Jcubed

Nice pack. I have a longhunter guide and it has served me very well... Broken wheels you can find all your answers and more at kifaru.net/ and they even have a forum to ask questions and look at hunt reports etc.

Hunted that unit for muleys this year. Lots of access, even saw a nice wt buck. Beautiful country down there in southern AZ. Pm me if ya need anything. Good luck on finals. My big test is this Thursday for grad school.

Well since the general consensus is my deer tag is worthless...any ideas on where to find a mt. lion?

Well we had roast turkey two nights ago and turkey noodles soup last night. Tonight turkey and dumplings! I was actually surprised at how good the bird tasted.

Ok, sorry to keep you all in suspense but work has been very busy since getting back. Here is the story from my phone so please excuse some spelling and grammatical mistakes. The gf and I headed out late Sunday night for our three scheduled days of turkey hunting. The weather forecast said lots of wind and scattered thunderstorms for the three days. Well I arrived at the dirt road at about 3am and started the drive into the unit. From scouting I knew of a couple tanks where we saw tracks but just didn't have the energy to drive that far. So I turned off short at a road I knew backed up to one of the larger hills in the unit. Camp that night was set up quickly in the back of the truck and we decided since it was past 4am to just sleep in the first morning. Well we finally get up and get set out into the woods. Beautiful windy day in the woods. We hiked through the flats trying to find the elusive turkey with no luck. After a big loop of hiking the gf wasn't feeling very well so we called it a day and headed back to the truck. At the truck we decided we needed to get some aspirin for her (I forgot it) and change locations. Well as we were driving out I saw something in the mud and got out to look. Sure enough relatively fresh tracks right on the road near where we were camped. It was the best sign we had seen, even better than the tracks at the tanks during scouting. Thus the decision was made...into town for the supplies and then back to the same camp. About dusk that night I went for a quick hike up the mountain and saw a few objects out of my peripheral vision run up the mountain. I didn't get a good look but thought they may have been turkey. I hiked back to camp and relayed the news to my hunting partner...she was excited even though she didn't feel well. I asked if she wanted to go home but she was adamant that we stay and hunt. Day two we awaken to rain, thunder, and the gf really not feeling well. So we decide to do the unthinkable and drive on some roads and see if we can find any other sign or even hear any shots (haven't heard anything so far). Well luckily this was our decision as we were hit by hail and rain off and on all day. About four we get back to camp and I decide to head out and Mina decides to come with and I show her where I thought I saw the turkey. Well we continue to hike up the mountain and as dark is setting in I hear large wing beats going into a tree up the ridge. We decide to wake up before dawn and head up to the trees we thought the turkey were in, needless to say we were excited. Day 3 Well, our alarm died in the night and I open my eyes to 624am and the sun shining bright all around us. Needless to say I'm disappointed as I think that morning was our best opportunity at a turkey. Well we decide to go hiking anyway and start climbing the hill where we heard the turkey. Well as we are climbing the elk are bugling like crazy. It was the girlfriends first time hearing this so we decide to try and find them. As we are heading towards the bugles we see a big muley buck and about twenty does. Then we find the elk, in all we probably saw about two hundred elk throughout the morning. Well we hike back toward the truck over the mountain back to a meadow up on top and the gf says...what is that? Yeltsin over beneath a tree and picks up a beautiful feather. I've already passed by this spot and then she says there are tins of feathers and droppings here. Needless to say I went right back and couldn't believe my eyes. She had found turkey sign. We discussed it and decided we would go back to the truck for a good lunch and come back up to this meadow and just sit it as this was our best bet for the last afternoon. Well after lunch begins the hike back to the meadow. We get there and I set up some branches to break up our outline and get settled. The next few hours were awesome. We watched squirrels run through the trees and Chase each other. Then the gf squeezes my hand and three mule deer does and two yearlings walk right up to us about thirty feet away. It was pretty cool watching them feed and play not knowing we were there. Then I hear something like scratching on a screen door so I turn to my left and can't believe my eyes...turkey. My girlfriend is facing the other direction and I try to grab here but I can't reach...ah the agony. Earlier in the hunt we both agreed that if either of us were presented a shot we would take it. So I brought the gun up and put my sights on the first turkey and wait for it to step out from a downed tree. When it stepped out I squeezed the trigger and my first Arizona big game animal was on the ground. I watched as one bird flew into a tree and tried to get my gf a shot but it just didn't materialize. Needless to say we were both on cloud nine. Going into the hunt we didn't have any expectations of success but we had hunted and hiked hard and were rewarded. I really have to thank my gf for finding all those feathers and the sign. Without her and her amazing huntress ability we never would have found the birds. She is also hooked on hunting, camping, and hiking through the woods, smelling the smells and seeing the sights. I couldn't be happier. I hope this was a good enough tale of turkey amateurs in Arizona. We had a great time in the woods and I hope I conveyed just a bit of our amazing adventure to you the reader. John

