couse hunting in unit 21

[buckmaster21]

hello im new to this form! i was just wondering if any had some good info on were to start couse hunting in unit 21 any advice would be much appreciated. thank you.

[JACK]

White-tailed Deer

Overview: Whitetail deer can be found in Unit 21 in a variety of different habitat types, from semi-desert grassland up to ponderosa pine. The majority of whitetail deer seem to use the typical whitetail habitat from about 3500 to 6000 feet in elevation. Whitetail can also be located in some areas that are not considered traditional whitetail habitat at elevations as low as 2500 feet.

 

There is a stratified hunt structure in Unit 21 that allows hunters the options of hunting in the early or late seasons. The late season hunters will generally find whitetail bucks starting to rut. During this time, bucks can be found on the move almost any time of day. There are very low numbers of hunters in the field during the late season compared to the early seasons, which can be crowded in popular areas. The drawing odds for the late hunt, however, are much lower than the earlier seasons. The early seasons can have other advantages along with better draw rates. Bucks can be much more predictable during the early seasons, as they are not on the move to seek out companionship.

 

Whitetail hunting in Unit 21 occurs primarily on public lands, free of access issues that affect some of the southern Arizona units. Tonto and Prescott National Forest maps can be used to identify roads that can be used to access good whitetail country.

 

Unit 21 is located near the Phoenix Metropolitan area, and is a popular unit to pursue mule deer in. It is likely that camping and hunting areas will be crowded during the opening weekends. While hunting whitetail deer in Unit 21, it is not uncommon to see mule deer using the same areas. Be certain of your target.

 

Areas: The areas below are meant to provide you with good places to start scouting or hunting whitetail in Unit 21. The areas are broken up into the three main land management offices.

 

Prescott National Forest: South of Camp Verde, whitetail can be found in the Black Hills. This complex includes Squaw Peak, the Verde Rim, and Pine Mountain. The Verde Rim is a large escarpment overlooking the Verde River drainage. Squaw Peak and Pine Mountain are both high points along the Verde Rim with elevations above 6500 feet. Drainages coming off of these areas to the east hold good numbers of whitetail. To access Squaw Peak, travel east from I-17 at exit 278 on the Squaw Peak Road (Forest Road 732). To access the Verde Rim and Pine Mountain, travel east from I-17 at exit 268 on the Dugas Road (FR 68). There are two wilderness areas on the Prescott National Forest in Unit 21. Cedar Bench and Pine Mountain Wilderness areas offer great places to pack in if a whitetail hunter wants to get away from most other hunters.

 

Tonto National Forest: Southwest of Pine Mountain, whitetail can be found in most of the country along the southern portion of the Verde Rim. Rugged Mesa is a good place to start. To access Rugged Mesa, travel east from I-17 at exit 259 on the Bloody Basin Road (FR 269) and travel north on the most easterly portion of the 44 Loop Road (FR 44). Hutch Mesa is also a good place to locate whitetail. To access Hutch Mesa, travel south on FR 58 from the Bloody Basin Road.

 

Southeast of Pine Mountain, whitetail can be found in most of the canyons that drain into the Verde River. The Red Creek area holds good numbers of whitetail. To access Red Creek, travel east from I-17 at exit 259 on the Bloody Basin Road and travel north on FR 16. This area can also be accessed by traveling north from Cave Creek on the Seven Springs Road (FR 24) to the Bloody Basin Road intersection, then going east towards FR 16.

Near the intersection of the Bloody Basin and Seven Springs Roads (FR 269 and 24) whitetail can be found in the East and West Cedar Mountain areas as well as the drainages between them and Tangle Creek.

 

North of Cave Creek, whitetail can be found in much of the country north of Seven Springs. The Cave Creek Fire burned much of this area in 2005, but deer have started to use habitat that has recovered from the fire. To access this country, travel north from Cave Creek on the Seven Springs Road (FR 24) and use a variety of short spur roads that go both east and west from the Seven Springs Road. Hiking a ways from the roads will decrease the probability of running into other hunters.

 

Bureau of Land Management: Northeast of Black Canyon City, whitetail can be found in some portions of the Agua Fria River drainage, such as Larry and Lousy Canyons. To access these canyons, travel east from I-17 at exit 259 on the Bloody Basin Road (FR 269) to the 14 Road (FR 14). Travel south on the 14 Road to FR 610 (the second large steel gate south of the Bloody Basin Road). Travel west on FR 610 to Larry and Lousy Canyons.

