Yuma Outdoorsman

I haven't been active on here in quite some time so I am sorry if this topic has already been discussed. I got an email yesterday about a new raffle by game and fish for mule deer, coues, and mountain lion. After looking into it more, it appears they've already done it for elk, turkey and antelope and will be doing it for bear, bighorn, buffalo and javelina. The cost will be $10 a tag and you can enter as many times as you would like. Anybody going to buy some entries? 10 Big Game Species - Conservation First USA : Conservation First USA

My brother in law dropped this guy at 75 yards this morning. Not a giant but he was happy to have him.

I didn’t get a tag and neither did my brother so we turned our attention to two of my nephews. I wasn’t able to be out opening day but my brother and his step son got to 150 yards of a heavier antlered 4x4 and he took one shot and dropped him. This was his step son’s first buck. On Sunday, we watched another 4x4 bed down and walked my brother in law and nephew into his bed and my nephew was able to make a great shot and filled his tag. Now, we have 5 adults with tags left to fill. 3 of them are able to hunt the whole time so hopefully they are successful this week. I can’t wait to get back out Friday afternoon and help out. I absolutely love the desert.

I would shoot it. Not a 180" buck but I would be happy with it.

These pictures circled the Yuma area the first year the unit opened up. The buck was killed by a local hunter and scored in the 190's and the trail camera was from a Border Patrol camera on a drinker. I know a few people that have hunted the unit and it's pretty brutal and requires a lot of walking. There is a local that used to fly a helicopter for the BP and he said he has seen some deer in that unit that look like what is shot at El Chapparal ranch in Mexico. Just absolute giants but it's a lot easier to get to them with a helicopter 🤣

This bobcat and I have had 3 years of cat and mouse. I spotted him yesterday at 60 yards. I took a couple photos with my camera that I carry with me on a tripod while hunting, thinking I had a slim chance at even getting a shot with my bow so might as well get some pictures. To my surprise, he obviously noticed me too but instead of running off like he did in previous run ins, he instead walked towards me and sat down at 55 yards. I drew back and centered between my 50 and 60 yard pins and I center punched his chest. He didn’t move an inch. He’s a beauty of a bobcat and am looking forward to having him mounted.

Thanks guys!

I haven’t been on here in quite some time. I got out yesterday and found this younger buck with a few does. Not worth shooting with a January tag but pretty cool to see. Been pretty slow rut wise this year.

It's all a difference of a opinion. We all utilized cameras different. When its 115 degrees down here in the desert, I don't have motivation to go out and look around the waterholes for animals. When we could use cameras, I had a reason to go out in the heat and atleast see what was in the area then I used October to "scout" and find where they were actually hanging out then ready to go for the season. There is no need to go walking around in August/September when its that hot and risk jumping or pushing deer causing them to run and over heat just so I could see them. I miss the cameras not only for deer but I saw so much cool desert life with cameras. It is awesome to see the desert come alive at night.

I've seen atleast 5 different posts on social media stating that they were using different hunting apps or following different sources OTHER than the Hunting Regs on AZGFD and those all stated that the OTC hunt starts on the 19th. There have been people arguing on FB on a hunting forum all day and people legit had hunts planned for this weekend. I can't imagine why you would use any other source other than the actual website. I thought something happened like this last year on this website where a guy used an app and it gave incorrect information but I couldn't remember exactly what is was. It is crazy to me to use any other source besides the actual regs though.

Do you have a video yet?

Looks like there was 1 killed recently. Hunting the desert just isn't as easy as shooting spikes off the side of the road in the mountains or sitting trails coming to and from farmland. The Kofas don't have either of that and the water holes aren't worth sitting due to all the rain that's been had out there. The bucks are in full rut mode out there from what I've been told though and it doesn't look to be slowing down anytime soon.

I saw a post made on HuntAz’s Instagram page. I am not trying to steal anyone’s thunder and I apologize if the hunter did not want any publicity but I think this is just bad butt that he shot this in a super tough unit and did not allow his disabilities prevent him from getting it done. Congratulations to him.

Has anybody seen this before? I just saw it on Instagram, pretty crazy.

I forgot how to find bucks so have become a nature photographer. Here are a couple photos of does I took my last time out.

Thank you!

Let them see me before I saw them. They hate that.

Depends on location. I talked to sheep guides scouting for sheep during the rifle deer hunt in the 40's units were seeing bucks in full rut mode back in first week of November. The bucks were full on sparring and getting after it chasing does. They were up where the sheep were though. I have been out twice this archery season and have seen plenty of does but only little spikes/forkies chasing them around so far. I don't think it'll be too much longer before the rut gets wide open and the big boys show up.

I saw this buck several times during the rifle hunt in November and my 7yr old daughter tried her hardest to get me to shoot him but I told her there was no chance I was going to. 🤣

Found 4 different 11 pointers and they were all with does. 2 of them were pushing and sniffing pretty hard. It was 29° in the desert This morning. Absolutely love it!

Great story and glad you were able to get Mr. Big. He is a beautiful ram!

I know somebody who bought a Non-Resident tag and when he hit “submit” at 12:01am, there had already been 1,000 tags processed. Not sure where he saw that number but that’s what he Said.

Dang man what a cool story! That is freaking amazing! Good job and congratulations again.

Sorry to post it without asking man. I did not know you were a member. I can delete this post so you can make a post and story yourself. I just saw it and was blown away. You kicked butt. Congratulations.