Kaibab Bucks (BuraNut)
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HunterHarry
Long Time Member
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Great Pics!
I miss Bura.
Come on now, Let's hear the story!
HH
I miss Bura.
Come on now, Let's hear the story!
HH
D
dutch
Guest
Nice bucks!
T
triggerhappy
Guest
nice!
R
redrabbit
Guest
Those bucks will definitely put a smile on your face.
B
Bura Nut
Guest
One of MM's very own, Bacagrant guided that last buck. Gary Lane (aka bacagrant) found that buck wednsday before the season and we went in glassing for him for three days till I had to go and later in the week they got him. I will let Gary tell the story...........The first buck was guided by Frank Lopez and they shot that monster on the east side. Frank is an fantastic hunter, he always kills big deer/elk. We saw over 300 deer lots of bucks, couple of condors and had a fantastic time. There are a couple more toads killed that are on www.arizonabiggamehunting.com that I dont have the pictures of. Duwane Adams camp did real well on the early hunt and the late hunt should be fantastic.... Thanks, Allen Taylor......
A
archerelk
Guest
Man, those are awesome..... Maybe someday I will get my Kaibab tag.
A
AzHuntElk
Guest
I'm heading up to the East Side tomorrow for the muzzleloader hunt. Meeting Frank up there for a 1:1 guided hunt. I am hoping Frank can replicate the incredible results from the early hunt.
Wish me luck boys and stay tuned.....
Wish me luck boys and stay tuned.....
C
Chef
Guest
Great bucks there for sure! Thanks for sharing them with us Allen. Did you get Orlin's pic of that last buck? The mass and cheaters on that rack are nice!
Chef
"I Love Animals...They're Delicious!"
Chef
"I Love Animals...They're Delicious!"
A
AZbowhntr
Guest
It was great heading over and talking to the guys in Duwane's camp. I only did the map service and they were still very willing to help out. They run one heck of a camp. Duwane has been going to the Kaibab for 28 straight years and I would bet that there isn't anyone that knows the area better. I learned more in the few visits to their camp than I have in years of hunting on my own. It would be great to be able to tag along for a season.
The guy that shot that last buck was down to the last morning of his hunt. He had to be back to Phx. Thursday evening. He made a great 400 yd shot. And one of the other guys tagged out early on the east side and had bought a buffalo tag. He hunted buffalo for the rest of the hunt and took a real nice bull.
The guy that shot that last buck was down to the last morning of his hunt. He had to be back to Phx. Thursday evening. He made a great 400 yd shot. And one of the other guys tagged out early on the east side and had bought a buffalo tag. He hunted buffalo for the rest of the hunt and took a real nice bull.
J
jdbuck1
Guest
Incredible pictures !!!! Been awol from MM Ffor quite some time. Need to get back in the loop. Leaving for Unit 33 tomorrow morning. Plan on posting a pic of a nice coues.
Again awesome muley photos and congrats to all hunters and guide. One day I hope I get that Kaibab or strip tag.
Later JD
Again awesome muley photos and congrats to all hunters and guide. One day I hope I get that Kaibab or strip tag.
Later JD
ridgerunner
Very Active Member
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That's my kind of hunt, beautiful bucks, if I ever draw that tag there is only 1 call I'm making.
B
bacagrant
Guest
From the trunk of that tree to oaks on the next ridge. One great shot from Steve's 7mm Ultra. Droped him like a sck of cement.
C
Chef
Guest
It was nice meeting you up there Gary. Good luck on your guys' elk hunts. Thanks very much for your help. Got that pic from Orlin of you cleaning that bottom buck. That thing is massive. Good find and I'm happy to hear you guys connected.
You guys definitely know what you are doing. If anyone wants a monster buck and an absolute experience, give Duwayne a call. These guys are up at 3am hitting the prime areas before daybreak. Awesome camp too!
Chef
"I Love Animals...They're Delicious!"
