Looks like it's finally going to happen - first Kaibab hunt

[Coach]

About 27 years ago when I moved from Oklahoma to Arizona, one of the first things my family did was visit the Grand Canyon, including the North Rim. I saw more deer in one weekend than I had seen in my entire life - and I hoped one day I would get to hunt up there.

 

I don't want to jump the gun, but my wife informed me that our cc was hit for 2 youth tags and one adult - I put all three boys in for unit 27 youth, separately, and for myself either 13B or 12A West, late.

 

So it looks a lot like I'll finally get the chance to go on the hunt of my dreams. All day long I've had the "butterflies", can't even focus at work, lol.

 

I'm not even sure whether I'd prefer one hunt over the other - At least I have some idea what to expect in 12AW, as I went up there a couple years ago with a buddy and got pretty familiar with the area, but the possibility that it could be 13B, an area I've never even seen....makes me nervous.

 

I won't be hiring a guide - nothing against guides - just not the way I want to hunt it, but I am hoping to go up there with some ideas to get started, and try to make the best of the information I have at hand.

 

Normally, I wouldn't ask for unit-specific information, but, c'mon this is the strip. I would love to get any suggestions via PM of course, and it's not like a normal hunt where sharing information can wreck your honey hole. Most of us will only hunt this area once, maybe twice in a lifetime if we're lucky.

 

If anyone here has hunted these units in the past and has some suggestions of things to do, things not to do, places to go or avoid, I would love to hear from you.

 

I'm hoping to avoid driving too much and glassing too little, trying to figure out where I should be, but there is so much country and it's a long way away, it's going to be tough to pre-scout without some ideas and insights from people who have done it before.

[kennyazman]

Congrats on the tag!! either way you will have the hunt of a lifetime. I am still crossing my fingers that I may still have a chance to get my 12aw tag this year but I'm losing hope. Good luck. let us know which one it ends up being.

[ready2hunt]

That is such an amazing hunt I hope it all works out for you and you get a trophy on the wall...I would be just as excited! My father....years ago...use to hunt that unit quite religiously. I'll ask if he has any tips or his old maps marked up

[tjhunt2]

Congratulations on the special tag. We all know how big them boys can get up there. Good luck with your home work. Good things come to those who deserve it.

 

TJ

[gotcoues]

I had to put in for a bonus point for deer this time around.... the hard times for taking a buck in Jan haha

 

I plan on putting in for 13b first choice and either 13b archery or maybe 12aw for second choice. It took 7 years last time I tried this formula and ended up drawing 12ae, our second choice. We didn't see but one big buck (harvested by my hunting partner) and I wished we would have looked up high and not gone for seeing #s down low. Hard lesson learned on that one. Fortunately, this time around we will be able to get leftover tags for down South. I went w/o a rifle deer tag for 7 yrs and WILL NOT be doing that again.

 

I hear the mega monsters are hiding in 13b. Hope this hunt is everything you hoped and you find a big one that makes it worth the wait. Whatever the tag may be, good luck on your hunt!

[Dan H]

13B is dependant on snowfall every year to bring them down. Pray for snow if you get 13B.

[izquik72]

That is awesome Coach!!!

 

I have been building points for some time now and hoping to draw one of those tags myself.

With the distance,time and cost for me to scout the unit I am strongly thinking of doing a scout package from an outfitter up there. I have only done DIY hunts myself, but for an opportunity like that which comes 1 or 2x in a lifetime it would propably be great to get information from years of scouting and hunting season up there.

Best of luck on your quest and have a great hunt.

 

 

[izquik72]

13B is dependant on snowfall every year to bring them down. Pray for snow if you get 13B.

I guess all the Archery guys better start praying for some nasty weather....

It is 12B that is more dependant on weather in Utah

[Dan H]

oh my bad thought 13b was the strip either way congrats on the tag, and thanks for the correction izqk72

[Coach]

Thanks guys - I hope this isn't premature since the draw results aren't even out yet, but I certainly appreciate all the well wishes!

[Justin Stahl]

Don't jump the gun too quick. Thought i drew a earl archery bull tag and turned out i put the wrong hunt number down. First tim in my life i ever did something like that. Hope that is not your case that is a amazing tag and wish you the best of luck. If you drew 12 my buddy was up there a couple yrs ago and im sure i can get some info from him.

[Justin Stahl]

I ended up with a cow tag!

[firstcoueswas80]

If it was me, and because of the rarity of such a tag, I would be going with a guide.

 

Hope it is your tag and you kill a toad

[azoutlaw]

Dan H. 13 b is the strip. Lol.

[Coach]

Don't jump the gun too quick. Thought i drew a earl archery bull tag and turned out i put the wrong hunt number down. First tim in my life i ever did something like that. Hope that is not your case that is a amazing tag and wish you the best of luck. If you drew 12 my buddy was up there a couple yrs ago and im sure i can get some info from him.

 

You're right Justin - until I see the tag I won't know for sure but I did look up my online receipt and and the hunt numbers were right. However, I have screwed up applications in the past. Couple years back I applied for a bonus point only and forgot to include my hunting license number. Not only did I not get the bonus point, I lost my loyalty bonus point - so kinda went backward on that one.

 

The good news is, if I did draw, the 2 lost points won't matter that much - just a couple more years to build back that loyalty point.