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Zeke-BE

Arizona High Alpine Mules

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Been doing a lot of research on the Bab lately, but then I got thinking I don't think I've have ever heard of anyone ever nabbing mule deer up in the alpines of Mt Baldly or San fransico peaks. I know there are lots of big muleys up in the alpines of Utah and Colorado, but has anyone heard or hunted our limited Alpines in Arizona?

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Rocky mountain Mule deer verses Arizona desert mule deer is what I believe you are referring to. In Montana the whitetails are down low and the Mulies are up high........same in Utah and Colorado.

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I took this guy right after the fire in what was an aspen/douglas fir meadow mix above eight thousand feet. i have hunted both mt baldy and the peaks, I have always seen alot of deer in those places

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Good question. You would think there would be some in those areas, but those small areas could also have a lot of hikers and sightseers. I know the peaks area is loaded with hiking trails.

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As far as I know, Humphrey's is the only peak in Az that actually get's above treeline into the true alpine/tundra climatic zone, which is around 11,000 in Az. I've never been up it myself, but I hear there's hikers all over it like ants on a lollipop.

 

Kendrick is pretty high (10,400ish) in 7W and there's some muleys & elk up there in the summer time. Not a lot of open glassing country, but there's some nice open meadows on top to hunt around. Long hike to get to the top, but I've stayed over a couple times. Pretty country.

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I took this guy right after the fire in what was an alpine/douglas fir meadow mix above eight thousand feet. i have hunted both mt baldy and the peaks, I have always seen alot of deer in those places

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thats a nice deer, how did you get him, glass, still hunt, etc?

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This one was glassed. you can see a very long ways after a fire. It was my longest shot ever that I connected, 190 yards. I have hunted above timberline a couple of times several years ago on the peaks. i did not see much above timberline. I did see a great deal at timberline and the journey up. The aspen forest is very old on the north facing slope, with carvings in there trunks from the 20's and 30's. The uber hikers scoff at you and turn up their noses a bit when they see what you are doing. I would park at the ski resort and walk up, the north side did not have as many animals on the journey up.

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I have ridden the ski lift up to the top of San Fran peaks in the summer and hiked the bowls, Freemont, Agassiz, and Humphries. Saw deer up there, but not a ton. But then again, I did not have my binos out looking specifically for deer. Humphries is 12,633' AMSL, truly above timberline, which is right around 11,300-11,600' on Humphries. And thin air for a Phoenix born guy. Humphries kicked my butt, even when I was in the best shape of my life at 23 years old. I am sure I could do it again, but it would take me a lot longer now.

 

There are areas on the Bab that are above 9100', but not a true alpine environment. Aspens galore though.

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