az_shooter

The game wardens are the one who suggest to the head honchos about how many tags should be issued per unit each year but the board gets the overall say.

HS - hunting/shooting LR - long range

Very true, hunting and hunting pressure plays a huge role in everything, probably the largest factor at that.

I also upgraded the rifle too, no longer shooting a 270 but that's a different topic, good luck on your scope and be sure to shop around, there are a lot of good ones out there.

I used to shoot a walmart special bushnell 3x9 on a marlin 270, killed my first buck with that rifle and a couple coyotes. Shot that scope for 5 years before I just flat got tired of not being able to see anything clearly past 200 yards. I upgraded to a leupold VXII 4x12 40mm and it made a huge difference (obviously of course). Great clear scope and makes life a lot easier when shooting in low light and longer distances. I had that scope on my rifle for a little more than a year before I really started getting interested in long range shooting and reloading and rifle building. So I upgraded once again to a leupold mark 4 6.5x20 50mm scope, won't buy another scope again, unless I start a new rifle project. Anyways what I'm saying is find what you want to be able to accomplish with your rifle and find a good optic that will support what your wanting to do and get it. People on here will tell you all day to buy leupold or buy vortex or zeiss but that fact of the matter is they are all great optics. So just find one that works for you and go with it.

Don't forget about predators, coyotes do a number on fawn crop in these southern units. I grew up in 34b and have seen the decline throughout life. There are many factors that are the reason for the huge decline in these units and I think you guys have nailed a good number of them.

Last year I let mine hang for a whole week. Just had the whole carcass (gutted and skinned) hanging in the shade under a tree before I butchered it up. Kept the bugs off and it was never cold enough to freeze at night so I didn't have to worry about it freezing and thawing every day.

That's my buddy Mike, red four door ford.

Oh, I just assumed it was a mule deer hunt. My girl friend has her mule deer hunt on 11/01 also.

Is almost here! I'm chomping at the bit for the rifle season to open even though I can't hunt until December. Love checking the page throughout to see what's hit the dirt so far. I can't wait until that first post hits. Anyone else getting a little impatient just wishing time would hurry up? Haha

Mocha, what mule deer unit do you have?

Great CWT, is he a 5x3 or a 4x3, I'm looking on my phone and the pic is a little small so I can't tell, looks like he's got a little nub coming in on his front to make him a 5 on that one side. Either way, great pics.

Anybody else have the first November hunt in there. I got my girlfriend and her uncle in there, if you got that hunt good luck to y'all and hope you can avoid the weekend crowds. Been scouting a few times this month and have already seen other people scouting every where.

Getting closer, can't tell you how many times I've organized my hunting pack and checked all my gear...

10's for quick glassing when going from spot to spot but 99% of glassing is on a tripod with 15's

Remington 700 in 300 Win Mag Leupold mark 4 6.5 20x50mm optic Hornady 180gr SST

Good luck charm is an old primos coyote hand call, always stays in my pack no matter what I'm hunting. Essentials is Copenhagen and baby wipes, I could forget just about anything besides glass and rifle (with ammo) and feel ok for the day. But if I forget cooenhagen the day is ruined haha!

I have the late nov and early dec hunt, I'm stoked, good luck on your hunt, leave some bucks for us left over tag hunters haha!

I have a 35B rifle tag, can't wait!

Those are some giant Coues!!!!! Just kidding, those are most defiantly mule deer, some decent bucks too, nice pictures.

Never heard of them, probably because I'm not from Phoenix.

Hopefully you have a rifle tag in that unit and if you do, hopefully you can find them again. Nice bucks for sure.

Where at?

Game & Fish always have good information on their website. It will give you a good idea on where to start looking and you can always improvise from there, good unit in my opinion, have hunted that unit since I was a kid, pm me if you have any specific questions.

I agree with 1970GTX, the fort huachuca 35A hunt would be a good way to go, good deer populations and beautiful country. I'm from that area and have lived here my whole life, I would be more than willing to come out and help you glass/scout for your hunt if you would like. Congrats on your retirement and hope your able to come and enjoy AZ soon. Thank you for your service.