Late Az archery elk ?

fin little · Nov 24, 2013

Why dont you ever anything about these hunts? Are they that tough or does everybody keep quiet because they are decent hunts. Im trying to decide between an early hunt on a unit I dont know well and a late hunt on a unit I know really well. Any success stories from past nov archey hunts on 9?

HullinPhx · Nov 25, 2013

Some elk get killed on these hunts every year just not a lot and not very many big bulls. This is due to a few different reasons. During November most of if not all of the elk are hearded up so that means lots and lots of eyes so trying sneak into bow range on the bull surrounded by cows is tough. Most of the bulls are broken up as well so that takes away from the over all score. During most years there are heavy rains and snows so hunting over water like in September is really out of the question.

John

Cavalier · Nov 25, 2013

Well said. Basically an extremely tough hunt....

azbow · Nov 25, 2013

The bulls head for the roughest, thickest country they can find after the rut. Pretty tough to stalk them within bow range. 100 times easier to shoot across canyons during the rifle hunt.

fin little · Nov 25, 2013

You guys pretty much confirmed my suspicions. My thinking was the late archery might be better than the late rifle due to alot less tags and alot less hunting pressure. Many years ago I took a bull off a late 9 rifle hunt while sitting water. It was a couple days before thanksgiving . It was the odd weather year for sure. So it would be better to hunt the rut in an unfamiliar unit say 7w than hunt 9 with a bow in nov. I do know a spot on 9 that will produce a chance reguardless of weather. I think.

HullinPhx · Nov 25, 2013

One other issue specifically to hunting in unit 9 in the late season regardless of weapon is when the snow starts to fly most of the elk head into the park where they know it is safe and have plenty of cover.

John

AZ8 · Nov 25, 2013

I had this hunt a few years ago in 4A. Probably the most frustrating hunt I've ever been on. Saw elk, but they were so skittish from all the previous hunts, I couldn't get closer than 100+ yards. Time and time again, the same results. Busted and the elk run until they're 3 ridges over.

I was basically wildlife viewing, carrying around a bow instead of a walking stick! Lol

I've thought about putting in for these hunts again, but my previous experience keeps me honest. Early archery for me now. Maybe someday I'll give it another try.

WapitiBob · Nov 25, 2013

LAST EDITED ON Nov-25-13 AT 08:52PM (MST)[p]I burned my points this year and have just the 2 perm points going forward. With so few NR hunts available in the 1-2 pass, I'm sticking to the late hunts going forward.

fin little · Nov 26, 2013

I think youve got the right idea WapitiBob. I will do one more rut hunt on a unit I can draw with 10 or 11 points and then head back to 9 for late hunts as often as a nonresident can in the next 20 years god willing.