bullwidgeon

I know that units 34a, 33, 36a and 36b all got more moisture than they had last year at this time and they all looked good compared to last year. I haven't been to 36c lately but I would assume since these others all got rain then it did as well. Bret M.

I saw a clean 3 pointer with eyeguards that would break 100 inches net 3 years ago in late Febuary or early March, he was with a non-typical buck that would have gone 90-95 inches. They were in the Wilderness area hanging out with a bunch of does. I just assume the farther you go into the Wilderness area, the bigger the deer get and if you got into a good remote area with water during the rut it would be much like hunting them anywhere else in these middle ground units (21-22-23-24a-24b). I have seen lots of deer and quite a few smaller and average bucks not in the wilderness area in August and September. I think the gene pool is probably fine, I just think the wilderness area makes it hard to hunt bucks the way they can be hunted in other units, I.E. you are pretty much backpacking or Horsebacking in during December and not Car or Truck camping and then hunting from there. Bret M.

I am off to unit 27 in the morning to look for sheds and help a buddy tag a gobbler. I will post pics of any that I find if I am lucky enough... Bret M.

I am far from an expert on that area but I bear hunted in the mid elevation portions of the Sierra Anchas for a few days both in 2001 and 2002 and I thought in 2001 that the area held far less coues deer than it should. I saw about the same amount of coues last year that I saw in 2001. I was hunting near water that had been there all year both years. I imagine that country would be alot better during December though especially if the rut was trying to start. Something about 104 degrees and glassing lots of deer just don't go together. I did see a couple of bunches of deer go to water in the middle of the day (noon or so) which I thought was odd, I guess the heat makes it neccesary for them to drink more often though, I was not in the Pines, more in the Juniper/ Prickly Pear elevations. Bret M.

Allright quit being tight lipped, how big is the herd bull (bulls) between Globe and Seneca? I have seen the raghorns, cows, calfs and spikes that inhabit the area but never the bull (bulls). I think drawing that tag may be hard and the hunt might be harder because I am pretty sure that the herd I know about goes back onto the Reservation sometimes. It will be alot harder because it is December and there will no rut then so calling one in off the res would be impossible but I have to know how big is the herd bull in there? Thanks Bret M.

Both those units are great. Aravaipa canyon has hairy coues country on both sides (North side is unit 31 and South side is unit 32). If I were you I would take a trip there before you decide and go from there. If you can not find a deer that you like in Aravaipa, you have a ton of backup options in both units. The Galiuros harbor alot of wilderness area and the biggest 2 pointer gene I have ever seen. The Grahams have alot of really good deer in them as well. Good luck. Bret M.

Josh is wrong, WAYYYYYYYYY wrong!!!! Coues do not live anywhere near the pines. Coues can only tolerate mesquites, barrel cacti, pears, greasewood and saguaros. Sometimes when coues deer are messed up, they get into the oaks, but it is very rare. Whatever you do, stay away from the pines...STAY AWAY FROM THE PINES, ONLY CARP, ELK AND BEARS LIVE IN THE PINES, THERE ARE NO COUES IN THE PINES !! (and if there were coues in the pines they would be 42 net B&C inch forkies ) Bret M.

Have either one of you stopped at Red's Liqour Store just across the reservation line from Bylas? They have some pictures of TOADS in that place ! I am sure most of them are reservation deer or real close to the reservation deer. The tags are first come first served starting in January and the prices and hunt dates vary. Bret M.

I have used a .270 winchester Model 70 lightweight with 130 grian ballistic tips and a Leupold 2-7 scope, but last summer I got a new rifle. Now I shoot a Weatherby Mark V synthetic in .300 Weatherby magnum. I use 168 grain Sierra Matchkings and it has a Burris 4.5-14 power scope with the Burris Ballistic Plex reticle. Now I just need to practice the long shooting more and more and more this summer with the new gun. Bret M.