Late 7E Bull - Scout Tips

[varnco]

So, after 4 years of no tag, I finally pulled a tag for 7E December Rifle (Dec 1 - 7).

 

To increase my odds of filling my tag, and thinking I may have to take a long shot, I've purchased a Tikka T3 Lite 300 win-mag with a 4-16x Vortex Viper HS-T scope, temporarily replacing my 1891 Argentine, which isn't capable of longer shots. I have several months to practice - are long shots normally needed in this unit?

 

I've also started my e-scouting, marking up over 130 water holes, ridges, etc. on 7E on google maps, to become familiar with the unit that I've never hunted, to get ready to go puts some boots on the ground.

 

So, regarding boots on the ground in 7e to scout areas identified with my e-scouting:

 

Is it too early to start scouting,say in July?

 

Given that I have a late hunt, and 320 tags will go before me, and 550 of my fellow elk hunters will be with me on Dec 1, what exactly am I scouting for, as any bull in July will move after snow and 320 previous hunters putting pressure on the elk in Sep, Oct, Nov, not counting the numerous Peaks Hunts.

 

For the actual hunt, is ATV advisable or better off with 4x4 truck?

 

Thanks for the help. I figure it'll be 4 years before my next tag, and want to put forth my best effort this year with a hunt that has a 25% success rate according to AZGFD

 

 

 

[nateNAU]

I live, eat and sleep 7e(mainly because I live here so I can hunt every day of a hunt, at least before and after work). 7e is not your typical elk unit in arizona and can seriously break your resolve. Every inch of antler is hard earned but hard work can be rewarded. Your milage may vary but my tips are

 

1. Don't scout for elk. Learn the unit. 7e has a huge elevation range and weather will play a big role where they will be at a given time of year. Elk have gotten smarter from all the peaks LO hunts and head high at the first signs of pressure. Snow will drive them down, so just get out and learn the unit and develop a plan a-z for different elevations.

 

2. Don't overlook all corners of 7e. A monster was shot by sunset crater last year and another beast pushing 400 was shot the year before in a canyon by twin arrows casino the year before. All of 7e is elk country. The highest density of elk will be around the peaks but elk can be found throughout nearly every inch of the unit. If you want to get away from the rat race think outside the box.

 

3. Use glass. Two years ago I drew the late archery hunt in 7e. I thought I might get lucky if I saw one elk during the hunt but I actually ended up being on Bulls nearly every day of the hunt. Never tagged out but I would say I was much more successful than I thought I would be on this type of hunt but following tried and true tactics. Get high early and glass south and east facing slopes, and 7e has a lot of opportunity to glass.

 

I have the third peaks bull hunt this year and I would be glad to share any info I learn from my hunt.

[eagle#eyes]

Never to early to learn a unit

[Flatlander]

Man some great advise from Nate. Hunting elk in 7E reminds me of elk hunting in ID. Lower densities, highly migratory great variance in terrain and topography.

 

Glass, glass, glass. Get away from the obvious areas. In Regard to truck vs atv, some of the roads are real bad so an atv will be much faster, but in December you are going to want to bundle up, truck would be much more comfortable.

[Jazz]

I have your hunt this year as well.

 

Last year I had a late cow hunt in 7E. Temp's were low- about 5 degrees at night. Some of the roads were bad, and I actually had to pay to get recovered once.

 

Yeah, scouting too early isn't going to work. Weather is going to be the deciding factor. All I can tell you is learn that unit. (I will tell you the cones are really fun)

[varnco]

I live, eat and sleep 7e(mainly because I live here so I can hunt every day of a hunt, at least before and after work). 7e is not your typical elk unit in arizona and can seriously break your resolve. Every inch of antler is hard earned but hard work can be rewarded. Your milage may vary but my tips are

 

1. Don't scout for elk. Learn the unit. 7e has a huge elevation range and weather will play a big role where they will be at a given time of year. Elk have gotten smarter from all the peaks LO hunts and head high at the first signs of pressure. Snow will drive them down, so just get out and learn the unit and develop a plan a-z for different elevations.

 

2. Don't overlook all corners of 7e. A monster was shot by sunset crater last year and another beast pushing 400 was shot the year before in a canyon by twin arrows casino the year before. All of 7e is elk country. The highest density of elk will be around the peaks but elk can be found throughout nearly every inch of the unit. If you want to get away from the rat race think outside the box.