You guys definitely know what you are doing. If anyone wants a monster buck and an absolute experience, give Duwayne a call. These guys are up at 3am hitting the prime areas before daybreak. Awesome camp too!
Chef
"I Love Animals...They're Delicious!"
AZBuckSnort
Very Active Member
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Really fine buck and nice shot! Congrats to all the happy hunters, bucks like those will put a smile on the face of every mule deer hunter.
jvgunner
Active Member
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great bucks,glad to see az is still kicking them out. hunted early hunt 12 a-w in 2003 after 7 years, me and my buddy hunted with no guides ended up with 1 small 4x4 and 1 29" 3x3. god i love that place, so with my 5 pts maybe ill draw in 2007 may have to talk to dwayne.
B
Bura Nut
Guest
CAelknuts: even without snow (if no snow falls) the deer have been moving down. Their forbs have been getting frozen with the cold temps and this takes away the nutritional value so alot of deer should be low for the late hunt. Hope you find a monster....... Thanks, Allen Taylor......
CAelknuts
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Thanks for that bit of information. We leave on Friday morning to drive down there to scout. Gonna leave the truck at a friends house and fly home to work next week and for Thanksgiving, and then fly back down first thing Friday morning.
Son is getting pretty darned excited, but he really doesn't comprehend what this tag is that he's holding...it is DAD who's really looking forward to this one. He knows he's got a really good tag, but doesn't realize how good that tag might be.
Son is getting pretty darned excited, but he really doesn't comprehend what this tag is that he's holding...it is DAD who's really looking forward to this one. He knows he's got a really good tag, but doesn't realize how good that tag might be.
B
Bura Nut
Guest
The cell phone service is a bit spotty but my verizon service worked well in some areas. There also is pay phones up at Jacob lake if you are just calling in to home/work to check in........ Thanks, Allen Taylor......
B
buncoboy
Guest
Buranut, can you bring some left over turkey when you return Friday! I am leaving this weekend, stop by camp. Same lic. plates as you!
CAelknuts
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In case we run into any of you guys down there, we'll be driving a crew cab chevy pickup with a camper shell. Sorta a tan color, pewter. California plates. I expect we'll probably camp down in the south end, but not sure where just yet. If you see us, stop in and say hello. We'll either have a pot of coffee or a cold one to share.
K
kast1
Guest
getting my stuff ready to go to kaibab for the late hunt with the man duwane adams, apprenticing for him cant wait ill post some pics when we get back good luck to all you guys with the late tags should be a good hunt
A
AZbowhntr
Guest
Let us know how it goes. I was thinking about doing the apprentice thing too. I'm sure you will have a great time.
H
huntinco
Guest
Bura Nut. Great bucks keep em comming.
CAelknuts
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The weather forecast indicates nice weather all through the hunt, which is too bad. About 10 days ago, they were calling for steady rain all day on Friday. It would have been pretty awesome if we could have gotten snow on top, but oh well, we have the best part which is a tag in hand. We're gonna make the most of the opportunity and will have an awesome time regardless of how it turns out. My son is very pumped about hunting for a nice buck.
We spent the weekend learning our way around and looking at deer. They appeared to be scattered all the way from top to bottom, and I got a call from the Game Warden a few days ago, and he confirmed that the rut hasn't started much yet. THAT is good news, hopefully it'll really get going within the next few days.
We spent the weekend learning our way around and looking at deer. They appeared to be scattered all the way from top to bottom, and I got a call from the Game Warden a few days ago, and he confirmed that the rut hasn't started much yet. THAT is good news, hopefully it'll really get going within the next few days.
