Snapshot

That is a great story and a super nice buck ! Gotta love that unit 27. I have been skunked on gettin a tag there since 2003, maybe next year. Scott is a great guy and is a definitely a " Super Coues" hunter, especially in unit 27.

That is definetly a nice buck, especially for 34B. Packing in that spike camp was a great idea and paid off well. Way to go!

2 - 2 1/2 hours from Safford, approx.

Good luck on your hunt. I was supposed to be leaving for unit 23 today for my mule deer hunt. I found a nice 160" class mulie buck when I was elk hunting there in September. Unfortunately, a work schedule will not allow me to go on my New Mexico hunt, as I need what little time I can get off at Thanksgiving to help out on an HOAL elk hunt in Arizona unit 27. I was camped down by Pueblo park and saw those mulies north of there, but I did not see any whitetail.

I got mine in September at that little roadside market in Glenwood, $10.00.

Oh yes, our wonderful G&F department where the blind lead the deaf.(No disprespect intended to the biologists and WM's) In the New Mexico draw this year there were leftfover permits for my second choice, yet I received a third choice tag.???

I know what you mean. That is probably why those guys put up a raggedy ole tent. I see alot of guys putting trailers out a week or so before the hunt. Down here in southern AZ, nothing is safe anymore.

You took my unit 27 tag from me during the draw and you want me to show pictures as well. The nerve Just kidding. I have yet to shoot a unit 27 whitetail, although I have taken alot of mule deer up there I will post (as soon as I can find it) some pickups of a lion kill, a true 6 x 5 whitetail rack. Good luck on you hunt. No unit 27 tag for me this year, although I will be there the 1st of January chasin rutting bucks with a bow.

Check out this linkfor gutless field dressing.

Most of the bucks will be in the one to two year old age classes. The majority of the whitetail population is in the Whetstone Mountain range with dispersed groups in outlying areas. Area: One of the main problems hunters encounter in this hunt unit is access. The Cottonwood and Wakefield Canyon areas are locked off at this time. This means that the north side of the Whetstones does not have legal vehicular public access. Hunters need to plan their hunt accordingly and look at alternative areas. Access may be granted by contacting the local ranchers and obtaining permission. Be aware that you must abide by their rules while on their land so be respectful of their wishes. The area known as Ricketts Mine has also been locked off. This will prevent vehicular access to McGrew Springs, Middle Canyon, and Guindani Canyon. French Joe and Middle Canyon can both be accessed from F.S. road 369 at milepost 300 on Hwy. 90. For those hunters wanting a little more seclusion and fewer hunters I would suggest the west side of the Whetstones. You can access those areas either through the Las Cienegas National Consevation Arera off Hwy 83 or from F.S. road 779 off Hwy. 82 east of Sonoita. The area from Bear Springs north to Apache Canyon has some nice whitetail. Be prepared for some dense brushy areas in some spots and also some steep canyons. Hunters may also want to try the south end of the Whetstones in Mine and Dry canyons. To get to Mine Canyon take the Sand Ranch Road from Highway 82 and follow the road west to Forest Service property. The road turns north just east of the ranch and onto Forest Service property. Remember that any land not on forest is private in this area and obey all postings unless you obtain permission from the rancher. Approximately one (1) mile past the Forest boundary there is a primitive cut across road that will take you east around the base of the mountain over to Dry Canyon. Dry Canyon can also be accessed off of State Highway 90. Along the Cienega Creek can also be a good area for whitetail. In general the whitetail densities are low and the vegetation is thick, which makes it a challenging hunt. Archery hunters frequent this area in the winter. Summary: As you can see, if you are not familiar with unit 34B you need to obtain a Forest Service map to help you identify the roads and canyons. It is also a must for the serious whitetail hunter to have a pair of binoculars. They will help you find those hard-to-spot bucks. The first hunt will probably be pretty warm so plan to leave camp very early to catch the bucks before they bed down. Bedding will start soon after light if it is warm weather. The second hunt will be cooler but still plan on hitting it early. Those big bucks still bed early. The late hunt will have the highest hunt success because the bucks will be out starting to chase the does for the rut. The weather can be unpredictable at that time of the year so come prepared. Access is still a problem at the north end of the Whetstones so a pre-hunt scouting trip will help you find your way in. Don't overlook the Empire Mountain Range I have seen some decent deer in there.

