$hole when you get back.
Its the climb that makes you a different person". - Yvon Chouinard

creed · Jan 20, 2016

I have hunted 5BS several times. There is overcrowding but you can get away from most of it. Most herd bulls are in the 280-320 class although there are some huge bulls taken every year. Lots of roads and many of them closed but nobody pays any attention to it. Access is not a problem and there are plenty of spots to put a trailer and be within reasonable distance of elk. There were several days I never fired up my Rhino but hunted from camp on foot. The terrain is generally pretty easy hunting.

Lots of elk and it can be a blast!

DonMartin · Jan 21, 2016

I wrote a story for the local newspaper a few years back where a Kingman hunter took a great 10x7 bull there on his archery hunt! He draws a tag every couple of years and usually does very well there.

He says yes there are a lot of people in there, but he hikes away from the roads and gets into bulls all the time. This year his young grandson took his first branch antlered bull there.

The average 6 point bull there is a 280-320 bull, but for a first time archer, I think that would be good for them.

Don Martin
Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

CAelknuts · Jan 22, 2016

I've hunted 5B South twice and 5B North once, all helping my son or a buddy who drew the tag. A buddy killed a freak 6 pt. archery bull that he thought looked too cool to pass up. On that hunt we saw a lot of elk including a bull I estimated at 355" or so (he was 40 yards from me but my buddy with the tag was a couple miles away). My son shot a 6x5 with his muzzleloader that went 334", after screwing up on a big 6x7 a few days earlier. Two seasons ago, son shot a 361" bull in 5BN, so I've been on 3 hunts in the 5B's and we've killed three good Bulls. All DIY. I love the 5B's!

While there are a lot of tags, we've encountered few other hunters, that's what walking away from roads gets you. The country is beautiful and gentle (we've driven the pickup right up to 2 of the bulls and could have with the 3rd), lots of elk, bigger Bulls than the reputation of the areas. Tons of bugling.

What's not to like?

cmbbulldog · Jan 22, 2016

Draw the tag. With what you are wanting out of the hunt, you will get all that and more.

desperatehills · Jan 24, 2016

I'm sold. I am sure I will love it. I may apply for 7 west on my first choice and 5BS as my second choice knowing I should end up in 5BS. The hunt starts on a friday so I will likely leave the weekend before giving me 4 days to scout. I hope to stay for the entire two weeks of the hunt. My wife doesn't have enough vacation days to cover the hunt and scouting time so she will likely need to fly down. How far is the nearest airport?

ruthunter · Jan 24, 2016

LAST EDITED ON Jan-24-16 AT 06:58PM (MST)[p]I've taken 3 archery bulls out of 5bs including my last bull in 2015. If your looking for a fun hunt with alot of elk and easy terrain 5bs is your ticket. Expect to see a bunch of bulls in the 270-320" range and an occasional 340"+. I've never experienced crowding to be an issue and there are plenty of camping spots for a trailer. Clints wells and happy jack lodge are both close to the Unit for lodging..gas, food.

dieseldog · Jan 26, 2016

How is the late rifle hunt in this area?

ruthunter · Jan 26, 2016

>How is the late rifle hunt
>in this area?

Fairly easy hunt but don't expect to kill a giant. I know multiple guys who kill on the late rifle hunt in there every time they draw. Expect to see a lot of rag horns and busted Bulls.

dieseldog · Jan 26, 2016

Sounds like about what im looking for in a late hunt.

devobrodie · Feb 29, 2016

I have hunted 5B S 2 x once on my tag and once with my brother, it was a blast, we saw lots of bulls, had plenty of opportunities but didn't come away with one(my fault), still had a great hunt, no issues getting away from other people, just had to hike a bit. I have also hunted unit 9 archery, the bulls are bigger there, but I think I saw more bulls per day in 5B S. I cant wait to get back!! As a non res it h=just got harder for me, but I still hope I can beat the odds and get back there soon.

Kelco · Mar 1, 2016

Phx Sky Harbor airport 2.5 hrs

desperatehills · Mar 2, 2016

Just waiting on the results now. I ended up going 5BS all the way. I put the 5B early rifle hunt as my first choice and the 5BS archery hunt as my second choice. I thought I had 11 points but actually have 10. It should be enough to get the archery tag but with the new tag allocations only time will tell. Good luck to everyone in the draws

AZtrophyhunter · Mar 2, 2016

My buddy just found a 380+ dead head in 5bs. I have the pic!!!

vmcfadden · Mar 2, 2016

>My buddy just found a 380+
>dead head in 5bs. I
>have the pic!!!
Pic???

RdRdrFan · Mar 2, 2016

>My buddy just found a 380+
>dead head in 5bs. I
>have the pic!!!

Tease

ruthunter · Mar 2, 2016

Desperate hills good luck on draw. I hunted there last year and killed a 300" bull. It was a tough hunt but I was in elk everyday. It's still my favorite unit.

desperatehills · Mar 3, 2016

Thanks Ruthunter, My biggest bull to date is a rosevelt that scored 288" and I got it in 1998. If I get a 300" bull I will be doing back flips and posting pictures here for everyone to see!

ruthunter · Mar 3, 2016

Desperatehills..if you draw and you need a starting point id be more than happy to help. Here is the bull I got last year on a tough hunt that just never seemed to get going as far as the rut goes.

desperatehills · Mar 3, 2016

That's great Ruthunter, I will send a PM when I have my tag in hand. That is a great bull, The only way I will get one that good is if its the first one in range. Maybe I will change my tune after a little scouting time but I don't want to be to greedy.

desperatehills · Sep 26, 2016

I just returned from my hunt and I had a great experience. I see why Eastmans gives this hunt a "F" for pressure. This is a crowded hunt. The weekends are especially busy with not only hunters but campers and folks on ATV's. I camped on the 82 road and had 50 rigs drive by my camp before sunrise opening day. With that said, I only ran into 6 other hunters while out in the field. I heard bugles and saw elk most every hunt. It did not matter what area we went to we found elk. I filled my tag on the 12th day of the season with my best archery bull to date. I would prefer fewer people on this hunt but who wouldn't. I would take this tag again any day.