Drew 12AW late. Post up some pics of bucks from there please

NMPaul · Aug 5, 2017

My son and I are going to do this DIY. He is in college so I expect I will be solo much of the time. Map is ordered from flatline.com. Open to any advice about if you would hunt there opening day or wait till last 5 days. Not sure If I can get whole season out there.
Also, plan on staying in Kanab, I know that is a long drive, but, used long drives. Any suggestions along those lines are welcome. Motels etc..

I understand this is a bit of a run and gun hunt. Locate groups of does and then keep an eye on them. Is this the game? Are there better ways to hunt the unit? Hiking in a couple miles to glass before daylight is kinda what we are used to, but, don't want to go about this wrong.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
BTW it took 19 points and my first choice was 12BW and got my 2nd choice. Seems lots of guys decided to burn points this year.

Codylee1985 · Aug 6, 2017

Congrats on drawing an awesome tag, with the hunts moved back a week this year you are in for a treat!
My biggest words of advice is FIGURE OUT how to take off the entire hunt!
19 years to draw, you want to take full advantage of your opportunity!
Find high spots and do lots of glassing, don't overlook the ridges dropping into to house rock valley on the ne side of unit, I've seen some good bucks in that country as well!
The ol lady and I camped up on the north rim last weekend and pulled some cams I had left over the winter in 12 b and we saw some dirty giants running around up in the high country! One of these days we will quit pulling elk tags and be able to do the archery hunt up there again!
Good luck and I look forward to hearing about your hunt!!!

NMPaul · Aug 6, 2017

Thanks Cody. I drew pretty well this year so have several tags. Been working extra right now to prepare for time I am going to be taking off. That sure gets me pumped up.

Santana · Aug 6, 2017

Congrats on the tag. I had that tag in 2008. Let me review my notes and get my thoughts together and I will pm you this week - stay tuned. In the meantime do what Codylee says and get as much time off work as possible. You definitely want to be in the field the last week of the hunt.

BOHNTR · Aug 6, 2017

Paul:

I have the archery tag......I'll let you know how it goes.....saw a few good ones on a scouting trip a few weeks back.

BOHNTR )))---------->

NMPaul · Aug 6, 2017

Last week is higher priority than being there for opener the consensus? Thanks. Thanks Santana for any input. Spent some time in other states if I can ever help you out.

NMPaul · Aug 6, 2017

Thanks Roy, I know you will do well.

IdahoBugler · Aug 9, 2017

Man what a fun tag. Later is better for sure but for me the early part of the hunt was just learning the area. Hunt from top to bottom. The year I drew (2010) we had a lot of snow but we still found deer up high. I ended killing a really nice buck on the second to last day down low. Focus on areas that are tough to glass from a high point. Everyone and their dog glasses from up high which you should too but... You can find areas that you just can't glass. We found some really good bucks in those spots. Good luck and have fun.

IB

NMPaul · Aug 9, 2017

Thanks Idaho. Some good advice and will definitely use it.

Santana · Aug 12, 2017

Paul check your pm

foundation · Dec 12, 2017

NM Paul. How did the hunt turn out?

NMPaul · Dec 12, 2017

> NM Paul. How did
>the hunt turn out?

Never saw a shooter. Hunted every day of the hunt, and 1 scouting day. I know several outfitters killed some really good bucks on the hunt, but, I never saw better than a 170 buck the first weekend.
I think the mature bucks were still in their hidey holes and I could not find them. Hiked into a lot of cool country, found almost 30 sheds, worked the high country a few days as well. I think some weather may have moved them out of their safe places, but, it never happened for me.

Honestly, I think with the same effort I put out on that hunt we could have killed a mature buck on a 0 point 3rd season CO deer unit. Maybe not a 200"+ buck, but, a mature 180+ and with luck maybe bigger. AZ will be about Coues going forward for me.

foundation · Dec 13, 2017

NMPaul sorry to hear that. I had high hopes about reading about your amazing hunt. I know the pain though, burning 13 points on a Colorado tag and never seeing a buck over 160.

Finding that many sheds, there is no doubt you put in the miles and energy. Thanks for posting the update.

NMPaul · Dec 13, 2017

> NMPaul sorry to hear that.
> I had high hopes
>about reading about your amazing
>hunt. I know the
>pain though, burning 13 points
>on a Colorado tag and
>never seeing a buck over
>160.
>
> Finding that many sheds,
>there is no doubt you
>put in the miles and
>energy. Thanks for posting
>the update.
Sometimes those hunts we burn a lot of points on can be a let down. Lots of pressure to. LOL

Tikka · Dec 15, 2017

>> NMPaul sorry to hear that.
>> I had high hopes
>>about reading about your amazing
>>hunt. I know the
>>pain though, burning 13 points
>>on a Colorado tag and
>>never seeing a buck over
>>160.
>>
>> Finding that many sheds,
>>there is no doubt you
>>put in the miles and
>>energy. Thanks for posting
>>the update.
>Sometimes those hunts we burn a
>lot of points on can
>be a let down.
>Lots of pressure to. LOL
>
X2 Lots of pressure you put on yourself, and in my case a few hunts were just not fun from self inflicted pressure...