rabidApache

We'll we went out and scored 2 sets of Elk sheds, this years drops this weekend. Not much else, probably due to over endulgance in brewski's the night before. LOL Thats OK, we went crappie fish'n anyway. Anyone else pick up sheds this past weekend?

Brian, Nope, as long as I have a tribal harvest permit, I'm good to go. The two sets of elk sheds we found Sat. a 6X7 and a dinky raghorn (all busted up) were of this year. The others racks, a last years set 6X6 and the rest singles. Also saw two great WT bucks. I killed them with my imaginary rifle, though. Dropped them both with one shot, amazing. Sent pix to Amanda, so anytime now yall will see the 6X7.

Well I didn't find the otherside to the 6X. But on a good note, while I was searchin my partner and I stumbled on another desent 6X7 elk shed. The set I would guess is about an average Dry lake bull ~340-60 incher. I didn't put a tape to it but I think I'm pretty close. Between myself and two buds we manage to pull out 3 complete sets of elk sheds (6X6) and other misc. drops from last year. 13 elk antlers in all. A good saturday killed. I'll try and post a pick.....Good luck Rackin!!!!!!

Went out shed huntin today, and pulled out 2 leftside racks. One was a busted up 5X the other a 6'er (172 in.) with about 6 in. broken off on the royal. To bad it was near the end of the day and after humping all day long up and down ridges didn't have enough go-go juice to do a good search. Will be back tommorow to try and hunt down for the other 6X.

dang!!

(76 sheds in 3 days!) Hot Dam, Brian! How did ya pull that off. I hunt for sheds often, that is almost 20 antlers a day. The best I've ever pulled out of canyon was 8 (2 sets). The eight antlers, together all weighed ~ 48 lbs plus my gear and not to mention hiking all day from sun up to sundown and trying to come off the Mtn. with noodle legs. Dang man thats great...gives me somethin to shoot for.

Couesarcher, Check out the base, usaully fresh drops have residual blood/hair at the base. Also the antler itself will have that shiny new look, instead of the dull, rough finish.

I got last years drops dated on the first weekend of March. I know a few shedhunters who were out this past weekend. Found only past years shed. I think this weekend I'll headout and pretty much scout for more bulls, definetly do not want to push the bulls out. Mainly just too glass and locate. Good luck...

Ture Dat....coues Killa I've crossed over past trails and managed to pick-up missed sheds. So close to path that I musta have kicked'em...lol. Tip: Hard white antlers are easier to see than brown sheds.

Couldn't take it no more, watch'n Eastern WT hunting. Anyone else?

I ain't trying to start up a ruckus between hunters. I'm with you, in that all hunters should stick together against the Anti's. I was just commenting today on hunting show (didn't catch the title) that aired earlier this week. Corn in corn out!! After I saw that, I did quit watching......

I'm a pretty avid archery hunter, have a couple of treestands in the garage. I just never really decided to try out treestand hunting. I think Patience is the issue for me. Can't stand to sit in one spot for a single length of time. Especially when you see more great coues country to cover. Coues country that very few have hunted. Most areas I hunt in is pretty arid. Unit D on the San Carlos rez. A few cedar and Pinion stands here and there. When stalking, first and foremost Scent control (wind direction) is probably the most determining factor in making a kill or not. Type of terrain, how many eyes are watch'n, can you even make a stalk. I passed on a few just because he/buck was bedded in an inaccessible spot or too many eyes. Archery huntin after or during rain can really help ya out, same for gusty winds. Down side is the deer may bed up in some thick cover.

It's early October, my bro and I (were a couple of Apache Kats from SC rez) had been watching a nice 4x4 buck feed and bed down between some Manza and bear grass. We glassed up the buck about 7am across a canyon. It took me about 2hrs just to get on the same ridge the buck was bedded on, but just in case we went over some hand signals and I went on. As soon as I made a visual contact with my bro and the signal was OK, I proceed to the land mark I had picked out. I had estimated that I was about 150 yds or so. Waited for the signal that the buck was still snoozin, I made my move. I noticed a small ridge between me and the buck (nothing but a clump of manza and brush from my view) and sorta a path through the manza thicket. I had a pair of Danner boots on at the time, too noisy so I removed'em and slipped on a old pair of wool socks that I carry just for that purpose. As I crept closer~ 90yds to the deer, I would stop as soon as I felt the breeze die down, bring up the bino's and try to find the dang thing. Look for the OK signal and press on. Finally pay dirt, ~50 yds I see a tine, felt like my heart was beating in my throat. Calmed myself down and focused on every step, feelin along with my foot at every step and watch the deer ,then take a step. Got to within 17 yds! And all I could see was the tip of his antler. By this time its about 90+degrees and stuck out in the open, waitin for a shot. Thats when I felt the wind shift, just enough and spook the buck. So, he jumps from his bed, does an about-face at ~25yds and watch my arrow sail harmlessly over his back. What a RUSH, I'm telling ya. Wasn't even bummed that I had missed, just being that close to the critter was good enough and with a shot to top it all off. Just awesome....Spot and Stalk the only way for Me............

