Here are a couple more pictures.
I heard the local rancher and outfitter Raftoupolis, runs 10,000 head of cattle in this unit. Black cows are everywhere and they were there last year and I think every year. But, there was so much grass and so many places to water, the range looked good to me. Many ponds must be spring feed, because they don't dry up. So many cow pies near water.
Met some hunters from Arizona who drew with 27 pts. They figured that most hunters were in their 60s, which I wouldn't doubt could be true...
By the way, you don't have to wait to hunt. Raftoupolis has a tag for purchase at a bargain price of $17k. THere is a trophy fee on top of that. He has some leases and chunks of private in the extreme northwest corner of the unit, but one thing I enjoyed was the complete lack of private property. You could go where you wanted, lots of roads and lots of fences. I believe the state bought almost all the private property and made it state trust land.
I like how the state manages it. It is a true trophy unit. Some of the bulls we passed were one year away from being great. I think the bull I shot could have used another year. There are some good genetics in there.
The deer seem to be on an upturn. Lots of younger looking deer and young bucks. Actually, was surprised how many deer there were. I am concerned about the lions when I stumbled onto two different lion kills and one was a good buck. Didn't see any big bucks, one good buck. A bow hunter from Craig has been shooting coyotes and that might be helping the deer population.
Eddie, if you read this post your picture! You got a big heavy old bull.
Will see if I can get permission to post a couple bow kills, big bulls!