2019 Kaibab Archery Hunt Report/Comments

The 2019 archery hunt is drawing to a close tomorrow so I thought I'd give an update and make some comments about it ? I know there many tag holders wanting to know how things went, and what it looks like in terms of the upcoming rifle hunts.

2019 archery hunt was a good one in terms of number & quality of bucks seen & chased. Conditions were generally dry, warm & smoky. Monsoon moisture was scant before and during the hunt which is unusual. Two managed wildfires that started in June were still burning, but didn't seem to affect deer ? although there were large areas closed to access that affected hunters, including a large area that I I like to chase bucks in. BTW since the 2006 Warm Fire (the ?Burn?), large numbers of deer are drawn like a magnet to it ? I don't see deer in places I archery hunted for 30 years prior to the Burn. A little perplexing to me because there's abundant forage & water & cover ? I'm sure there are deer in those areas but I sure don't see them like I used to during the archery hunt.

As usual, many bowhunters were in the Burn ? at times it seems like most tag holders are in the Burn. Puts a lot of pressure on bucks, but they just seem to move into areas where they can hide out. Given the thick cover it's easy for them to disappear. As usual I saw lots of hunters that just drive around road hunting ? not my cup of tea, seems like getting out and walking always puts me into good bucks within a ? mile of roads. I seldom see other hunters on foot off a road.

I scouted over July 4th, and then returned Saturday before opening day and scouted for 6 days. Plenty of bucks, including some real whoppers. Interesting to watch bucks move around as opening day got closer in response to increasing hunter activity and traffic. Plenty of trailcams on all water holes and salt licks. Clearly hunters were watching these areas closely. Saw at least 4 B&C class typical bucks and an 8x9 non-typical. Several guides and others were watching the NT and he was getting a lot of attention, too much attention in my opinion. Counted vehicles passing me on roads one evening ? counted 17 vehicles in 30 minutes. Ridiculous! And reports of hunters sitting on water holes 24/7, spotlighting, driving/surrounding bucks with vehicles and so on. Unfortunately it seems that success outweighs fair chase for some hunters.

Saw multiple big bucks (B&C 170 to 180 pts+) every day and hunter I was helping had a shot opportunity every day, just couldn't close the deal. It's a tough, but fun & exciting, hunt when you try to outsmart these big bucks on their terms.

In a strange twist of fate, 3 days before opening I received an e-mail from AZGFD that a Kaibab archery tag had been returned and I was next in line to receive it. I was already on the Kaibab scouting, but I'd sold my archery equipment earlier this summer thinking I'd probably not use it again (I'm 67 and trying to draw a Kaibab rifle tag so I've been trying to build bonus pts). Wasn?t sure what to do for a few minutes, but decided to decline the tag and let someone else enjoy it. Hope someone out there was blessed! Guess I'll see what next year brings.

I expect the early rifle & late rifle hunts to be good ones ? should be some big bucks to be found. Probably too many hunters will concentrate on the Burn during the early hunt. Likely to remain dry ?til Oct, but maybe some fall precip will come. Conditions could be similar to 2017, i.e. super dry.

I know hunter expectations for the Kaibab are high this year ? I've talked to a lot of hunters who believe this will be an exceptional year for big bucks given the abundant moisture from last fall, winter and spring. Based on what I saw during the archery hunt that may be true ? but as usual, hunters shouldn't let their expectations overwhelm the reality of what it takes to get a big Kaibab grey ghost. If anyone would like more info about what I saw during the archery hunt and my expectations for the early & late rifle hunt can send me a PM. Thanks and good luck to all!

Thanks for the great report Dan. I told you earlier where we would be camped on the East side, your always welcome. Look for two wall tents, plenty of food and laughs.With 3 of us with a pioneer license we're going to get there early and stay late. Thanks again Dan,Scott

Buy another bow! I'm 68 and plan on sending an arrow through a bull this November. My goal is to arrow a bull when I'm 70.

"You can fly a helicopter to the top of Everest and say you've been there. The problem with that is you were an a$$hole when you started and you're still an a$$hole when you get back.
Its the climb that makes you a different person". - Yvon Chouinard

I will be up there for the turkey season next month, also picked up an elk tag because I saw several last year during the deer hunt and pre scouting. I will post an update on the deer that I see maybe get some pictures before the rifle season opens.

Great Report..

My Turn..

I spent 5 out of the last 6 weekends up there scouting and hunting..

I think the controlled burns impacted both the hunters and deer more than I had expected. Since the burn was happening in an area where a lot of people like to camp (myself included) we were forced to other areas of the unit mostly the Burn and closer to the pavement. The mornings were better than the afternoons as far as deer movement. The hunt saw all phases of the moon so that impacted deer movement as well. All of the bigger bucks that I saw and chased were all in velvet to start the hunt and all hard horned at the end.

I spent a few days on the east side and saw some deer but not as many as the west side. However the biggest deer I saw was on the East side and not as many people.

The deer don't get that big being dumb, I enjoyed my time up there. I did not get anything but I did chase deer every time I left camp.

Can't wait to do it again next year!!

Thanks,
John

I had been waiting for a post on the Kaibab archery hunt, thanks for giving an update. I had the tag last year and it was my first time on the Kaibab. I found it to be really difficult hunting last year with the pressure but what made it even more difficult was the fact that it rained every day so there was feed and water everywhere. The game warden visited our camp a couple times and he said it was the toughest conditions he had ever seen up there. It sure was weird seeing so many cameras on every water tank and drinker. In all the miles I've put on hiking around the hills here in Montana I have yet to find a trail camera other than my own. It was definitely a different hunting environment than what I'm used to but I still had fun and its nice knowing you have a chance to run into a monster down there which I can't say for MT. I am looking forward to drawing the tag again someday.

Thank you for the comments. Awesome to hear first hand knowledge. I'm heading up in a couple weeks to scout for the early rifle season. Hopefully, I'll get some pictures to post.

Dan ,in Your opinion is there to Many tags for Archery. I killed a mid 180's last year on late Hunt with Duwayne Adams. I am a resident but hadn't been to the Bab in 23-24 years, was worth Grbbing Him for help Plus I am now 63. Even I get off the roads what ever I am hunting. Going to Colarado first of Nov. and plan on hiking in.To get away from road hunters. And yes ,the deer don'get old and big by standing bye the road. The one I shot onlt came out in a small opening 10 minutes before dark in a canyon away from the road and had 2 does with Him. This is in Prime of the rut. He was aged at 6 and a half. Allways like reading Your posts from yhere. In a few more years when fully retired I am gonna spend More time up there.......Thanks PS glad to see late tags cut by 25 this year............Largebull.!