Hey all...little update from the truck out in 6b. It's been raining off and on all day, even had a little hail. Haven't seen any turkeys but the bulls are screaming so that's always fun as the girlfriend hasn't heard it before. At the end of today we were sitting a ridge and I heard some flapping almost sounded like clapping. Figured it might be a turkey roosting so we walked towards the sound and I heard the same sound again. Not much but it was nice. Figure we get up there at first light and see what we find. Hope everyong is having a good one.

So, I'm having trouble finding an adapter to mount my vortex 15x50. All the camera stores around town have adapters but they are too thick to attach. Anyone know of something that will work? Thanks in advance.

Thanks a lot for the advice. It really is appreciated. We should be going up to scout so I will let you all know what we find. Thanks again!

Had that hunt last year and was lucky enough not to be caught in that massive storm that stranded many hunters. I found most of my luck to be had still hunting. The hunt is a tough one and if it snows heavily good luck getting anywhere in the unit. After the storm we were trudging through upwards of 2+ feet of snow. Did get our elk but had a lot of fun and saw some beautiful country... Good luck!

Hey all, As always love the site and all the great information. Not much experience with Coues hunting down south but was still thinking about picking up a 36A tag and spending two days hunting, probably on a Monday-Tuesday or a Tuesday-Wednesday (class and work obligations preclude me from taking more time off). I'll be going at this alone and I was just wondering if it would be feasible to get out and be safe doing it in this unit by myself? I won't have any family or friends available to hunt so I'll be going at it myself. Thanks a lot and good luck to everyone.

Judging from the skeptics on this thread already...I'm sure you won't believe this but my dad went out the back gate one day to take out the trash while my brother and I are playing with the dogs in the backyard. Just after the gate closes behind him we hear him screaming "GET OUT, GET AWAY, SHOO SHOO!!!!!" We think it's weird and he comes back in the gate and slams it shut and says there's a javelina by the trash can. Sure enough, we look over the fence and there's one right next to the trash can in the alley. My dad calls animal control and they tell him it's a common occurrence in Phoenix alleys and that the javelina will move on, no big deal. We live near Brophy in the neighborhood of Central and Camelback...go figure. Lots of coyotes up and down the Central Ave corridor too...

Hey all, I just recently purchased the Vortex Viper 15x50 and am looking for a tripod and adapter for them. I would like a lightweight tripod as I often hike in pretty deep and want to conserve the weight. Looking for something good in quality, reliable, and light weight. I've looked around on the internet but figured I would ask here to narrow down the search a bit. Thanks John

Thank you all for the replies. I will have to take a look at the Outdoorsman.

Awesome pictures and thread... THANKS all who participated thus far!

No tags again...

PM sent!

Hello all, I hope that your summer is going well and that all are staying cool! I have three weekdays off next week and am trying to find a place to backpack into and have a decent chance at catching some fish. I have hiked the lower end of West Clear Creek and have caught many smallmouth bass there but haven't been able to find the trout (I don't know if I've hiked up far enough at four miles). Places I have been considering are West Clear Creek Wilderness area (but trying to access the upper part of the canyon), Black river (this may be too far of a drive), Tonto creek, and Canyon Creek. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated and please feel free to PM me, if you don't feel comfortable giving this information over the open forum. Once again, looking for suggestions on somewhere to backpack into for three days, two nights, have a decent fishing opportunity, and test the new equipment out. Oh and I won't be taking a fly rod, I'll be spin fishing. Thanks in advance and if anyone is up to go, shoot me a PM.