 

Tips: Using the very best optics in your price range will help you become a more successful whitetail hunter. Quality binoculars mounted on a tripod used systematically to glass whitetail habitat is the most effective method used to locate the elusive Coues deer. Spend most of the day out in the field behind your binoculars, not just the morning and evening. Deer are often located during midday hours, and are easier to stalk while they are not moving.

 

Pre-season scouting is not only a great way to spend time outdoors with friends and family, but can pay off when the hunt rolls around. Hunters who scout are not only more familiar with where the deer and deer sign are located, but are also more familiar with roads used to access areas and the lay of the land.

[CRAZYBUCK]

Couldn't have said it better

[buckmaster21]

is there any good tips you have on Pre-season scouting

[oz31p]

White-tailed Deer

Overview: Whitetail deer can be found in Unit 21 in a variety of different habitat types, from semi-desert grassland up to ponderosa pine. The majority of whitetail deer seem to use the typical whitetail habitat from about 3500 to 6000 feet in elevation. Whitetail can also be located in some areas that are not considered traditional whitetail habitat at elevations as low as 2500 feet.

 

There is a stratified hunt structure in Unit 21 that allows hunters the options of hunting in the early or late seasons. The late season hunters will generally find whitetail bucks starting to rut. During this time, bucks can be found on the move almost any time of day. There are very low numbers of hunters in the field during the late season compared to the early seasons, which can be crowded in popular areas. The drawing odds for the late hunt, however, are much lower than the earlier seasons. The early seasons can have other advantages along with better draw rates. Bucks can be much more predictable during the early seasons, as they are not on the move to seek out companionship.

 

Whitetail hunting in Unit 21 occurs primarily on public lands, free of access issues that affect some of the southern Arizona units. Tonto and Prescott National Forest maps can be used to identify roads that can be used to access good whitetail country.

 

Unit 21 is located near the Phoenix Metropolitan area, and is a popular unit to pursue mule deer in. It is likely that camping and hunting areas will be crowded during the opening weekends. While hunting whitetail deer in Unit 21, it is not uncommon to see mule deer using the same areas. Be certain of your target.

 

Areas: The areas below are meant to provide you with good places to start scouting or hunting whitetail in Unit 21. The areas are broken up into the three main land management offices.

 

Prescott National Forest: South of Camp Verde, whitetail can be found in the Black Hills. This complex includes Squaw Peak, the Verde Rim, and Pine Mountain. The Verde Rim is a large escarpment overlooking the Verde River drainage. Squaw Peak and Pine Mountain are both high points along the Verde Rim with elevations above 6500 feet. Drainages coming off of these areas to the east hold good numbers of whitetail. To access Squaw Peak, travel east from I-17 at exit 278 on the Squaw Peak Road (Forest Road 732). To access the Verde Rim and Pine Mountain, travel east from I-17 at exit 268 on the Dugas Road (FR 68). There are two wilderness areas on the Prescott National Forest in Unit 21. Cedar Bench and Pine Mountain Wilderness areas offer great places to pack in if a whitetail hunter wants to get away from most other hunters.

 

Tonto National Forest: Southwest of Pine Mountain, whitetail can be found in most of the country along the southern portion of the Verde Rim. Rugged Mesa is a good place to start. To access Rugged Mesa, travel east from I-17 at exit 259 on the Bloody Basin Road (FR 269) and travel north on the most easterly portion of the 44 Loop Road (FR 44). Hutch Mesa is also a good place to locate whitetail. To access Hutch Mesa, travel south on FR 58 from the Bloody Basin Road.

 

Southeast of Pine Mountain, whitetail can be found in most of the canyons that drain into the Verde River. The Red Creek area holds good numbers of whitetail. To access Red Creek, travel east from I-17 at exit 259 on the Bloody Basin Road and travel north on FR 16. This area can also be accessed by traveling north from Cave Creek on the Seven Springs Road (FR 24) to the Bloody Basin Road intersection, then going east towards FR 16.

Near the intersection of the Bloody Basin and Seven Springs Roads (FR 269 and 24) whitetail can be found in the East and West Cedar Mountain areas as well as the drainages between them and Tangle Creek.

 

North of Cave Creek, whitetail can be found in much of the country north of Seven Springs. The Cave Creek Fire burned much of this area in 2005, but deer have started to use habitat that has recovered from the fire. To access this country, travel north from Cave Creek on the Seven Springs Road (FR 24) and use a variety of short spur roads that go both east and west from the Seven Springs Road. Hiking a ways from the roads will decrease the probability of running into other hunters.

