Kaibab Scouting Report

rockymtnhunter · Jul 30, 2022

To all,
Just got back from the North Kaibab – 4 days of camping, scouting and fun w/new bride & grandkids. Did some quick scouting in the morn’s and eve’s. First, the monsoon has been good thus far – RAWS (Remote Area Weather Station) reports show 3-4 inches of rain during July over most of the plateau. Things are green and lush – water sources are full and lots of pothole puddles, so deer are scattered. Saw lots of doe w/fawns, generally 2 fawns/doe. Found deer in all the usual places typical for late July and thay look healthy. Daily tallies were generally 90-100 deer/day – buck:doe ratio looks good, generally saw about same no. of bucks as does each day. I would say antler growth is good to excellent, saw lots of 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 yr old bucks, lots of small forkhorns, saw some good 4-pts w/nice mass & point length. Saw 4-5 exceptional bucks including big non-typical (see attached photo) – I’d say he was pushing 30-32” w/cheater on one side. Overall, I expect a better than average hunt for archery & early rifle this year for those lucky enough to draw a tag.

If anyone would like to chat about more specific info, please send PM. I’m happy to share what I saw. Just wish I had drawn a tag this year. Good luck to all!

elkhunterUT · Jul 30, 2022

Awesome report and pic!! How many points does it take to draw the Kaibab archery tag for a nonresident? My 19 year old son has somewhere around 8 or 9 points and I think that would be a cool hunt for him. Any thoughts on that or other AZ deer hunts to consider for him?

Skykarp · Jul 30, 2022

That’s a dandy buck! Thanks for the report ! Feels like if we can keep this monsoon going and tie it into a good winter we could reverse some of the current trend. Would still need a few years of lower tags #s but watch out if everything lines up.

Deerdon · Jul 31, 2022

elkhunterUT said:
Awesome report and pic!! How many points does it take to draw the Kaibab archery tag for a nonresident? My 19 year old son has somewhere around 8 or 9 points and I think that would be a cool hunt for him. Any thoughts on that or other AZ deer hunts to consider for him?

I know of 4 NR's, with 8 points, that did not draw.

rockymtnhunter · Aug 1, 2022

I'm a NR and had 8 pts and did not draw. Given reduced tag #'s combined with NR limits, it's getting harder and harder to draw a Kaibab archery tag - took 2-3 pts just a few years ago. I agree it would be a cool hunt for your son, but it's uphill struggle to draw a tag.

elkhunterUT · Aug 1, 2022

Thanks for the info - I might start applying him for that hunt now and hope he can draw soon!

hullinphx12 · Aug 1, 2022

Thanks for the update, My daughter and sister have early west side rifle tags this year. I am planning on making a few trips this year. How is the area around the Magum fire from 2020? In looking at the maps it took out some pretty nice areas. How is the grass and tree growth in there?

AZ100 · Aug 1, 2022

Thanks for letting us know how it's going up on the Kaibab. I always like reading your posts.

longranger · Aug 1, 2022

rockymtnhunter said:
I'm a NR and had 8 pts and did not draw. Given reduced tag #'s combined with NR limits, it's getting harder and harder to draw a Kaibab archery tag - took 2-3 pts just a few years ago. I agree it would be a cool hunt for your son, but it's uphill struggle to draw a tag.

Draw reports just came out and looks like the magic number was 10 this year for NR and 7 for Residents

LIK2HNT · Aug 2, 2022

Thanks for another great report. Did not put in for the archery hunt this year due to to many personal things going on. Will have 10 points going into next years draws and should get a tag.

Rona · Aug 9, 2022

rockymtnhunter said:
To all,
Just got back from the North Kaibab – 4 days of camping, scouting and fun w/new bride & grandkids. Did some quick scouting in the morn’s and eve’s. First, the monsoon has been good thus far – RAWS (Remote Area Weather Station) reports show 3-4 inches of rain during July over most of the plateau. Things are green and lush – water sources are full and lots of pothole puddles, so deer are scattered. Saw lots of doe w/fawns, generally 2 fawns/doe. Found deer in all the usual places typical for late July and thay look healthy. Daily tallies were generally 90-100 deer/day – buck:doe ratio looks good, generally saw about same no. of bucks as does each day. I would say antler growth is good to excellent, saw lots of 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 yr old bucks, lots of small forkhorns, saw some good 4-pts w/nice mass & point length. Saw 4-5 exceptional bucks including big non-typical (see attached photo) – I’d say he was pushing 30-32” w/cheater on one side. Overall, I expect a better than average hunt for archery & early rifle this year for those lucky enough to draw a tag.

If anyone would like to chat about more specific info, please send PM. I’m happy to share what I saw. Just wish I had drawn a tag this year. Good luck to all!

View attachment 82527

Bob92057 · Aug 13, 2022

Great report! Love that area.

Joe2Kool · Sep 1, 2022

The way the AZ draw works, it's possible to draw in the 1-2 pass with no points. Obviously better odds with higher points, but every year, people draw primo tags with very few points Good luck!

hullinphx12 · Sep 6, 2022

I just got back from 12A, spent 5 days there.. Like most people have said the place is very green.. Water everywhere.. Deer everywhere up high not as much sign in the middle to low areas of the unit. I saw more turkey this year than I have seen in the last 5 years combined. Grasshoppers everywhere.. Turkey chasing grasshoppers in almost every open meadow I came to. I only saw a few bucks, nothing too big as I didn't want to impact the last few archery hunters up there. I will be back up there in Oct a few times before the early rifle hunt doing some additional scouting. Good Luck to everyone

SlowElk · Sep 6, 2022

I'm hoping to get up there for the junior turkey hunt in October. My grandson has a tag. Hoping to get him on one, and chase squirrels also. Thanks for the update!