Not to hijack this thread, but last year I had two friends who drew an early rifle tag in Unit 10. Both were extremely disappointed at the end of the hunt, and for about the same reasons as Huntazido listed.
One hunter was in his 70's, lives in Kingman and had 17 points. He wanted a "Big Bull or nothing". Physically he had some issues as all men in their 70's do. He hunted with a mutual friend of ours from Nevada who is a guide and they saw lots of bulls; but none he felt were better than the one he had at home. So he brought his tag home empty. Unfortunately he will probably never get another early elk tag in AZ, even though he is a resident. I'm going to use his tag in my hunter ed classes to show kids that you don't have to kill something on every hunt to have a successful hunting experience.
He was and is still adamant that he had a good hunt!
Second friend is a real DIY guy, also from Kingman who drew with 10 points I think. He too wanted a big bull. He hunted with one of my friends who is a former guide, and other volunteers who agreed to help him out on his hunt.
He too has some serious medical issues.
They also saw lots of bulls on that early Unit 10 hunt, and he finally pulled the trigger on a 320's kind of bull.
But he too was not happy with the quality of bulls they saw.
One interesting fact of that hunt was that one of his helpers had found a 350+ bull and offered his long range rifle to him. Bull was at something like over 700 yards, and with time running out, no way to get closer.
The hunter passed on using the rifle, saying he felt that HIM taking the shot was in his opinion, not ethical. I say good for him!
Anyway, each year I see hunters who put tremendous pressure on themselves to bag "THE BIG ONE" and the true meaning of the hunt, which is to have a safe and wonderful hunting EXPERIENCE is secondary to bagging a giant bull!
Of course we all try and get our hunters on huge bulls. That is what outfitters/guides do.
But sometimes, for various and assorted reasons, it doesn't always happen. Missed shots, illness, unable to walk deep into the back country due to medical reasons, are just a couple I've personally dealt with in the past.
Bottom line, enjoy the hunt, and know the hunter and his guide will do their best.
Guys, "Size doesn't always matter when it comes to a successful hunt"
Good luck to the hunter here and no matter what he ends up with, it will be a "trophy."
Don Martin
Arizona Wildlife Outfitters