Mule Deer Counties

Hiker of the Woods · Aug 10, 2019

What counties in AZ would everyone consider to produce the worst/smallest antler size even for older age class bucks?

Cactusbuck · Aug 10, 2019

LAST EDITED ON Aug-10-19 AT 02:36PM (MST)[p]It's crazy in Arizona. I've seen huge bucks in every unit I've hunted except 7W. And I bet there are a few there as well. It must be the combination of easy winters and tough terrain where bucks can hide.

Also, some units have such low densities that finding a buck is like a needle in a haystack (around Phoenix). So they have lots of land in which to hide. I've seen huge bucks in units that get pounded for deer.

Growing up in Montana it really amazes me here in AZ. I guess that's the price you pay for being able to hunt deer statewide in the rut every year. In Arizona, lots of the resident mule deer nuts save their points for the units with higher deer densities or late hunts.

My guess is almost every resident knows where one or two huge bucks live in their turkey or javelina unit. In the back of their mind they think, "One of these years I'm going to hunt that old buck." At least that's the way it is for me and my buddies.

Hiker of the Woods · Aug 10, 2019

Thank you for the info CB.

Hiker of the Woods · Aug 11, 2019

The 3 counties that I came up with using B&C and P&Y records for Mule Deer in AZ are "La Paz", "Yuma", and "Graham".

I just wonder if La Paz and Yuma might be better since they hold Desert Mule Deer that can have huge racks. Does B&C and P&Y not have very many bucks from those two counties because hunters are not entering them or do they truly not produce hardly that many large antlered harvested bucks? Then there is Graham county that might not have many entries because of private land, reservation land, and all the whitetails.

La Paz County: P&Y average 167 inches. B&C no bucks entered.

Yuma: No P&Y or B&C bucks entered.

Graham county: P&Y average 158 inches. B&C no bucks entered.

What is everyone's thoughts on the top 3 worst counties for AZ mule deer antler size even for old age bucks? This is for a project I'm working on. Thanks for any help.

Cactusbuck · Aug 11, 2019

If anybody knows the answer it will be Jim Heffelfinger. He's an outstanding biologist for Arizona Game and Fish. His website is Deernut.com.

His email address is [email protected]. Jim loves mule deer and has a passion for helping others.

Bluehair · Aug 11, 2019

La Paz hasn't been a county very long.

Bluehair
Splitting my time time between the winter and summer range......
May you live long enough to cash in those preference points. Amen

BOHNTR · Aug 12, 2019

There are some giant mule deer taken in La Paz and Yuma counties.....several from the Kofa Range. Just because they aren't entered into the B&C/P&Y record books doesn't always mean there are no trophy deer in the region. I would also look into the AZ state record books (AZ Wildlife Trophies & Bowhunting in Arizona).

Here?s a buck taken in The La Paz/ Yuma region:

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

Bluehair · Aug 12, 2019

Nice! I crawled all over the castle domes and never saw anything close to that....but I was only passing thru the sand washes. What year was that?

Bluehair
Splitting my time time between the winter and summer range......
May you live long enough to cash in those preference points. Amen

BOHNTR · Aug 12, 2019

I believe it was 2014.

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

Hiker of the Woods · Aug 12, 2019

Thank you everyone for the help. I have a lot of phone calls and emails to do before moving on with this project.

Largebull · Aug 12, 2019

Bohnhunter, That is an awesome Buck. Was in Kofas 20 years ago helping a buddy on sheep Hunt saw some nice deer but not in Numbers. You gotta spend some time. Neat area............BULL!

BOHNTR · Aug 12, 2019

It is some neat country.....when I lived in Blythe I was always over there looking around....seen a few giants.....and some big sheep.

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

Bobby26 · Aug 14, 2019

I have hunted the La Paz county unit between Parker and Salome, I have also spent time glassing the ranges by Brenda and I have seen and taken a few nice bucks in these areas through the years. Just this last year I was hunting a big bodied wide framed buck in the Plamosa mountians area. You can have great success if you spend alot of time scouting and glassing the big bucks are rarely seen during light hours.

Hunt4more · Oct 28, 2019

I remember seeing that buck about 5 years ago. Was that buck shot of reservation or military ground?

BOHNTR · Oct 29, 2019

>I remember seeing that buck about
>5 years ago. Was that
>buck shot of reservation or
>military ground?

Neither. Kofa National Wildlife Refuge.....which you are allowed to hunt.

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

Bluehair · Oct 29, 2019

I can see one coming off the YPG which is right next door. Fascinating place to watch at night.

Bluehair
Splitting my time time between the winter and summer range......
May you live long enough to cash in those preference points. Amen