 

Bureau of Land Management: Northeast of Black Canyon City, whitetail can be found in some portions of the Agua Fria River drainage, such as Larry and Lousy Canyons. To access these canyons, travel east from I-17 at exit 259 on the Bloody Basin Road (FR 269) to the 14 Road (FR 14). Travel south on the 14 Road to FR 610 (the second large steel gate south of the Bloody Basin Road). Travel west on FR 610 to Larry and Lousy Canyons.

 

Tips: Using the very best optics in your price range will help you become a more successful whitetail hunter. Quality binoculars mounted on a tripod used systematically to glass whitetail habitat is the most effective method used to locate the elusive Coues deer. Spend most of the day out in the field behind your binoculars, not just the morning and evening. Deer are often located during midday hours, and are easier to stalk while they are not moving.

 

Pre-season scouting is not only a great way to spend time outdoors with friends and family, but can pay off when the hunt rolls around. Hunters who scout are not only m ore familiar with where the deer and deer sign are located, but are also more familiar with roads used to access areas and the lay of the land.

 

 

This post talk about every area in the unit where coues deer live and the type of terrain the live. It also talks about preseason scouting.

 

I think you will find the forum very friendly and informitive. Very rarly on any forum would a few time poster asking for help be replyed with directions or gps corrordnates.

 

No one know if you have any experiance hunting or deer hunting or coues deer hunting.

 

As with any unit with coues hunts there are coues in 21 in "typical" coues terrain. Most succsesfull hunters in 21 scout a lot and kike far while scouting aswell as during the hunt.

[buckmaster21]

White-tailed Deer

Overview: Whitetail deer can be found in Unit 21 in a variety of different habitat types, from semi-desert grassland up to ponderosa pine. The majority of whitetail deer seem to use the typical whitetail habitat from about 3500 to 6000 feet in elevation. Whitetail can also be located in some areas that are not considered traditional whitetail habitat at elevations as low as 2500 feet.

 

There is a stratified hunt structure in Unit 21 that allows hunters the options of hunting in the early or late seasons. The late season hunters will generally find whitetail bucks starting to rut. During this time, bucks can be found on the move almost any time of day. There are very low numbers of hunters in the field during the late season compared to the early seasons, which can be crowded in popular areas. The drawing odds for the late hunt, however, are much lower than the earlier seasons. The early seasons can have other advantages along with better draw rates. Bucks can be much more predictable during the early seasons, as they are not on the move to seek out companionship.

 

Whitetail hunting in Unit 21 occurs primarily on public lands, free of access issues that affect some of the southern Arizona units. Tonto and Prescott National Forest maps can be used to identify roads that can be used to access good whitetail country.

 

Unit 21 is located near the Phoenix Metropolitan area, and is a popular unit to pursue mule deer in. It is likely that camping and hunting areas will be crowded during the opening weekends. While hunting whitetail deer in Unit 21, it is not uncommon to see mule deer using the same areas. Be certain of your target.

 

Areas: The areas below are meant to provide you with good places to start scouting or hunting whitetail in Unit 21. The areas are broken up into the three main land management offices.

 

Prescott National Forest: South of Camp Verde, whitetail can be found in the Black Hills. This complex includes Squaw Peak, the Verde Rim, and Pine Mountain. The Verde Rim is a large escarpment overlooking the Verde River drainage. Squaw Peak and Pine Mountain are both high points along the Verde Rim with elevations above 6500 feet. Drainages coming off of these areas to the east hold good numbers of whitetail. To access Squaw Peak, travel east from I-17 at exit 278 on the Squaw Peak Road (Forest Road 732). To access the Verde Rim and Pine Mountain, travel east from I-17 at exit 268 on the Dugas Road (FR 68). There are two wilderness areas on the Prescott National Forest in Unit 21. Cedar Bench and Pine Mountain Wilderness areas offer great places to pack in if a whitetail hunter wants to get away from most other hunters.

 

Tonto National Forest: Southwest of Pine Mountain, whitetail can be found in most of the country along the southern portion of the Verde Rim. Rugged Mesa is a good place to start. To access Rugged Mesa, travel east from I-17 at exit 259 on the Bloody Basin Road (FR 269) and travel north on the most easterly portion of the 44 Loop Road (FR 44). Hutch Mesa is also a good place to locate whitetail. To access Hutch Mesa, travel south on FR 58 from the Bloody Basin Road.

