Hunting Coues on Horseback

[bookcliffs]

I have a string of mules I use to pack in for hunting so I won't bother other hunters or find Snickers wrappers on the trail. Is there an Arizona unit that has a remote, or roadless, or wilderness area that could be packed into...that may have some water for the mules? How about the Galiuro Wilderness in unit 32 or maybe down south in one of the 36 units? I'd sure appreciate any help from some of you ol' salts that are on this forum. Much thanks. bookcliffs 4/2011

[DesertBull]

22,23,27,31,32

[Snapshot]

If you hunt down in the southern units, you will find much worse things than a snickers wrapper...........just sayin!

[bookcliffs]

Thanks for the info. I've hunted 27 for elk & muleys before the wolves took over. Seen a lot of elk and bear in Double Cienega and North Fork and also to the east in the Blues and the Bear Mountain area. Do you figure a good place to start looking for nice coues bucks is just off the rim in the primitive area? That seems pretty remote...anyone know any trails for access?

[Snapshot]

Thanks for the info. I've hunted 27 for elk & muleys before the wolves took over. Seen a lot of elk and bear in Double Cienega and North Fork and also to the east in the Blues and the Bear Mountain area. Do you figure a good place to start looking for nice coues bucks is just off the rim in the primitive area? That seems pretty remote...anyone know any trails for access?

 

There are alot of Coues along the rim in 27. The Hi-Line trail going west from Strayhorse campground is a good trail, but it is very thick in there, and not as easy for glassing up deer.The Sardine trail,and some others further south will take you in aways. Decent Coues country. The Red Mountain trail will get you into good country, all the way to the Blue.

[Snapshot]

Here is a pic from the Hi-line trail

 

 

A pic of Red Mountain Country

 

[Snapshot]

This is the lower end of H.L Saddle trail which is in the area of Sardine.

 

[Coach]

Unit 27 is made for that type of hunting. A local guy here recently passed away, but spent a lot of time in that unit packing in far from roads and he killed some amazing bucks, year-after-year. He found huge bulls and huge sheds, but always had something bigger staked out for next year. The areas he hunted, and his techniques aren't really a secret - he was just willing to work way harder and endure much more cold and isolation than most hunters want to deal with.

 

I don't know of a more "roadless" area in AZ than 27. The Blue River Wilderness Area probably has more game than any other areas in the state. Huge trophy potential, but as mentioned before, the wolves are taking a toll. There are good reasons this area has been considered as a possible site for re-introducing grizzly bears in AZ. Most of it is more-or-less inaccessible to humans except by horseback or pack trails, and let's face it. Aside from the boy scout troop here and there sticking to known trails, and a few die hards, most people don't venture that deep. It's true wilderness, and if you get hurt, you are a long way from anything.

 

For what it's worth, if you want to pack in there with mules and want someone to tag along, shoot me a PM. I've never hunted off horseback or mules but I've always wanted to.

[WadeNAZ]

Agreed that the Blue and other areas in Unti 27 is just right for this type of hunting. I have never done it myself and after hunting the unit wished I had some mules/horses. It has been years since I have hunted the Galiuros in 32 but could be worthy. And Unit 23 covers a lot of country from north of Roosevelt up onto the Rim. I am not sure what the needs are for water but there are no shortage of Tanks and natural sources of water in these units especially 23,27.

 

good luck.

[Santana Outdoors]

Welcome to the site? That sounds like a lot of fun. Always wanted to hunt the back country of AZ on mules. Sent you a PM.

[billrquimby]

In the late 1970s, when I still had horses and mules, I used to hunt west of Strayhorse across toward Saunders Cabin a lot. It was the only place where I've found evidence of a winterkill on deer in Arizona. (One year we found literally dozens of heads of big whitetails and mule deer in virtually every canyon from the previous winter.) It was a good place for bear, too. I haven't been back in more than 25 years, but it shouldn't have changed a lot.

 

Bill Quimby

[Snapshot]

In the late 1970s, when I still had horses and mules, I used to hunt west of Strayhorse across toward Saunders Cabin a lot. It was the only place where I've found evidence of a winterkill on deer in Arizona. (One year we found literally dozens of heads of big whitetails and mule deer in virtually every canyon from the previous winter.) It was a good place for bear, too. I haven't been back in more than 25 years, but it shouldn't have changed a lot.

 

Bill Quimby

 

Bill,

I have hunted(hiked) in that area in 2005. Its a good area. An outfitter I know told me that a hunter that was hunting with another outfitter, shot a Bull elk that dropped off into a steep canyon. The two guides went down to retrieve it and the hunter who was above them on the ridge was looking at them through the rifle scope and accidentally pulled the trigger. That particular spot is now nicknamed "deadman's canyon" A pretty sad deal.

You are right about the bear. I saw more bear scat in that area, then anywhere I have ever been in the unit.

[billrquimby]

Hadn't heard the story about a Deadman's Canyon. It must have happened after I sold my mule and horse. The last time I was there was a year before a major wildfire broke out just below the rim.

 

In my book, "Sixty Years A Hunter," I tell about losing a bear there. In addition to lots of bear sign, there were some really good mule deer and whitetails in that country in those days, as well as a few elk. I suppose the elk outnumber everything now.

 

Bill Quimby

[cw4192]

Revis Ranch in the Superstition mnts. used to Mule ride in there and pack out apples. You might see people but a ton of country back in there that you will not see people.

[bookcliffs]

Unit 27 is made for that type of hunting. A local guy here recently passed away, but spent a lot of time in that unit packing in far from roads and he killed some amazing bucks, year-after-year. He found huge bulls and huge sheds, but always had something bigger staked out for next year. The areas he hunted, and his techniques aren't really a secret - he was just willing to work way harder and endure much more cold and isolation than most hunters want to deal with.

 

I don't know of a more "roadless" area in AZ than 27. The Blue River Wilderness Area probably has more game than any other areas in the state. Huge trophy potential, but as mentioned before, the wolves are taking a toll. There are good reasons this area has been considered as a possible site for re-introducing grizzly bears in AZ. Most of it is more-or-less inaccessible to humans except by horseback or pack trails, and let's face it. Aside from the boy scout troop here and there sticking to known trails, and a few die hards, most people don't venture that deep. It's true wilderness, and if you get hurt, you are a long way from anything.

 

For what it's worth, if you want to pack in there with mules and want someone to tag along, shoot me a PM. I've never hunted off horseback or mules but I've always wanted to.

 

 

Thanks for the great information on 27. I've packed in for elk and set up camp east of Bear Mountain in years past. I think it was about about a 3 to 4 hour mule ride providing you had no wrecks. There was an old corral and a nice spring there and I'm thinking if we hunted south of that area it might be good country for coues. That would put it about 10 miles east of Strayhorse and a couple miles west of the NM border. That country had a pretty good elk herd and a lot of bear and I'm thinking far enough away except for hunters on horseback or some crazed young-buck that has a strong back and a good set of legs. Horseback is stickly transportation. They're noisy enough to push game before you see them or you can't get off fast enough to get set up for a shot before they're out of sight. Patience and glassing is the same. Thanks for you help.