Buckhunter Report post Posted January 7, 2008 My expectations were high going into this hunt. I felt like I was ripped off after the second day. We saw a Lion the first day and 1 possible shooter buck. Second day we saw one buck that had potential so we packed up to get a better look but he took off. Third day My buddy killed a 95 inch but about 1/4 mile from the truck. After 12 shots later we got him cut up and packed to the truck. Forth day we only saw two spikes and a baby of a 3x3. After running into a young 20's Indian that was varmit calling, we started asking questions about the roads. Why they were so good. He told me they had a members hunt in the same unit last weekend. I was under the impression this was the trophy unit that dosen't get much pressure. Thats why we paid the high tag price. The Lion problem is so bad in there every wash that we hiked through or drove through had tracks in it. We dusted the road in 3 different areas and 2 days later saw lion tracks in all 3 locations. We saw some Javalinas off the Lake road but nowhere else while were were hunting. What a shame for an area to go to heck. The most deer we saw in a day was 7. 3 being bucks. We hunted from morning to all most dark as we drove out every day. We glassed all day to. Needless to say I found out why hardly anyone goes back to the res to hunt deer. My 80 inch buck on the last day was pretty good for not seeing any shooter for 3 days. I got lucky it was on top of the mountian so I could make it down in one trip on my own. here he is. Remington 700 300SAUM 150 yd shot off hand dropped in his traks. I also lost my video cam so sorry don't have any feild photos. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstcoueswas80 Report post Posted January 7, 2008 Sorry things didnt work out according to plan, but look on the bright side, you filled your tag on a pretty buck! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hunterdude Report post Posted January 7, 2008 What does a Lion tag cost up there? Nice looking buck! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues 'n' Sheep Report post Posted January 7, 2008 Nice looking buck! You shouldn't feel bad about how hard your hunt was it has been pretty tough all over the state this season.... rut is firing kinda late in a lot of places. You ought to go back and try it again.... I have one friend that hunts the Rez every year (almost) and loves it.... He took a 120"+ up there a couple of years back.. Those dang Lions are an issue that needs some addressing by the sound of it though.... Congrats on a successful hunt. CnS Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted January 7, 2008 Sorry you felt ripped off. Perhaps you should write a letter to the San Carlos Rec and Wildlife Dept director and let them know. Unit D has always had a lot of lions since it's perfect lion country. I once saw four lions together down there. You should have received a free lion tag with your deer tag. Would have been a great opportunity to get a lion. There really shouldn't be a lot of hunting pressure on whitetail in Unit D. Although there was a tribal deer hunt, most all the tribal members hunt mulies and don't bother with whitetail. The real question is whether the lions are hammering the bucks hard enough to keep the age structure down and therefore limit trophy quality. The San Carlos game dept has expressed interest in doing some research to find out. Amanda Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SilentButDeadly Report post Posted January 7, 2008 After 12 shots later we got him cut up and packed to the truck. Forth day we only saw two spikes and a baby of a 3x3. Twelve shots later - I hope you didn't go back to the same watershed the next day, if I were a buck I'd have gotten the heck out of that battlefield! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buckhunter Report post Posted January 7, 2008 Thanks for the comments. I never gave up on the hunt becuase anything can happen on a coues hunt. My buddy took 12 shots not me but a had a tough time as well I took a 304 yard bedded shot when I should have waited. I got him in the neck and he just got up and walked over the saddle. I ran over their to find the buck and doe staring at me 150 yards. One shot dropped him without a kick. The lion tags were free with the d-west jan tag. But they forgot to put mine in the mail. My buddy got his. I am happy I shot this buck because honestly, this was my hardest hunt ever. thanks for reading. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bullwidgeon Report post Posted January 8, 2008 I was sitting on the fence North of Aravaipa looking for sheep a few years ago and 90 inch bucks were chasing does everywhere in that D-West unit. I was seeing 3 or 4 good ones a day. Did you guys hunt up there? Red Rooster peak, Ash Creek, Lookout mountain area? That stuff looked gnarly from the "fence" or maybe the rut was just wide open that year and this year it wasn't.... Bret M. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hawkeye Report post Posted January 8, 2008 My expectations were high going into this hunt. I felt like I was ripped off after the second day. We saw a Lion the first day and 1 possible shooter buck. Second day we saw one buck that had potential so we packed up to get a better look but he took off. Third day My buddy killed a 95 inch but about 1/4 mile from the truck. After 12 shots later we got him cut up and packed to the truck. Forth day we only saw two spikes and a baby of a 3x3. After running into a young 20's Indian that was varmit calling, we started asking questions about the roads. Why they were so good. He told me they had a members hunt in the same unit last weekend. I was under the impression this was the trophy unit that dosen't get much pressure. Thats why we paid the high tag price. The Lion problem is so bad in there every wash that we hiked through or drove through had tracks in it. We dusted the road in 3 different areas and 2 days later saw lion tracks in all 3 locations. We saw some Javalinas off the Lake road but nowhere else while were were hunting. What a shame for an area to go to heck. The most deer we saw in a day was 7. 3 being bucks. We hunted from morning to all most dark as we drove out every day. We glassed all day to. Needless to say I found out why hardly anyone goes back to the res to hunt deer. My 80 inch buck on the last day was pretty good for not seeing any shooter for 3 days. I got lucky it was on top of the mountian so I could make it down in one trip on my own. here he is. Remington 700 300SAUM 150 yd shot off hand dropped in his traks. I also lost my video cam so sorry don't have any feild photos. I have hunted the res. a few times and enjoyed the hunts, but I will never hunt their again because of the three ring circus it is to get a tag. I have too much self respect, to let them treat me like a begging fool. And that is exactly what I was last week. I stood in line for seven hours trying to get a jan. tag. but I didn't get one. After watching several gudes bypass the line and take most of the tags there weren't very many left. Then an indian came out of the office and said if you don't get a tag they would try to work with us to try to help everyone in line. What a load of crap. Instead of getting pssd I'll just turn my hunting to other states. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jasjacks Report post Posted January 14, 2008 I hunted d east too, I hunted for 5 day and left with the same feeling, my last day deer scored 89 7/8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
