southern Az units safety questions?

[300 ultra mag]

I am considering driving down from Colorado and picking up a 36 B leftover tag. I was wondering if you guys could give me some safety tips as far as dealing with drug runners and UDI. I apologize if there is a big post on the subject but I have looked and found nothing major. I know the suthern part of the unit is closed because of problems.

 

It would be at least me and my dad I was thinking of bringing 2 hounds to tie at camp to wake us up if some thing fishy was going on at night. What else do you do. Camp with other hunters. Camp low in the deseert and drive up higher in the dark. If I hunt 10 or 15 miles north of the border would that make the hunt much safer. Or does a guy need to hunt further north to get the odds safer?To this Coloradin the northern half of the unit seems safer but maybe the deer are further south?

I typiccly hunt away from roads and walk a lot and glass a lot.But it seems to me that drug runners would also stay away from roads and we would be more likely to have a run in, in remote country.

 

When problems happen is it stuff getting stolen from camps, deer spooking or what?

 

I would appreciate any help it's hard to know how unsafe it is down there from 13 hours away. It's kind of like driving through a big unfamilar city you try to stay in good parts of town but you only know when your in bad parts of town when you are already there!

 

Me and my day have quail hunted Arizona a lot my dad went to high school in San Manuel, but we have never hunted coues. I have researched this hunt for probably 4 years and this is the year. We might bow hunt them in the rut and hunt away from the border. The gun hunt sounds fun though.

 

Thanks Gabe

[Outdoor Writer]

I know the suthern part of the unit is closed because of problems.

 

 

The closed area is in 36C, not 36B. It's the southern part of the Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge.

[Ace High Benny]

I have been scouting and camping about 2 to 3 miles from the border in 36B and, truly, I have not seen any disturbing activity but deer and beautiful skies at night!

 

BP has beefed up their operation. Be careful, be vigilant but, I'd say, don't be scared!

 

a) Camping in numbers helps.

Carrying a side firearm is a must.

c) In case you are pitching a tent just lock your sleeping bag / pad in your car when you are not there.

d) If your campsite is close to the main road (like Summit Mtwy. or Ruby Road) it is less likely that any unwanted characters will get into your camp as these roads are patrolled by the BP 24/7.

 

Ace

[300 ultra mag]

Thanks for the replies, I have done a better search of the site using the search feature and have gotten tuns of info and storries about UDA's and drug runners. I would still like as much safety tips as possible though. I would definetly have a pistol on my side.

 

With 800 permits seem like there would be lots of activity between hunters BP and UDA.

 

Is a hunter less likely to have problems hunting north of Ruby road instead of south? The road is pretty close to the border.

 

Thanks again, Gabe

[CouesWhitetail]

I know the suthern part of the unit is closed because of problems.

 

 

The closed area is in 36C, not 36B. It's the southern part of the Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge.

 

 

Tony,

 

Where can I get more info on the closure you are referring to? I must have missed it in the regulations? Maybe you can give me a page number or something like that.

 

thx.

 

[Mike S]

I think the closed area everyone has been referring to lately is in the southwest corner of 36B. It's been closed for a few years. I am unaware of any closures in 36C.

[Ace High Benny]

Now pard, forgive me for noticing but you are making too many spelling mistakes and asking "location sensitive" strategic questions...I am starting to think that you are trying to find out where there are not going to be too many hunters so that you can guide the bandidos through those areas. Is that it now:)?

 

Seriously, don't make a big deal out of it. Start thinking that YOU are within the boundaries of the sovereign country called the USA and that THEY don't belong here. If, G-d forbids, anything happens you be the judge as to how you want to handle it.

 

Further, I don't remember hearing about ANY clashes between the bandidos and the outdoorsmen in any unit. Am I wrong?

 

So, relax already!

 

Ace

 

PS: If you need assistance radio me at 16.47. I'll be there 11 /17-18 and for the hunt 11/30-12/2

[Outdoor Writer]

Tony,

 

Where can I get more info on the closure you are referring to? I must have missed it in the regulations? Maybe you can give me a page number or something like that.

 

thx.

 

Amanda,

 

My bad. I was thinking it was 36C but as someone else mentioned it's mostly 36B right along the border.

 

It's been covered here several times, but there's nothing new about it. It was closed in 2006!