K
kast1
Guest
well just got back from kaibab and the client me and frank lopez took out passed up a 180" the first 1hr of lite and several more from 180" up to 190" and saturday passed up a 210" buck what a nut he said would not shoot anything less than 225" never the less he did not shoot one saw a couple guys one with a 208 and the other with a 206 everyone still up there filling there tags
CAelknuts
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LAST EDITED ON Dec-03-06 AT 08:57PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Dec-03-06 AT 08:54?PM (MST)
I don't know if you guys were hunting on the west or east side, but if he was on the east and passed any of those bucks, he made a major mistake. Heck, from what we learned, he made a big mistake even if he was hunting on the west side.
We just got back home this afternoon from hunting on the east side, and it was very tough hunting. My son killed the only good buck we saw, on Friday, the afternoon of our 7th day of hunting. Up through noon on Saturday, there were only a few, and I do mean VERY FEW, large bucks checked in from the east side.
Duwane Adams' guides had a hunter who shot a buck the first morning, that a lady had missed 4 times earlier that morning, I'm told that buck scored 195 or so. His other hunter was still hunting when we left yesterday morning. The other guided hunters we encountered either had medium to small bucks, or were still hunting. Most of the bucks shot were 2 1/2-3 1/2 year old deer. We were also told that one hunter shot a 23" wide buck that grossed upper 180's. We saw a couple nice bucks in one camp that a couple young hunters in their early twenties had shot, one was about a 24-25" wide 5x5 with nice mass, and the other was a 28" 6x4. We only saw one other buck killed that was even close to those and he was a 5x4 that was 24-25" wide. That buck was shot by a client of a guide who was from Idaho, working for an Arizona outfitter, but I don't know which one. It was a nice buck, and especially for a Saturday morning deer.
I'll try to give a more detailed account of what we saw a bit later, and will post some pics. My son's buck was a 6 or 7 year old buck, according to the biologist at the check station. He was a 25 1/2" 4x4 with a couple small trash points and really neat main beams that curved downward toward the ends, and went out past the front of his nose. He grossed 188 and change. He was the only buck we saw that was more than a 2 or 3 year old buck. Tough hunt.
I don't know if you guys were hunting on the west or east side, but if he was on the east and passed any of those bucks, he made a major mistake. Heck, from what we learned, he made a big mistake even if he was hunting on the west side.
We just got back home this afternoon from hunting on the east side, and it was very tough hunting. My son killed the only good buck we saw, on Friday, the afternoon of our 7th day of hunting. Up through noon on Saturday, there were only a few, and I do mean VERY FEW, large bucks checked in from the east side.
Duwane Adams' guides had a hunter who shot a buck the first morning, that a lady had missed 4 times earlier that morning, I'm told that buck scored 195 or so. His other hunter was still hunting when we left yesterday morning. The other guided hunters we encountered either had medium to small bucks, or were still hunting. Most of the bucks shot were 2 1/2-3 1/2 year old deer. We were also told that one hunter shot a 23" wide buck that grossed upper 180's. We saw a couple nice bucks in one camp that a couple young hunters in their early twenties had shot, one was about a 24-25" wide 5x5 with nice mass, and the other was a 28" 6x4. We only saw one other buck killed that was even close to those and he was a 5x4 that was 24-25" wide. That buck was shot by a client of a guide who was from Idaho, working for an Arizona outfitter, but I don't know which one. It was a nice buck, and especially for a Saturday morning deer.
I'll try to give a more detailed account of what we saw a bit later, and will post some pics. My son's buck was a 6 or 7 year old buck, according to the biologist at the check station. He was a 25 1/2" 4x4 with a couple small trash points and really neat main beams that curved downward toward the ends, and went out past the front of his nose. He grossed 188 and change. He was the only buck we saw that was more than a 2 or 3 year old buck. Tough hunt.
Gator
Long Time Member
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Ca you hit it on the head those area's are tough hunts, alot of hunters are ready for big deer sitting under every bush, I haven't the pleasure of hunting it yet(hope next year) but I do know the mental mind set is very important to keep going are not seeing any thing for days and some hunters just don't perpare for it and are shocked to find no deer after scouting all day and start thinking Man I got one of the best tags where are the deer, It looks like you and your son was more the prepared for it you guys had a tough hunt but stayed focus and got the job done.