I've had a good year calling and rattling for coues bucks. Managed to call-in a nice 3X4 and small basket racked 3x3. Both bucks were fairly young bucks. I used a grunt and the can on the 3x4, missed a 24 yd shot with my bow. Rattled in the other buck into easy gun range~ 80 yds. When I first spotted either of the two bucks, it was obvious they were in search of does. I would sneek in, use the terrain to cover my approach and try to get within 100-150 yd. The closer the better, pullout the CAN and give it a whirl while keeping a close watch for his reaction to the call. A dead give-a-way if it fires him up would be he would start wagging/twitching his tail and dropping his head. It actually made me laugh when i looked threw the binos and saw his reaction. At one point as the 3x4 was approaching he had tongue hanging out and licking his chops, Wish I had a video camera to capture the reaction, funny. Maybe next time.

YH, Most deer sheds that I've come across have been on saddles and open areas. Probably because its easier to spot an antler and game trails criss cross that likely spot. It takes alot of practice and a lotta luck to get good at spotting an antler, especially in thick areas. Many times all I look for is a tip of a tine poking through grass, looking through brush to see whats on the other side. If you get really good sometimes can spot an antler by quickly scanning and picking out what is or looks outta place.Most sheds I've picked up have been singles. Once I find a shed I usaully do a 360 search of area and move on. I kinda think to myself, if I were that deer where would I go. Maybe a trail, saddle, bedding area and maybe even an easy route through brush or terrain. This same technique I also use for hunting elk sheds. My best advice is to go out, wear out them boots and have fun. Great way to scout for next years buck!!

Hey Grim, A,B,and C are all great areas, just spend sometime scoutin scoutin them and they'll payoff in the long run. Chances are higher for taking a 90+ incher or bigger the farther you get back into the hunt areas. Pick up a map. Unit A above ~3500ft mazanita/beargrass and scrub oak with JP/cedar stands. The higher elev. ponderosa and oaks. Can be tough to glass upper area. Unit B Blue River and Warm Spr. areas pretty open grassy areas. Great oppurtunity for glassing long distances (1-2 miles) can cover alot ground. Unit C Same as all of the above. And again all areas are great spots, ain't none better than the other. That my personnel opinion. Obtain a map and kinda a get a feel for the areas. Should you decide to hunt SC good luck!!!

Hey New Guy, Are ya sure you have the right size biscuit for the type of arrow ya shootin? I've been practicing with both feathers and vanes without a problem, I shoot carbons. WB comes in two sizes carbon and alum. arrows. Also check to make sure that biscuit is set-up correctly. Good Huntin......

Most hunters concentrate their efforts on the Southern part of D east. Areas near Goodwin Wash and Goat Camp usually may concentrate hunters. It shouldn't be a problem. If I had a tag for the east hunt I would give an area called Ranch House and Poison Springs a try. Spotted two very nice bucks out there during my tribal archery deer. The area is pretty rugged, road conditions are descent, though it could be worse. The area is quite open, rocky scattered with pinion and manzanita. The higher in elev. the thicker it gets. Also don't forget to buy Lion tag. Very good chance to spot a lion.

As of today, I personnelly counted 4 different coues bucks chasing a doe for over a hour. I was scout'n the area between San Carlos Lake(Coolidge Dam) and Winkelman AZ, an area known as Unit D West. Plenty of bucks to be looked over, myself and a buddy counted a total of 11 whitetail bucks all day today.I can definetly say that the rut is or has begun in central AZ. I'm located near Globe, San Carlos Rez. Of the 11 bucks spotted today, two where well over the 100 inch mark, easy. Good hunt'n

Hello, new to the forum I've gotta San Carlos archery buck tag filled, finally after many many failed attempts. A descent 4x3 coues buck taken at 22 yds. Had plenty of oppurtunities trying to stalk within range of bigger bucks, just couldn't connect. Also had great time rattlin/callin in two forked horn bucks into bow range (10 yds), while I was in plain site, couldn't believe it. Good luck, and Good huntin......