 

Southeast of Pine Mountain, whitetail can be found in most of the canyons that drain into the Verde River. The Red Creek area holds good numbers of whitetail. To access Red Creek, travel east from I-17 at exit 259 on the Bloody Basin Road and travel north on FR 16. This area can also be accessed by traveling north from Cave Creek on the Seven Springs Road (FR 24) to the Bloody Basin Road intersection, then going east towards FR 16.

Near the intersection of the Bloody Basin and Seven Springs Roads (FR 269 and 24) whitetail can be found in the East and West Cedar Mountain areas as well as the drainages between them and Tangle Creek.

 

North of Cave Creek, whitetail can be found in much of the country north of Seven Springs. The Cave Creek Fire burned much of this area in 2005, but deer have started to use habitat that has recovered from the fire. To access this country, travel north from Cave Creek on the Seven Springs Road (FR 24) and use a variety of short spur roads that go both east and west from the Seven Springs Road. Hiking a ways from the roads will decrease the probability of running into other hunters.

 

Bureau of Land Management: Northeast of Black Canyon City, whitetail can be found in some portions of the Agua Fria River drainage, such as Larry and Lousy Canyons. To access these canyons, travel east from I-17 at exit 259 on the Bloody Basin Road (FR 269) to the 14 Road (FR 14). Travel south on the 14 Road to FR 610 (the second large steel gate south of the Bloody Basin Road). Travel west on FR 610 to Larry and Lousy Canyons.

 

Tips: Using the very best optics in your price range will help you become a more successful whitetail hunter. Quality binoculars mounted on a tripod used systematically to glass whitetail habitat is the most effective method used to locate the elusive Coues deer. Spend most of the day out in the field behind your binoculars, not just the morning and evening. Deer are often located during midday hours, and are easier to stalk while they are not moving.

 

Pre-season scouting is not only a great way to spend time outdoors with friends and family, but can pay off when the hunt rolls around. Hunters who scout are not only m ore familiar with where the deer and deer sign are located, but are also more familiar with roads used to access areas and the lay of the land.

 

 

This post talk about every area in the unit where coues deer live and the type of terrain the live. It also talks about preseason scouting.

 

I think you will find the forum very friendly and informitive. Very rarly on any forum would a few time poster asking for help be replyed with directions or gps corrordnates.

 

No one know if you have any experiance hunting or deer hunting or coues deer hunting.

 

As with any unit with coues hunts there are coues in 21 in "typical" coues terrain. Most succsesfull hunters in 21 scout a lot and kike far while scouting aswell as during the hunt.

 

 

thank you i hunt alot but dont couse hunt very much i am now just geting in to it had alot of fun hunting them last year even know i had no luck.i think im geting hooked on hunting them thanks

[oz31p]

It normaly only take one buck in the wild even if you watch him run over a hill by time he clears the sky line your hooked.

 

 

 

Where did you hunt last year??

[JACK]

is there any good tips you have on Pre-season scouting

 

If you can find some water that has some sign on it...start there...get a high spot and go to glassing...or if you prefer hiking...go tromp around and see if you can jump something up...scouting, exploring, finding new spots, all part of the adventure to me

 

Oh and remember...at times they can pretty much be in the open and still be trick to see

 

 

 

[buckmaster21]

thanks I hunted 21 last year I'm going to try again with rifel and or archery

[oz31p]

Ill be in 21 Saturday checkin cameras hangin strands and biulding blinds.

[buckmaster21]

see any thing good on the cams?

[oz31p]

Not really.

 

The area I've been grooming is a great rifle area. But I'm trying to set up to achery hunt it. 3week aago I had bucks coming in but there is nothing high enough to hang a camera on that is sturdy and keep it out of reach of the cow. So I basicly had a cow malufnction. A few days of pics the the camera got moved. I did build a awsome ground blind. I have a few more areas to check out that may be a little more condusive to archery hunting. That palamated buck I posted a few weeks ago was coming in.

[buckmaster21]

thats cool im going up tomorow to set a few cams up also for the archery hunt. ill keep you posted on what i see

[elkaholic]

thats what i call a text book - reading of unit 21 whitetail - I usually just give them the link to G$F instead of copying and pasting the whole wording-

 

Yes - its good accurate info! especialy for a first timer , wanting general info! -

[donnie]

bloody basin near the verde is good

 

near chasm creek down salt mine rd in camp verde is good( if you get away from the road)

 

crossing the river at childs,or coming down from pine mountain close to the river is good

 

some spots on the agua fria are good

 

i think pretty much anywhere along the verde rim is good, i personally dont care for dugas rd or the squaw peak area, theres plenty of good deer but lots of people chasing them