OutdoorWriter
Long Time Member
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I just got off the phone with Duwane. He said he saw more monster deer on the Kaibab this year than he ever has. And Frank Lopez saw one-non-typical on the west side that would have pushed 240-250.
BUT...other than the 195 from the east side, all his hunters killed bucks in the 170-180 range. Why? Because several of them were so out of shape or ill (TWO with extreme diabetes and one grossly overweight)that they couldn't go after the good bucks. One even passed out face-down from an insulin OD. Duwane said he was lucky he had a firefighter along who knew what to do.
Soooo...now you have the rest of the story. -TONY
BUT...other than the 195 from the east side, all his hunters killed bucks in the 170-180 range. Why? Because several of them were so out of shape or ill (TWO with extreme diabetes and one grossly overweight)that they couldn't go after the good bucks. One even passed out face-down from an insulin OD. Duwane said he was lucky he had a firefighter along who knew what to do.
Soooo...now you have the rest of the story. -TONY
CAelknuts
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LAST EDITED ON Dec-04-06 AT 02:05PM (MST)[p]That is interesting to hear about the hunter problems they had to deal with, but there is probably still a lot more to the story than just that. I will say that Adam's guides were some of the hardest working guys out there, we almost never saw them near their camp when we drove past it. They were always out early, back late and hunting all day. About the only times we'd see them was when passing each other on the roads.
After the big winds blew, nobody was finding bucks where you'd expect to, including his guides I'm sure. We hunted up 211 into the #####'s Combs and saw no tracks and only glassed up 3 does. Up the Saddle Mtn. trail, never saw a deer and no tracks. Up North Canyon trail, no deer or tracks to speak of. Before the wind, we were hunting to the north of the 631 road, and there were good numbers of deer in there, but the best bucks we saw were three different ones that were in the 20"-24" range. While glassing those deer, we could often see Duwane's camp, along with two others that were camped along that road in our glasses while looking at those deer. They killed that 195 buck out on the flats during the first hour or two of the season, basically out of the pickup. Most of the hunters were working the cedars or out on the flats and while guys reported seeing deer, nobody was seeing many good bucks. After the winds blew, deer sightings dropped significantly and the toughest part was that while we were seeing groups of does, most either had no buck with them at all, or had a yearling or small forkie or three point with them. We heard pretty much the same comments from everyone we talked with, plenty of does and young bucks, but no mature bucks in the 4+ year class for most guys.
After using the big glasses a bunch early on, we began hunting how and where some of the guys who'd finished early suggested as they were leaving. We started driving the roads through the cedars looking for deer, or tracks to follow. We literally saw almost no tracks crossing the roads, and saw very few deer. When we did find the buck we shot, he was found by my buddy who was sitting up high glassing while we were out looking for deer or tracks several miles away from him. He was able to get in touch with us and direct us to the general area where he'd seen the buck. My son ended up sitting in a good glassing spot in that area for about 4 hours and the buck came back, chasing a hot doe. After hunting all day for nearly 7 days, the whole thing took about 5 seconds from the time the buck showed up until it was over.
While we saw some mature bucks chasing does during the first few days of the hunt, this was the only mature buck we saw chasing a doe after the third day. We saw plenty of does, just no big boys with them. It was unfortunate to see that most of the bucks doing the chasing during the latter part of the season, at least during daylight hours, were forkhorns or three points. We got very lucky and found a hot doe with a rut dumb buck on her heels.
Duwane may have had good hunting on the west side, we did hear that it was quite a bit better over there, but the east side was tough for everyone, including his guides.
