Time of mule deer rut

[JimmyHat]

Hello. Thinking of trying some desert country mule deer hunting in late 2010. Wondering the earliest time the rut kicks in for mulies in AZ?

 

I know this can vary greatly from year to year and even unit to unit but I'm looking for generalities.

 

I've heard that some rut activity can be expected as early as December. How accurate is this?

 

I'm just now starting my planning so I don't even know what unit yet. If anybody has a suggestion for that as well I'm all ears.

 

Thanks.

[JimmyHat]

191 views and nobody has anything?

[FlyingW]

I hunt unit 27 which is mountain ranges as high as 9300 ft to desert country at around 5500 ft. For the most part the Mule deer usually dont start showing interest till around Christmas and the as far as the Coues deer it's the first or second week in January. Unfortunately 27 does not offer a December hunt, only January. I do have a friend that shot a nice Muley in unit 32, in the middle of December and that buck had was rutting hard. Your best bet would be to decide on an area and try to make a couple trips over here before the season starts as the rut does vary quite a bit from year to year.

[JimmyHat]

Thanks, somebody had recommended 24 to me earlier. I've definately got to nail a unit down.

[matthewp45]

Probably stick to the lower half of the state and pick some country that is open enough to glass. A good place to start is the game and fish website. They have each unit broken down and tell you where the best places are for Muleys. I know its public info and not secret spots but there are not that many archers out hunting as say a rifle hunt so the spots they have on there website can be really productive. When you pick the unit you want call the WM as well.

[denny]

didnt see any rutting going on until last part of dec. into last week intojan. unit 37