peakandplateau

Hey All, Just thought I throw out another couple questions regarding hunting Coues in Northern Arizona. Being generally in another climate and altitude (along the Mogollon) than the rest of the state, I was wondering if the general rut dates or times are any different or earlier than in the southern part of the state. Also, I was wondering if anyone had any good strategies or experience hunting near or during the Full Moon during the rut. Thanks, J

Hey thanks for all of the input everyone has already shared!! It's all very helpful!! I believe my budget will restrict me from using guide services, but I think I'm a dihard D.I.Y. guy anyway. I enjoy getting out into the 'sticks' on my own and into the backcountry as it is. I feel I learned alot by observing whitetail behavior from hunting in Texas for nearly 2 months, but now I've gotta translate those experiences back into the environment here in my home state and within a much more diverse and massive landscape. Keep chiming in, I definitely like to hear everyones opinions!! (Honestly the whole time I was in Texas in 'the box on stilts' I kept dreaming of hunting here in Northern Arizona). Thanks, Jason

Greetings all, I'm new to this little forum here. But am definitely seeking opinions and tales regarding Coues in Northern Arizona in particular. I must admit that I'm a new hunter and the only whitetail hunting I've done has been in Texas (though it was NOT on one of those high-fenced deer farm ranches!). I'm hoping to do some scouting and hunting in Unit 6A/6B and do have a good general familiarity with the geography and landscape in these units. I've lived in Az all my life and in Flagstaff for the last 16 years and have spent a good amount of time backcountry hiking in these areas. I've noticed the Coues population density map that shows a dark red (medium desity) north/south patch that seems to run perfectly along the edge of the rim in that region. So, my question is, in scouting this general area, what really seems to be the preferred habitat of the coues in this area or where a good starting point may be? Pinion/Juniper zone, upper sonoran desert zone just below the rim, the pines higher up. Thanks for the chance to post in this forum! Jason