After the big winds blew, nobody was finding bucks where you'd expect to, including his guides I'm sure. We hunted up 211 into the #####'s Combs and saw no tracks and only glassed up 3 does. Up the Saddle Mtn. trail, never saw a deer and no tracks. Up North Canyon trail, no deer or tracks to speak of. Before the wind, we were hunting to the north of the 631 road, and there were good numbers of deer in there, but the best bucks we saw were three different ones that were in the 20"-24" range. While glassing those deer, we could often see Duwane's camp, along with two others that were camped along that road in our glasses while looking at those deer. They killed that 195 buck out on the flats during the first hour or two of the season, basically out of the pickup. Most of the hunters were working the cedars or out on the flats and while guys reported seeing deer, nobody was seeing many good bucks. After the winds blew, deer sightings dropped significantly and the toughest part was that while we were seeing groups of does, most either had no buck with them at all, or had a yearling or small forkie or three point with them. We heard pretty much the same comments from everyone we talked with, plenty of does and young bucks, but no mature bucks in the 4+ year class for most guys.
After using the big glasses a bunch early on, we began hunting how and where some of the guys who'd finished early suggested as they were leaving. We started driving the roads through the cedars looking for deer, or tracks to follow. We literally saw almost no tracks crossing the roads, and saw very few deer. When we did find the buck we shot, he was found by my buddy who was sitting up high glassing while we were out looking for deer or tracks several miles away from him. He was able to get in touch with us and direct us to the general area where he'd seen the buck. My son ended up sitting in a good glassing spot in that area for about 4 hours and the buck came back, chasing a hot doe. After hunting all day for nearly 7 days, the whole thing took about 5 seconds from the time the buck showed up until it was over.
While we saw some mature bucks chasing does during the first few days of the hunt, this was the only mature buck we saw chasing a doe after the third day. We saw plenty of does, just no big boys with them. It was unfortunate to see that most of the bucks doing the chasing during the latter part of the season, at least during daylight hours, were forkhorns or three points. We got very lucky and found a hot doe with a rut dumb buck on her heels.
Duwane may have had good hunting on the west side, we did hear that it was quite a bit better over there, but the east side was tough for everyone, including his guides.
OutdoorWriter
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Yeah, Duwane said he often saw a lot of CA hunters driving the roads or parked looking at maps instead of hunting. 
I hadn't even seen this thread yet when I called him. I was checking to see what he killed for future articles. Already doing one on the bucks they killed during the early season.
He indeed was on the west side with the problem hunters I mentioned. Even at that, most of them killed respectable bucks.
And if he told me he saw more big bucks than at any other time in his life, I believe him. He doesn't tell me tales; we've been friends for a long time and he's always straight with me. We did the Coues deer book together on nothing more than a handshake. -TONY
I hadn't even seen this thread yet when I called him. I was checking to see what he killed for future articles. Already doing one on the bucks they killed during the early season.
He indeed was on the west side with the problem hunters I mentioned. Even at that, most of them killed respectable bucks.
And if he told me he saw more big bucks than at any other time in his life, I believe him. He doesn't tell me tales; we've been friends for a long time and he's always straight with me. We did the Coues deer book together on nothing more than a handshake. -TONY
CAelknuts
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LAST EDITED ON Dec-04-06 AT 07:36PM (MST)[p]Duwane's comments about seeing big bucks were pretty much echoed to us by Todd Buck, the game warden. He encouraged us to put in for the west side in the future, indicating that there seems to be a growing number of mature bucks carrying over on the west side, more so than the east side.
By the way, Duwane actually helped out on our hunt, indirectly. I purchased a scouting map from him a couple months before the season. Some of the information that Duwane gave me contributed to us taking the buck my son shot.
I just got our pictures ready to download, so I'll get them on the 'puter and start a new thread with some pictures in a little bit.
By the way, Duwane actually helped out on our hunt, indirectly. I purchased a scouting map from him a couple months before the season. Some of the information that Duwane gave me contributed to us taking the buck my son shot.
I just got our pictures ready to download, so I'll get them on the 'puter and start a new thread with some pictures in a little bit.
