Pointers for 6a early archery bull

[ylclaret]

Hi guys, I'm new to the forum and I just drew my first ever elk tag. I've seen some pretty helpful insights on here about other units but haven't heard much about 6a. I'm planning on scouting as much as I possibly can for 2 reasons, 1 I really want to fill this tag with a good elk and 2 my girlfriend and I are expecting our first baby on October 8th ( give or take a couple weeks right?) so I need to try to be in and out once the season actually starts. Any tips on how I can maximize my scouting trips?

[SirRoyal]

PM Sent!

[jmantbone]

Ylclaret hi, I also am new to the site so your not alone...as far as 6a goes I have hunted that unit for years and never had trouble finding elk,you will find more quantity in the northern half of the unit along with the majority of the tag holders as well,I tend to stay along the transition zone and always see elk...killed my first archery bull there last year and my son has his first muzzle bull tag there this year.good luck hope I could help!

[AZHUNTER05]

Good unit, just a TON of tags in there. I would suggest getting off the beaten path, to avoid other hunters!

[KaibabHunter]

Lots of tags so I think multiple plans will be in order. I had 6as archery bull in 2010, a jr cow in 2011, and the archery bull ( my dad ) and jr cow again this year. We're starting to get a good feel for 6a. there are elk north to south, low and high. If you can do the OTC deer, bear, turkey hunt which doubles as a final elk scouting trip. Some real nasty roads in 6a too depending on where you go..

[Antmo23]

Lots of tags so I think multiple plans will be in order. I had 6as archery bull in 2010, a jr cow in 2011, and the archery bull ( my dad ) and jr cow again this year. We're starting to get a good feel for 6a. there are elk north to south, low and high. If you can do the OTC deer, bear, turkey hunt which doubles as a final elk scouting trip. Some real nasty roads in 6a too depending on where you go..

 

+5 on the rough roads, bring a spare. And a spare for your spare.

[Devil Diver Down]

Congrats, I'd take that tag any year! Killed a small bull (my first and first anything with a bow) on that hunt last year. Get off the roads and away from the crowds (a TON of people in there for that hunt) and you will be into elk. I was on bulls all 11 days I hunted - probably saw over 80 different bulls during those days - and I would have tagged out on a nice bull early if not for a combo of my own bad strategies, quaddus interruptus (even in "roadless" areas) and wind shifts. I was thrilled to take one down - even a calf with antlers as my dad refers to it - but you should decide what you want before the hunt starts. Especially with Kid #1 on the way.

 

I wouldn't scout until after 4th of July and I'd come up with 4-5 areas you think will hold elk and few people. Roads can and probably will be nasty, especially if they get rains like the last 2 years. That can work to your advantage. As stated, the north half will have the vast majority of people and maybe the majority of elk, but you only need one bull. Best of luck!

[azhunter23]

Pm sent

[twigsnapper]

Hunt the 1st weekend then go home and relax until the second weekend hunt hard the rest of the hunt. Half the people and better elk action in the 2nd week.

[out2hunt]

81a being one of those roads. If you bugger down that powerline road slow enough to the south (southeast of buck mountain) you tend to get away from the crowds and those southern canyons hold Bulls all year long. Good Luck!