Shooter McGavin Report post Posted April 29, 2012 Needless to say I did not get drawn for elk, poor me. I even tried for the remaining left over tags and still didn't get drawn, still poor me. There are a hand full for unit 1 (limited opportunity archery) for first come first serve on Monday the 30th. I really want to go, but I know nothing about the areas (Flat Top Mountain and Coon Canyon). Is it a waste of my time and $121.50 to even go to these areas to try and arrow an elk. I know any bad of hunting is better than working, but I need some help and maybe a kick in the butt in the right direction. Thanks guys. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Devil Diver Down Report post Posted April 29, 2012 I can't speak about those 2 areas you mentioned, but I rolled the dice and got an Any Elk leftover tag a few years back for one of the Hopi hunts on East/West Sunset. Definitely not a great or even good quality hunt--the game manager I spoke to told me to shoot the first elk, if any, I saw. Even a calf, he said, because they were that scarce in numbers. I scouted 3 days and saw only 1 cow. I found a nice 300" set of sheds and the second evening, just before sunset, I found the old boy who dropped them the year before about 3/4 mile away. Unfortunately, I closed the distance but couldn't close the deal on him and never saw another elk the rest of the hunt. I did get a couple of flat tires and a sunburn, though. I'd say hunting elk is better than not hunting elk in almost any set of conditions. It's been a long time between tags for me and I think those long layovers have really hurt my already questionable hunting skills. I'd say go for it and get there early on Monday! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Couzer Report post Posted April 29, 2012 We have a house right in front of Flat Top and have tons of tracks all around it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shooter McGavin Report post Posted April 29, 2012 We have a house right in front of Flat Top and have tons of tracks all around it. I just purchased a topo map for these two areas just to see what to expect on terrain, roads, etc..., are there any areas in and around Flat Top for camping? Is there a lot of private property in and around? Any roads leading to this area or will I be hiking 2-3 miles just to get to any forest/tree lines. What type of vegitation is up there, pine trees, junipers? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billrquimby Report post Posted April 29, 2012 Coon Canyon, I believe, includes the herds that hang around the Little Colorado River from Greer to Eagar, as well as the farms off Water Canyon Road. You could camp in either of the two campgrounds in Greer and be just minutes away. If you must set up a throw-down camp in the national forest do it outside the units with hunts under way. Both of these special units are so small that anyone who camps in them runs the risk of stepping on the toes of the other tag holders who have patterned herds. That happened to me several years ago, and I was not happy to find a fifth-wheel trailer parked exactly where I had put a bull to bed the night before the season opened. Those guys must have spent half the night gathering and cutting wood because they had a big fire blazing when I arrived in the dark at "my" honey hole. If the truth were known, "not happy" really doesn't describe how I felt. If you choose the Flat Top area, see if you can borrow an ATV. The Saffell Mountain ATV trail is its southern boundary, and gets you into the heart of Flat Top's elk country. There are elk all around that mountain, but it is darned hard to get away from the houses except on the side with the ATV trail. As for vegetation, both areas have junipers and pines, depending upon elevation, but it is mostly juniper. The elk are are just about everywhere. Bill Quimby Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