K
kast1
Guest
i stayed with duawane for the first 3 days of the hunt i went out with frank lopez the client we took out passed several 180" class deer everyday then we glassed up that monster friday night then went back for him sat morning and the client passed on him we had him broadside at 100 yrds he was a monster for sure we hunted the west side and saw tons of deer proble 50+ a day and 5-10 being bucks
DonMartin
Very Active Member
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The late, west side Kaibab hunt was interesting to say the least. My hunter and I looked at 121 bucks in 9 1/2 days. Of that number, we saw maybe five good shooters. Others were dinks...
My other guide and his hunter saw lots of bucks too (mostly small guys) during the hunt.
Both clients got shots at bucks over 30 inches during the last two days of the hunt.
Big boys really started to show up on the girls after the crowds left and finding a couple of little "honey holes" with at least two maybe three bruisers really helped.
My guy ended up shooting 7 times during the hunt and did make a heck of a shot (400 yards) on a meat buck at 9:30 on Sunday morning as we were getting ready to head back and pack up camp.
One of the clients glassed up a lion and a number of lion guides were tracking lions all day (and night) during the hunt.
No doubt that in the future the Kaibab will produce some real bruisers...
Had a lot of fun on this hunt and saw tons of deer.
Don Martin
My other guide and his hunter saw lots of bucks too (mostly small guys) during the hunt.
Both clients got shots at bucks over 30 inches during the last two days of the hunt.
Big boys really started to show up on the girls after the crowds left and finding a couple of little "honey holes" with at least two maybe three bruisers really helped.
My guy ended up shooting 7 times during the hunt and did make a heck of a shot (400 yards) on a meat buck at 9:30 on Sunday morning as we were getting ready to head back and pack up camp.
One of the clients glassed up a lion and a number of lion guides were tracking lions all day (and night) during the hunt.
No doubt that in the future the Kaibab will produce some real bruisers...
Had a lot of fun on this hunt and saw tons of deer.
Don Martin
OutdoorWriter
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LAST EDITED ON Dec-05-06 AT 10:25AM (MST)[p]CaElk,
Looking forward to seeing the photos of your boy's buck.
The Kaibab is a special place to me. During the 60s, I hunted it nearly every year with my grandfather (Pop) who died several years ago at 93.
He always looked forward to putting meat in the freezer, which was easy back then because Kaibab permits were good for ANY deer. So while I roamed the ridges in search of a good buck, he would sit in one place where I put him and shoot the first deer to come along. That was usually a tender doe.
The Kaibab was also the first place where my oldest son -- now 44 -- first joined me on a big-game hunt. He was eight at the time and just stayed with Pop while I meandered around.
Although at one time or another, we hunted about every area of the plateau, we spent much of our time either down near the old Big Saddle camp (before Lady Bird had it razed!) or on the East Side Game Trail, not too far above the ranch. Killed my biggest buck within 1/2 mile of where the ESGT starts up the hill!
Don,
Sounds like you guys had a decent hunt, too. Way to go. -TONY
Looking forward to seeing the photos of your boy's buck.
The Kaibab is a special place to me. During the 60s, I hunted it nearly every year with my grandfather (Pop) who died several years ago at 93.
He always looked forward to putting meat in the freezer, which was easy back then because Kaibab permits were good for ANY deer. So while I roamed the ridges in search of a good buck, he would sit in one place where I put him and shoot the first deer to come along. That was usually a tender doe.
The Kaibab was also the first place where my oldest son -- now 44 -- first joined me on a big-game hunt. He was eight at the time and just stayed with Pop while I meandered around.
Although at one time or another, we hunted about every area of the plateau, we spent much of our time either down near the old Big Saddle camp (before Lady Bird had it razed!) or on the East Side Game Trail, not too far above the ranch. Killed my biggest buck within 1/2 mile of where the ESGT starts up the hill!
Don,
Sounds like you guys had a decent hunt, too. Way to go. -TONY