 

http://forums.coueswhitetail.com/forums/in...hl=buenos+aires

[CouesWhitetail]

Tony,

 

Where can I get more info on the closure you are referring to? I must have missed it in the regulations? Maybe you can give me a page number or something like that.

 

thx.

 

Amanda,

 

My bad. I was thinking it was 36C but as someone else mentioned it's mostly 36B right along the border.

 

It's been covered here several times, but there's nothing new about it. It was closed in 2006!

 

http://forums.coueswhitetail.com/forums/in...hl=buenos+aires

 

 

thx....I hunted javelina in the southern part of Buenos Aires in Jan and didn't remember any type of closure, but I see from the map in the other thread it's a very small portion of the refuge that is closed. I wanted to make sure there wasn't any new type of closure there since I am hosting a women's javelina hunting camp there in feb...

 

[kwp]

I've seen quite a few groups of illegal aliens and drug runners in my days in 36b as well as the other border units and in almost all cases I've glassed them up and they never knew I was there. There was one instance where I spotted a group of drug runners right about the time they spotted me and they were trying to hide from me as quickly as I was trying to get out of there. Like others have said, hunt in a group, carry a side arm and be extra aware of your surroundings. Much of 36b has towers throughout it that use some technology to search for illegals. Many of these towers are manned by security guards. I've camped close to one of these towers before which gave me a little more sense of security both while sleeping and when leaving supplies at camp.

 

My uncle had an interesting story this last weekend in 34a. He and a buddy were hunting together when they were approached by 2 heavily armed BP agents. Apparently someone had called in seeing 5 drug runners with 2 armed escorts in the area. My uncle and his buddy decided to just sit tight where they were. Over the next half-hour, several more BP agents as well as the helicopter came into the area. A short time later the helicopter was doing low, tight circles in an area a few hundred yards south of them. A little later a group of BP agents came about 70 yards from them, in the wash bottom, with two men in handcuffs and 5 more carrying drugs.

 

Cell phone signal is spotty in southern arizona but make sure you have the appropriate numbers to report any suspicioius activity.

[BirdDog20]

Three years ago, our truck got broken into while we were hunting. They took my trail running shoes, peanut butter and bread. Fine with the pb and bread, but dang it, those were good shoes.

 

This year, I set up an extra tent and ran fishing line around the perimeter of the camp tied to aluminum cans and a couple of trip alarms. Fortunately with the New Moon, i don't think there was much activity this last week ... you can't see to walk at night without a flashlight which these guys are too poor to buy and/or wouldn't want to use for fear of giving away their position. I did see some very interesting things in 36B this trip though. You see the usual trash, backbacks, waterbottles, discarded clothes, etc. We happened across a very well used trail. Heavy plastic and some lean-to shelters built around some low hanging trees, I'd imagine in order to evade the infrared vision from the helicopters.

 

We usually camp high up, at the end of jeep trails. I had heard from some of the camps down low in the flats that the illegals were getting pretty brazen, walking into camp opening coolers, etc. Last year, I saw a group of 8 go through our canyon and over the peak when i was hunting in the afternoon. Straight up what I thought would be impassable cliffs. Funny thing is that the border patrol has sensors set up on a lot of passes which tips them off when these guys goes through. Talked to the BP the next day at the checkpoint and they had caught 6 and were looking for the other 2.

 

I agree. Sidearm is a must.

[200"mulie]

1.) Don't camp alone! or go by yourself!

 

2.) BP has beefed up a bit, but always be aware of your surroundings.

 

3.) You really shouldn't have a problem running into illegals/drug cartel. (If they see you first they'll avoid you. Don't want something going to spoil there plans.)thats my 2 cents. been pig hunting and couple deer hunts down there last couple years and never came acroos illegals only trash on there trails (sickens me)

 

4.) Good luck great coues country.

[Str8Shot]

According to BP Illegal activity is down about 70 % in the 36b corridors... Now that does not mean that there is no activity ... We seen a few this past year, while I was helping the guys out on the early hunt... The closed portion( to all including law enforcement) is in 36b is south of Antelope Dr. traveling east out of Sasabe toward the Tres Balleros road, this road will connect to the tres bellatos road and run out to Ruby road ... This is a huge transition area for both Coues and Mule deer ( according to locals I have spoke with in the past) ... This corridor sees a little higher traffic according to BP .... We always go in a good size party and for the last 3 years have had no major incidents ( came close once though)

 

 

I am sure the roads may be spelled a little wrong forgive me