azffhunter Report post Posted June 12, 2011 I'm a newer hunter with only a couple of seasons under my belt. I live in the Tucson area and have put in for some of the southern AZ unit rifle hunts for general white tail and the Jr. hunts in the same units. My question is...I know there is a lot of illegal trafficing going on, but have any of you had trouble hunting or think it is a bad idea to take a 10 year old down there to hunt? Thanks for any idvice you can offer. Jeremy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coach Report post Posted June 12, 2011 That is a tough question to answer. I generally avoid the Southern units because of the illegal traffic. I think a big camp with lots of people, and at least one or two guys minding camp is ideal down there. I wouldn't take a 10 year old down there by myself. For what it's worth, I'll be backpacking into some crazy human/drug trafficing country in late October. The last time I did it, I was completely alone and it was beyond scary. I slept with one eye open and a Baretta 9mm in my hand all night, as coatis raided my camp just a few hundred yards from an active smuggling trail. I wouldn't subject my kids to that at all - it was hard enough for my wife to know what I was doing. This time, I'll be with another guy who will be packing heavy, but to be honest, I was just pricing Mossberg 500 "Just In Case" shotguns because I think I'd sleep a bit better with the 12G shotty at my side down there. IMO, there are a lot better hunts to take a 10 yr old on than those in the border areas. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roninflag Report post Posted June 12, 2011 you are going to carry a rifle? what make ? good enough to shoot a coues at some distance? i have been down there hunting in october only. i saw a lot of border patrol, lots of deer. lots of hunters carrying rifles. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted June 12, 2011 I have hunted down there several times and last year helped a friend's 10 year old daughter on her deer hunt. There was a youth camp down there sponsored by SCI and AGFD and there were lots of parents who took their young kids hunting down there with no problems at all. We saw a lot of deer and no illegals. Beautiful country. I also hosted a javelina hunting camp in the 36s for adult women and we saw no illegals and lots of javelina. I suggest you contact the Tucson SCI group or Gabe Paz of AGFD to find out when the next youth camp will be for young deer hunters. Then you can camp with them and get lots of assistance as well in terms of where to go to find deer. here is some info from the AGFD website: Nov. 18-20: Juniors Deer Camp* • Location: South of Tucson • Hunt units: 36A & 36B, apply for hunt number 1163 or 1164 • Hosted by: Safari Club International, Arizona Chapter • Contact: Lisa Marie Gandara (520) 312-8099, or azsci@yahoo.com more info about hunting camps: http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/MentoredHuntingCamps.shtml Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AzHuntingAddict Report post Posted June 12, 2011 I put in for 36b this year and have a few friends who go every year. They camp in large groups and hunt in three's. Keep me posted and I can set you up with these guys if you draw in this unit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azffhunter Report post Posted June 13, 2011 you are going to carry a rifle? what make ? good enough to shoot a coues at some distance? i have been down there hunting in october only. i saw a lot of border patrol, lots of deer. lots of hunters carrying rifles. He will be using a Savage 30.06. I know it's overkill for a Coues...but it's what I have. May borrow a friends .270...but will decide once I see if we get drawn or not. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azffhunter Report post Posted June 13, 2011 I have hunted down there several times and last year helped a friend's 10 year old daughter on her deer hunt. There was a youth camp down there sponsored by SCI and AGFD and there were lots of parents who took their young kids hunting down there with no problems at all. We saw a lot of deer and no illegals. Beautiful country. I also hosted a javelina hunting camp in the 36s for adult women and we saw no illegals and lots of javelina. I suggest you contact the Tucson SCI group or Gabe Paz of AGFD to find out when the next youth camp will be for young deer hunters. Then you can camp with them and get lots of assistance as well in terms of where to go to find deer. here is some info from the AGFD website: Nov. 18-20: Juniors Deer Camp* • Location: South of Tucson • Hunt units: 36A & 36B, apply for hunt number 1163 or 1164 • Hosted by: Safari Club International, Arizona Chapter • Contact: Lisa Marie Gandara (520) 312-8099, or azsci@yahoo.com more info about hunting camps: http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/MentoredHuntingCamps.shtml Thanks for that great info Amanda! I really hope my son gets drawn...if he does I think we will definately be checking these youth camps out. I have hunted the southern units by myself several times during the past archery seasons. I always carry a sidearm...but have never even seen an illegal.....saw LOTS of BorderPatrol there though. I looked at other units, but the units that are close to home just don't seem to have as good deer population as the 36's. Guess we'll wait and see when the results are in! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azffhunter Report post Posted June 13, 2011 I put in for 36b this year and have a few friends who go every year. They camp in large groups and hunt in three's. Keep me posted and I can set you up with these guys if you draw in this unit. Wow...thanks for that offer! I will definately keep that in mind. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azffhunter Report post Posted June 13, 2011 That is a tough question to answer. I generally avoid the Southern units because of the illegal traffic. I think a big camp with lots of people, and at least one or two guys minding camp is ideal down there. I wouldn't take a 10 year old down there by myself. For what it's worth, I'll be backpacking into some crazy human/drug trafficing country in late October. The last time I did it, I was completely alone and it was beyond scary. I slept with one eye open and a Baretta 9mm in my hand all night, as coatis raided my camp just a few hundred yards from an active smuggling trail. I wouldn't subject my kids to that at all - it was hard enough for my wife to know what I was doing. This time, I'll be with another guy who will be packing heavy, but to be honest, I was just pricing Mossberg 500 "Just In Case" shotguns because I think I'd sleep a bit better with the 12G shotty at my side down there. IMO, there are a lot better hunts to take a 10 yr old on than those in the border areas. Thanks for the reply. I have to stay somewhat local to Tucson because of expense. I drew an archery bull tag this year so that's going to take most of my hunting funding for the year. I also found that the 36's have a lot more deer than other areas around Tucson. Do you have another area you could suggest with descent deer population? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted June 13, 2011 You could also hunt mt lemmon Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elkhunter1 Report post Posted June 13, 2011 +111 The back side of Mt Lemmon has a good pop. of WT. I have seen some good ones in the Wetstones as well. You could also hunt mt lemmon Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
