SSSNAKES!

[Elmacho]

I HAVE NOT DONE MUCH SHED HUNTING, BUT MAY TRY IT THIS WEEKEND UP BY THE SALT RIVER IN UNIT 23.

 

I AM ALSO NOT FROM AZ. HAVEN'T SEEN A RATTLER THERE IN 10+ YEARS OF QUAIL HUNTING. I ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT "SNAKES" ALL THE TIME, BUT JUST HOW BAD IS IT OUT THERE THIS TIME OF YEAR. I DON'T MIND A SNAKE OR TWO, BUT IS IT JUST OUTRIGHT DANGEROUS THIS TIME OF YEAR???

 

LET'S HEAR IT!

 

I KNOW THE HEAT IS ALSO A LIKELY KILLER, WILL TAKE AT LEAST A GALLON WITH ME.

 

MARK

[TREESTANDMAN]

It depends on the area you are in. Typically there are many snakes around rivers. You will find them in the morning out sunning themselves on rocks. After it starts getting hot they will head for cover under boulders, holes, etc. They start coming out again in the evening time to hunt for mice etc. I would not be overly alarmed or worried about them. Wear good boots and thick pants and you should be just fine. Just be careful where you step. Remember, in Arizona there are hundreds of different snakes and only 2 are poisonous. The rattlers, and the coral snakes which are very rare and docile.

[crotalus]

Mark,

the only thing I would add to Treestandman's great advice is watch where you place your hands also. Think about taking more water with you as well, one gallon per person per day is a bit little for me. Of course don't weigh yourself down with containers but keep them handy or at least stay close to your H2O supply. Good luck in finding some sheds.

Ernest

[Elmacho]

Thanks guys, will let you know what happens.

[Elmacho]

went to unit 21 Monday- saw about 10 carp deer. No Coues though. Not familiar with te unit. was near the Cedar Bench area. It looked good. will try again.

 

Saw no rattlers. good day.

 

Mark

[couesdiehard]

Hey Elmacho;

I used to hunt in 21 every year and I always found whitetail bedding on the Verde river side of the mountain ranges and going over to the other sides of the ranges to feed. Of course most of these observations were made in fall and winter. Not sure if the whitetail would change their routine during spring and summer. Good luck!

[Elmacho]

Couesdiehard-

 

Thanks for the pointer. I am trying to learn the area, it was my first time in there. I usually hunt down south.

 

Saw some good looking country as the mesas just drop-off toward the river. Lots of cedar-juniper on top, not much visability, but alot of green forage. We also looked around toward the southern part of the unit by the fire lookout tower, looks good, but need to burn some more boot leather and also glass a bit to see if anything alive there.

 

Any difference between hunting north or south end of unit ??

 

Thanks again

 

Mark

[couesdiehard]

Elmacho;

When you say the fire-tower in the south portion of the unit do you mean the microwave antenna dome on top of Humboldt Peak? If so, you are looking in good country. Took my first Coues north of there where he had come over the top of the ridge from the river side to feed in an open area that had burned decades ago near the top of the ridges. I never have had much luck seeing anything but white flags in that thick stuff from the ridge tops all the way down to the river but it is loaded with sign...and probably sheds.

In general in both the south and north ends of the unit the west facing slopes are pretty open cedar country with muleys and tons of hunters. That's why I started checking out the east slopes. The east facing slopes are dog-hair thick with occasional clearings and the whitetail seem to prefer them. Also have noticed the whitetail seem to be fond of the creek-bed areas during some parts of the year.

[Elmacho]

Thanks Couesdiehard. I appreciate the info. Not sure abou the name of the hill, but we were about 15 miles above the morth most Cave Creek, a ways past seven springs. There is a huge tower that looks like a giant golf ball on it. You cannot miss it. It overlooks Horseshoe Lake. I have my doubts because of how close it is to town, but it sure looks decent.

 

Have legs, will hike.

 

Good luck in the draw

 

Mark

[couesdiehard]

Elmacho;

That's the one. Drive right up to the golf ball. Nice canyon on your right on the way up. Once at the top park right under the golf ball and walk on top of the ridge line on trail heading north. Tell me how it goes.

[Elmacho]

Couesdiehard-

 

Thanks for the info. I looked at the area you mention and liked it. Figure I may try it with a bow this January and see what I see. I ended up putting 23 and 32 for my WT tag chioices this year, but definitely want to look around unit 21. I've seen some photos of nice ones from that unit.

 

Good luck.

[couesdiehard]

Elmacho;

I took a perfectly symmetrical 90 pt. Coues there (my first) and I was hooked on hunting them critters. My buddy helped me on that hunt and then invited to start hunting with a bunch of Coues deer crazed SOB's in 36B and I've been hunting down there most every year since.

One thing I noticed hunting mule deer for years in 21 was that a lot of the Coues in that unit seem to have real tight but massive "basket racks". One in particular that I saw actually had the two tips of his main beams touching but I'll bet he didn't have a 12 inch spread.

It's a great place to be in January. Good Luck!

[Elmacho]

Couesdiehard-

 

Thanks again. I hear the 36s are great. Maybe some day I'll have time for them.

got my eye on a buck I've seen in 32 two years straight. He was 90 in. two years ago, high 90's last year, hopefully he is still there this year.

 

Good luck

[TREESTANDMAN]

On Saturday I almost stepped on a 5 ft Arizona black rattlesnake close to a water hole. It didn't rattle at all. The week before my buddy and I were out and he killed a nice big mohave rattler. Be careful out there!!!