2 or 3 blocks of ice packed into the chest cavity works well in warm weather. Alot of butchers will refuse to process game that is "funky"

Nice looking bull for sure! Way to go.

Here is a pic of my Unit 27 archery bear taken just inside the blue range boundary. I spent a few days looking for a decent buck and checking out some Elk areas for an upcoming HOAL hunt in November. I was glassing a couple of bucks about a 1/2 mile away when they got real nervous and then took off like their butts were on fire. I noticed something dark moving in the brush and then saw a bears head looking out. He then moved down into the canyon and I lost sight of him, as it was to far and close to dark I decided to come back in the morning. I went into the canyon and looked around for awhile and came across a waterhole (seep) and it was loaded with bear sign, so I figured he was watering at this spot. I set up just uphill and upwind of the seep, it was tough sitting there because the flies and mosquitos where horrendous. Almost like a ghost the bear appeared at about 5:00 p.m, he came in so quiet that he almost caught me by surprise. He turned broadside at 32 yards and a double lung shot put him down in less than 2 minutes about 120 yards from where he was shot. I am not very good at guessing weight, but I am 6' 2" and 230lbs, and he is bigger than me so maybe he is 300lbs plus? He squares out at 7' and is just under 6' nose to tail. I was by myself so the photo is self taken with camera/tripod.

Magnificent bull ! I hope someday I can draw on one as huge as that. Way to go!

Thanks everybody! I appreciate the sentiments. I do know that the older I get the heavier the packframe gets. It took me a day and a half to get him out of there as my sciatic nerve has been giving me problems, so I was a happy man when I got the last load up the hill.

Awesome bull ! It seems a lot of nice bulls are being taken this year. Looks like all the rains and good feed is paying off.. Way to go!

One word, "Incredible". !

Its true that the guys on this forum will do everything they can to turn you from the dark side of carp hunting. I have been a mule deer hunter my whole life, but since I joined this forum I get this irresistable urge to hunt whitetail. Never under estimate the power of the force!

A dandy buck! 3 minutes into the hunt is incredible. I bet it was almost anti climatic having it end that soon.

Brent Waage AKA - Snapshot Beer preference: Corona or coors light Soda- any

Thats great to here! I will be hunting mulies in 23 during the second rifle hunt, didn't draw my whitetail tag for the unit. I will be going over this weekend to start my archery elk hunt in unit 23.

Just more Illegals,smugglers and Border Patrol. We were down there last year and camped in Harshaw. Check out the canyons on the west side of the range Paloma, Provedencia etc. they run east to west and less activity than in some of the easier areas. Saw a nice bear in there as well, watched him for an hour as he walked right up a rugged road through the canyon. Saw a lot of bucks but nothing real big 85-90" was the biggest we saw but my cousin in law settled for a smaller 3 x 4.

Can I tempt you with a whole box of red paper clips?

I bought an autographed copy of you and Duwane's book, someday I hope I can get you to sign it as well? Someday I hope I can try a hunt in old Sonora and see what the hunting is like down there.

Great explanation Tony. It is very true that whitetail now inhabit areas that they were not seen in 20-30 years ago. I have a favorite unit here in AZ that I have hunted since the late 70's, and there are whitetail there that are now in areas inhabited by elk, which I never saw back in the day, some of these whitetail were up in the spruce and acted just like eastern whitetails in the thick stuff. I have also noted more whitetail in the desert regions starting to inhabit the riparian areas that you would only find mule deer in years ago. I remember back in the late 70's were a hunter got in trouble for shooting a crossbreed "muletail", during a mule deer only season, seems G&F were trying to determine how to clasiffy that deer? I have even seen whitetails running with mule deer in lower elelvations.