 

3. Use glass. Two years ago I drew the late archery hunt in 7e. I thought I might get lucky if I saw one elk during the hunt but I actually ended up being on Bulls nearly every day of the hunt. Never tagged out but I would say I was much more successful than I thought I would be on this type of hunt but following tried and true tactics. Get high early and glass south and east facing slopes, and 7e has a lot of opportunity to glass.

 

I have the third peaks bull hunt this year and I would be glad to share any info I learn from my hunt.

 

Thanks... Ya, no problem getting away from the crowds for me, once I know where they are. There's a bunch of roads/trails criss-crossing all over the unit up there, so not sure how "away" one can get.

 

Got myself a new pair of danner boots I am breaking in on local hikes before I head up to scout.

 

I figured heavy glassing would be needed for the late as well as looking in "smaller" sections of the unit.

 

Elk head high with pressure, which I assume means it's a safer-haven as mortal humans have extreme difficulty getting there?

 

Thanks again for the tips!

[varnco]

Man some great advise from Nate. Hunting elk in 7E reminds me of elk hunting in ID. Lower densities, highly migratory great variance in terrain and topography.

 

Glass, glass, glass. Get away from the obvious areas. In Regard to truck vs atv, some of the roads are real bad so an atv will be much faster, but in December you are going to want to bundle up, truck would be much more comfortable.

 

Oh ya, it's a real winter up there...

[Hoss50]

The wind last year was the killer part during the late hunt. I have had the late cow tag in 7e the last 2 years. Weather is a big deal. 2 years ago was much colder earlier in the year. Last year it didn't get cold until the the late hunts. The unit was TOTALLY different to hunt based on the weather.

 

I tagged out opening day 2 years ago, and hunted all week last year with tag soup to show. I will say I didn't scout as much last year because I assumed my knowledge of the unit from the year before would help. That was a mistake. What I knew from the year before didn't help a bit other than general layout of the unit. By the time I started to figure it out the hunt was over.

 

The wind will zap your spirit if you are not prepared for it.

 

As the above poster said, there are elk everywhere. Some of the best sign I saw last year was where you would never think to look for elk.

[firstcoueswas80]

One thing to remember, although might not be a huge issue....when I hunted 7e in I think 2004 I NEVER saw another sole while scouting, opening morning hour before sun up and there was something like 10-13 trucks parked where I wanted to be!

[varnco]

One thing to remember, although might not be a huge issue....when I hunted 7e in I think 2004 I NEVER saw another sole while scouting, opening morning hour before sun up and there was something like 10-13 trucks parked where I wanted to be!

Lol, done that before! It's amazing how traffic changes from scouting to opening morning.

[elkaholic]

just a reminder elk will drop off into side canyons as quickly as they will go high due to pressure

 

find a few canyons which give you that - man i'm not going down or thru there and you'll find those little pockets that hold good bulls

[varnco]

just a reminder elk will drop off into side canyons as quickly as they will go high due to pressure

 

find a few canyons which give you that - man i'm not going down or thru there and you'll find those little pockets that hold good bulls

 

Thanks!

[Delw]

just a reminder elk will drop off into side canyons as quickly as they will go high due to pressure

 

find a few canyons which give you that - man i'm not going down or thru there and you'll find those little pockets that hold good bulls

Yup and they look just like this. kid even hiked it with her boots not tied up. I'm not doing getting into this canyon this year 2 years in a row was rough. this year I am on the top in one of the saddles.

 

cool part about canyons like these is you see no one for days and lots of game. not unit 7 pics

[Hoss50]

That's the truth about scouting in 7E for sure.

I took my son up last year during the 1 weekend in October without a hunt, and we covered a lot of miles in the truck and hiking. We didn't see a single person for almost a day & a half. We saw a ton of deer, antelope, turkey, and heard a couple bulls bugling, but didn't see anyone. Opening morning the place had trucks on every road.

[varnco]

Thanks everyone for the tips/thoughts/discussion and pointing me in the right direction.

 

It will be most helpful.

 

Awesome pictures!

 

Hoping everyone tags out.