AZ Unit 10 Late Rifle...what happened last year?

[daverp]

So, the "official" results aren't out yet, but the charge is on the card I put my son's tags on, and he has finally drawn his bull elk tag...the only hunt I put him in for with 8bp's...Unit 10 late rifle.

 

I've hunted and scouted this unit a lot. I took a nice 180" buck out of there a half dozen years ago after patterning him over the summer and fall, and a cow elk 2 hours into my hunt during the Dec. late rifle cow hunt shortly thereafter (so never had a chance to see what the bulls were doing that late in the year). I imagine I've got at least 80 full days in that unit, on the ranch, over the last half dozen years or so, scouting for deer and late rifle cow.

 

BUT, prior to last year, I've never been able to be around for the late rifle bull hunt (never drawn for that hunt). Last year I assisted my brother with my nephew's late rifle bull hunt. Got out there 5 days before the season, hit all my usual places, and saw ONE small 5x5 out of my favorite "super secret spot" 2 days before the hunt (and another 5x5 driving back one night). Did not see another bull. We saw some cows on day 3 of the hunt. Only heard two shots the course of the first 3 days of the hunt before I left to return to work and leave them to finish the hunt alone.

 

There were days I'd walk 4 miles to a spot round trip, and cross but one elk track in the fresh snow.

 

Seeing little sign and fewer elk, after 6 days and on day 2 of the hunt, I decided to more or less abandon this area and headed north a little bit, more toward the flats toward / west of long point. Saw more elk tracks in a day than I saw in the previous 7 or so. Looked like we had a spot. Got completely fogged in one morning, but got 2 days of glassing in, and saw a few cows. Brother and nephew spotted some guys after a bull on an adjacent ridge day I left, but that was it. Wondering if we were a day or two late in that area and the elk had already moved through.

 

Everyone we crossed said the same thing "they were here last week, now they are GONE". There were a few theories....helicopter herding on Babbitt Ranch the day before the season (though still a good ways from us), the snowfall higher up, and the fog and inversion layer that had us socked in for a couple days that had not seen fog like that in the area for 8 years or so.

 

One of the ranchers told my brother a G&F guy had told him they'd headed off toward the flats more N/W from where we were at.

 

For those familiar with the late rifle hunt, is this a usual pattern, or a rare event? I'm already going over maps, buying new maps of areas outside of my usual area, researching and formulating a scout plan. I find it a little hard to believe 4 to 6 inches of snow drove them out of the area that quickly, and there wasn't a ton of pressure up there (though there was some). But something moved them.

 

All that brings me to this....Has anyone observed this there before? Rare, or common occurrence? My plan is to spend Sept thru Nov getting a few solid weeks in scouting out new contingency areas in case my usual spots come up empty again in the scouting the week before the hunt. Should I possibly start scouting way the heck out on the flats? Or just get even more rugged areas? I was extremely confident in my usual areas...moderate terrain, good glassing, usually 3/4 mile to 1.5 miles from the roads, until they came up empty last season. Going to need a plan B in case it happens again.

[wayno945]

I shot the bull in my avatar on the first morning of the late hunt last year. He was running with three cows when he met his end. We hunted for five more days to fill my buddy's tag and didn't see another elk. The fog on the first weekend didn't help the cause either. It was pretty disappointing that we didn't see more animals.

[shedcrazy45]

• I had that tag 2 years ago and had a friend helping glass, we saw like 9 bulls, 1 which I got a shot at but dident get and anouther 2 rags that I could have gone after if I wasent looking for the outher bull so it might just depend on the year or just the area.

[rclouse79]

I do that hunt for cow most Decembers. I don't know what causes it, but it is feast of famine. We either see cows everywhere, or nothing for the entire week. Two years ago I saw bulls every day, but only kicked up one cow that didn't give me a shot after 6 days of hunting.

[AZDOGMAN1]

I think it depends on the year. That hunt is a tough hunt I don't care who you are. I don't think I would have put it as only choice with 8 points but that's me. Good luck. Hope he shoots a bull.

[wildwoody]

there was a poor monsone in 10 last year and drought may be even wourse this year, pray for rain

[azelkhunter69]

Saw these videos on the thread asking what unit is the best in AZ. These guys shot bulls right out in the wide open spaces. Maybe it will help you. If not, it's still fun to watch. Good luck.

 

http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/47750-best-unit-in-az/page-3

[1uglydude]

Saw these videos on the thread asking what unit is the best in AZ. These guys shot bulls right out in the wide open spaces. Maybe it will help you. If not, it's still fun to watch. Good luck.

 

http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/47750-best-unit-in-az/page-3

 

That's an early rifle hunt in the rut. Very different from the late hunt, as many ill-informed have learned the hard way.

[wildwoody]

Saw these videos on the thread asking what unit is the best in AZ. These guys shot bulls right out in the wide open spaces. Maybe it will help you. If not, it's still fun to watch. Good luck.

 

http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/47750-best-unit-in-az/page-3

these were early hunts very big difference.

[azelkhunter69]

Like I said, still fun to watch.