mtn-memories Report post Posted June 2, 2006 Hi, I've been hunting 36B for the last 3 years with good success, however I've had a few encounters with illegals and several sightings. Nothing serious yet, just "guest" workers heading North. Now my teenage daughter is wanting to hunt Coues deer but is pretty intimidated about running in to drug runners and such. I'd really like to get my baby girl onto a good whitetail, but I want it to be a safe and quality experience. Does 36A have less traffic as a rule, seeing as how they have a Junior Hunt in the area? Any suggestions? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
COUESAZ Report post Posted June 2, 2006 The whole coues country is afected by it. Just take a few people with you as extra glassing eyes and you should be just fine. I am sure there are plenty of guys on here that would let you guys camp next to them for the bigger numbers thing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mtn-memories Report post Posted June 2, 2006 Thanks ARIZONAGUIDE! I guess I was hoping the areas a bit farther to the North were not quite as bad as those right on the border. Unfortunately, I suspect a guy just has to accept the fact that there is an added element of danger when hunting in the South and decide for himself if he wants to expose his children to it. Thanks again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
COOSEFAN Report post Posted June 3, 2006 I have been wondering if it is safer to be closer to the border? I usually hunt very close to it, and all the illegals i've seen have been in good shape and just starting fresh on their journey north. They almost always avoid confrontation and stay away from us. I was thinking that they get more desperate as they get worn out and run out of their rations usually as they are farther away from the border. It makes sense at least but you never know! There is always the central part of the state, you'll have no problems there. JIM BTW: You can camp close to us anytime! There is safety in numbers, and it would be great to see your daughter with her first Coues! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mulie hunter Report post Posted June 3, 2006 My 13 year old daughter & 11 year old son had tags in 36 a for the Nov. hunt last year. My son got his first deer a fork horn. Didn't see any illegals but saw a lot of well worn trails & trash. We played it safe and stayed in a motel room. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peckl1 Report post Posted June 3, 2006 I hunt 36a all the time. Most of the time I am out there alone. I see illegals traveling though alot. They don't want to bother you for the most part. I always leave extra water out at the camp site. Sometimes it is gone when I get back to camp sometimes not. Last year I left a pork roast in a dutch oven in my fire pit. When I got back that night the oven was gone. I found it about a month later in a wash about 100 yards from the camp. I guess I fed some illegals. If I'm drawn again for 36a I'll be there and anyone who wants to camp close is more than welcome. Just don't play the stereo to loud. I'm getting old. I will be out there during the archery season. If you see a 95 silver Z71 chevy thats me. Stop by. Lee Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sea cowboy Report post Posted June 4, 2006 Look at the topic "good coues habitat?" That picture is taken in the northern part of 36A on the Magee Ranch. I also have pics of other areas in northen 36A that are worse than those pics. Unit 36b&a&c are taking the brunt of the illegal alien traffic right now. I scouted out an area by copper glance mine in the NW part of the unit the other day and found evidence of 100-200 illegals a day coming thru the area. Also talked to the owners of the Magee ranch and they are being overwhelmed by drug runners and illegals. It used to be you didn't have to worry about the illegals, and only had to worry about drug runners. That has changed. The illegal allien smuggling business is now making more money than the drug business. At $1500 to $3000 per illegal smuggled, you can see that this is big business. Many of the coyotees who are smuggling the illegals are now armed with both guns and night vision optics. They are getting more desperate all the time, as border patrol and other groups are shutting down existing smuggling routes. I constantly hear of hunting camps having stuff stolen, trucks being broken into or stolen. You really need to watch your back. The Nogales ranger district in the Coranado National Forest advises against camping, hunting or hiking on forest land, due to the presence of so many drug and people smugglers. They have actually put up signs now, that read, "Caution, Illegal people smuggling and Drug smuggling activities may be encountered in this area". If you want to hear a story about how my self and my hunting client were chased on a deer hunt by drug smugglers, send me an e-mail. I dont guide any more down by the border. Too much liability.... But with all of this said, there are still some good hunting oppurtunities down south. You just need to be aware of the problem and come prepared. This is one reason the G&F commision issued a enforcement directive, to allow archers to carry firearms when huntin in southern AZ now. Lance Altherr AZ Hunters Who Care azhunterswhocare@hotmail.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AZP&Y Report post Posted June 4, 2006 36 b seems to be worse. It's a choice for them once they cross over which direction to head and which mountain range to cross... The National Guard has arrived and it's going to look like the DMZ down there pretty soon. Let's hope the deer don't notice. Good luck with your hunt and as others have said be aware of your surroundings and comfort in numbers. I won't show you another picture of garbage because you'll see plenty of that, but check out the Altar Valley along the Mexico US border and this picture one fine January evening. Doug AzP&Y Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arizona Griz Report post Posted June 11, 2006 I usually hunt 36A every year in November. I haven't had any personal problems with the illegals but I sure see a lot of them. While pulling into camp last year in the Colorado's on Thursday of the first week Border Patrol had 75 of them rounded up in a pile. The following day another 35 passed thru the same area during the day. The trail they use is more worn that a cow trail. I thought very seriously about trying another area but I am sure I will be there this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bullwidgeon Report post Posted June 15, 2006 We saw them every day this year both hunting and scouting down there in 36A. I killed a deer about 50 yards above one of those ginormous illegal trails. If you do not want to deal with illegals then you need to think about putting in for units North of I-10 and I-8. Everything South of that line is pretty much gone to the birds as it were concerning UDA's and will probably be that way and worse for a long time to come... Bret M. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peckl1 Report post Posted June 25, 2006 I just spent the last 2 days in 36a. Friday I came across a dead alien next to the road. He had a full bottle of water next to him. He must have died of heat stoke. I went and found the border patrol and took them to the body. Then yesterday on my way back in I spotted another alien lying down under another mesquite. I thought to myself not another dead body! However, when I yelled he woke up. He spoke perfect english. I gave him a bottle of gaterade and a candy bar. He wasn't in very good shape. He wanted to know how far it was to the main road. I told him to follow the dirt road out. I then left and went to find the border patrol. I told them where to find him and came on home. Oh, I did see a lot of deer. Mostly coming in to water at the corrals. Lee Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
