13a archery tag - not looking good??

[azpredator@work]

My buddy drew the archery tag and has been out and has not been able to locate many deer and nothing that he can pattern. He's planning on hunting the entire hunt. After his call of desperation this morning I am going to sacrifice my archery hunt to help him out (he'll owe me big time ). We figured he'd be in a better spot this close to the season. Have any of you had this tag in the past? Definately looking for all the help we can get at this point. Thanks a bunch,

 

Wade

[wildwoody]

there are there but its tough. good luck

[azoutlaw]

Tough hunt. Remember this hunt was over the counter till few years ago so it's not the gem it's made out to be. Not like 13b. Look for tracks. Find the water source they are using. Cover lots of ground till you locate deer. Good luck. There are some big bucks in there.

[Sneaker]

It will likely be tough if he is not really lucky. With the rain they are getting again the last few days and this week, you likely will not be able to rely at all on any water sources for hunting or leads since every pond and mud hole will have water... Maybe it will dry out by the end of the hunt. It depends on what type of buck he wants to hold out for, if he just wants a mature buck, I would just go hunt Mt. Logan. Alot of deer there, but other hunters will be too. If he wants a buck of a lifetime, which is possible this year based off of the three strip monster bucks already killed, you are going to have to do ALOT of glassing. It sounds like from your post he has located some bucks already, so I would start there. Deer densities are very low in most of the unit, so it is very likely you will not even see a buck some days while hunting, so prepare mentally now for those glorious days:) These guys don't pattern or stay local to tight area too often, so don't hope for that.

[azpredator@work]

Thanks for the info guys - keep it coming. He killed a 174" net buck a couple years ago in Utah so after speaking with him quite a bit it sounds like he wants that size or bigger. He's got the entire hunt to find one and he's an excellent hunter. Just surprised at how few animals he has seen so far. This is definately changing my plans so I'm hoping it will be worth it. I can live with not seeing deer as long as we're in a spot that will produce shooter bucks once we find them. Thanks,

 

Wade

[azbowhunter88]

thay are in there don't give up. yes the numbers are kinda low in there but the deer are in there and some monsters. if your doing the whole hunt you will glass up bucks with time no doubt. like said earlier if water doesn't dry up they wont hit those holes for the most part but ive seen deer hit water holes in the rain so take that for what its worth. nt logan is good but hunters will be up there too. I would hunt the base of the mountain let hunters push to you. work the bottom of it walking glassing walking glassing. just my opinion on this advice but good luck keep head up and youll do ok

[atforest]

Would you say the deer numbers are higher on Trumbull or Logan?

[azbowhunter88]

Tough one for me. Id say Logan. I used to run hounds on trumball for lions and the numbers weren't there but that's just wat I was seeing.

[Sneaker]

Trumbull itself basically does not have roads, so unless you are a serious mountain man, you will never know what Trumbull holds... That being said, most would say Logan.

[azbowhunter88]

+1 to guy before me. Glass glass glass you'll find deer

[atforest]

Sneaker, I sent you a PM.

 

I have a general question that I know azbowhunter88 already addresses to some degree. What do you glass? Do you go up high and glass down? Do you stay down low and glass up? Do you find some mountain meadows and glass those?

[azbowhunter88]

Early morning glass on sides of mountain look for deer feeding. You can glass from top or bottom. I would stay low glass up and once you find the buck you want stay on him till he beds don't look for other deer just focus on him. In afternoon or middle of day look for deer bedded in shade pockets on sides of mountain or in ravine type areas. The biggest thing on this hunt is once you find the deer you want just focus on him. Don't leave and come back to him. Stay on him till he beds or you can get in on a stalk.

[Sneaker]

So how did the hunt go?