Here is my 02, IF you are a NR.
You are not going to live long enough to get into a position where you'll draw any kind of early rut tag for either rifle or muzzleloader!
Just check the stats, you'll see what BOB is talking about.
You can apply and draw a Unit 10 late rifle tag, but that is going to be a boom or bust hunt.
Remember the AZ G&F Dept. will tell you right up front that late gun hunts aren't by design, TROPHY hunts. Those are management hunts with the idea of removing elk, especially younger bulls, out of the herd.
Check out the pictures on this site of the young lady who smoked that 350 7 X 6 in Unit 10!
That is NOT the norm for those late hunts, but what a beautiful bull she got and that is her first bull ever!!
Most of the big bulls are broken up by the time that hunt rolls around, but there are always exceptions. And Laci sure did get one of those exceptions!
I talked to an unhappy hunter from Las Vegas a few weeks ago who hunted with his son with a "Big Name" outfitter this year on a late rifle hunt in Unit 10. He said they was very disappointed in the results of that hunt.
He said he saw just one mature bull and he was busted up.
Said the outfitter told him they had 9 clients this year on late hunts in various units and only 1 had even tagged out!
So.....
At this point you can roll the dice and hope you are one of those who gets lucky and see a big bull that isn't all busted up.
Best bet though is if you're an archer.
You are hunting close or in the rut and that's when a lot of big bulls get whacked in AZ!
Bottom line, you aren't gonna make into an early rut rifle/muzzleloader hunt.
So either go stick and string in September OR hope it works out on the late hunt.
Don Martin
Arizona Wildlife Outfitters