Hey all, I hope your Christmas season is going well. I've been up in Unit 10 now for almost the entire season this season and have not see anything. Yesterday, I was just above Ash Fork and hiked with my dad about eight miles through foot to foot and a half deep snow without any luck. We also drove Hwy 66 just try to cut some tracks to let us know if the elk have migrated out of the unit or are still there holed up somewhere. Are we looking in the correct places? Are there still any elk in the unit after the snow storm? Any help would be greatly appreciated as I'm attempting to harvest my first elk without any luck. I'll be heading up tonight about 3 am for the drive up and hunt for Saturday and possibly Sunday (Sunday might not work as I have a final in surface chemistry, no fun there). Thanks in advance

A BIG thanks to all who replied! My friend and I headed up on Thursday despite the scattered snow forecast on the rim. Before the snows started we hiked a closed road off of the Rim Road for about two hours. Saw 7 elk, one of which was a 5x5 bull. It was great to see them and it really got me excited for my Unit 10 antlerless hunt in December with my brother. On the hike we saw exactly one squirrel but he was gone before I could call my friend over. We joked that all the squirrels must be by the truck. Sure enough, when we got back to the truck on the drive out we hit an area with a bunch of them. After a hike away from the road we ended up with two before the snow really started to fall. Overall it was a great day and thanks again for all the replies!

Hey all, A buddy and I are hoping to head out and do a little squirrel hunting tomorrow. Problem is, I have never hunted them and was just looking for a general area to go where we might get into a few. Any help would be greatly appreciated and feel free to PM. Just looking for a GENERAL area and thank you in advance!!! Also, how will the scattered snow storms up on the rim tomorrow affect their movements? Will the squirrel hit their dens and not come out thus making the trip an effort in futility? Once again thank you in advance and I hope everyone is having a wonderful fall hunting season.

Congratulations! That is a nice buck. I was going to pick up a leftover tag for that unit but work and life got in the way. I appears I will have to wait until next you or bow season to pursue my first Coues. For a first buck that's a great one, I hope that I'm that lucky on my first hunt!

Now that you menion it....a cheesecake contest sounds pretty good! I'll be the first to volunteer as a judge!

Went up to Wet Beaver Creek this weekend with my mom, dad, and girlfriend. Made the hike up the canyon and was pleasantly surprised at the beauty of the canyon. I never knew that the creek was there until I saw it on a game and fish map and decided to check it out. To make a long story short did a little fishing in one of the pools. I had three solid strikes but only set the hook once and caught a really nice twelve or thirteen inch rainbow. It was a lot of fun to get out, do some hiking, and spend the day with the family. On a side not...my dad and I got the itch to go fishing again and we were told to go to West Clear Creek. The gentleman said to just park along the highway (260 I believe) and hike down into the canyon and fish. Is West Clear Creek a good place to go fishing? Is his advice on where to access the Creek correct? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Jcubed So, my dad and I hiked in and had a great day fishing. In all I probably caught and released about 70 fish, mostly smallmouth, and that's a conservative estimate. I took some pictures of the fish and even saw about 7-9 bighorn ewes and kids at one of our fishing holes. Needless to say it was quite the experience to see them when we weren't even expecting it. Quite a thrill. As the day wore on our slogan for the trip became "All day" because we were catching so many fish. I'm still excited thinking about it! My dad and I still can't fathom why this isn't one of the most talked about fisheries in the state. It's late but I'll try and post some pictures when I figure out how to get them off my camera. I caught one really nice wild rainbow that made our day. Jcubed

Well, as expected, I wasn't drawn for the deer hunt I put in for in my elk unit. So, I've already gone through the list of leftover permits available and would like some input on which would be the best hunt. I'm looking at units 24A, 24B, 29, and the 36's. Which would be the best for just a fun hunt? I've only been on one other deer hunt here in Arizona and that was in 33. I'm want to scout before the hunt but am just looking for a unit with decent access and somewhere I might have a chance at seeing some of these ghost deer. Any input would be greatly appreciated and feel free to send pm's if you like. I guess I'll go with whatever unit has the most 'votes.' Thanks in advance

Well, my brother and I weren't drawn for unit 10 But I guess we will have to do with our two december cow elk tags and possibly a leftover tag down south for me... and my first archery season which I'm looking forward to! Congrats to all those who were successful and for those who weren't chase the quail and dove!