Unit 9

[NonResAdventurist]

Joined the site to hopefully gain a little insight from others with knowledge to share.  I got lucky being pulled as a non-resident for Unit 9 and am extremely excited.  I was fortunate enough that my dad started accruing BP's for me when I was younger and I kept it going every year, I believe after 18 I finally hit.  I guess I can say I'm not new to the game, I'm just new to the playing field and am looking for a little guidance.  I've hunted SD,ND,CO and Mexico before for antelope, mulies, elk etc. but this AZ hunt will be my first time stepping foot anywhere in your state besides the airport.

This likely is a once in a lifetime tag for me, and I already know I will get the responses of "hire a guide".  While that is something I ordinarily would do I don't think it's going to be in the cards for me this year, the budget is going to be a little tight because the day I found out I drew is the same day the wife told me kid numero uno is on the way!  Big mixture of emotions there.  With that being said, I will be coming to hunt unit 9 and don't mind going the DIY route.  I'm not looking to steal spots, just some general vicinities I can key start with when I show up a few days early to scout.  I'm guessing between guides and the other 30ish residents with tags I'll be behind as it is going into it so I'd appreciate any help I can get.  I'm thinking I'll likely need to have multiple goats spotted that I'd be willing to pull the trigger on too based on the amount of other people who are hunting the unit.

If I'm way off with my thinking here I apologize for my ignorance.  It's been a few years since I've had a trip out of state planned and I love every minute of the preparation and research almost as much as actually having my boots on the ground with the gun in my hand.  Thank you in advance!

[yotebuster]

Congrats on the tag!!!  You are correct on it being once in a lifetime.  You were even lucky to pull it with your points.  Looks like you had about a 1.4% chance even with all those points!   I would think really really hard about hiring Eli at pronghorn guide service.  I know you said money is tight but take a loan or sell some guns or something as this is your one chance at the plate for a 87-90” antelope.  Could you kill one DIY?  Yes for sure.  Being able to sort out what is what is the problem.  If you don’t really care so much about size then you won’t have any trouble on your own.  Antelope are easy to find and easy to kill as you probably know.  Telling the difference between and 82” and an 87” is the tough part.  Good problem to have though.  If you do decide to DIY.  I would strongly suggest you take your time off before the hunt.  Show up about 3-4 days early even if it’s at the expense of missing days on the end of the hunt.  The biggest bucks will get killed right away on opening morning so if you just roll in then you are at a huge disadvantage.  Take a camera and take tons of pics of bucks so you can look them over side by side.  I’m jealous.  I’ve killed a bunch of antelope but never a giant.  Sorry I’m really no help in 9 as I’ve only passed through.  Should be antelope in all parts of the unit, from the pines to the cedars to the prairie.   

[yotebuster]

Also make sure you stop back next fall and post a pic.  

[lefty]

i know 4 people with that same tag, should be a fun hunt

[muledeerarea33?]

You got insurance right? The kids covered! Spend the money on a few scouting trips and an extra week on the ground  before the hunt. If your not going guided, you’ll need to locate a few before the hunt starts so you can make a list for day one.

[NonResAdventurist]

Thanks for the info and I definitely will consider a guide. As of right now I’m planning on giving myself 2 full days of scouting minimum, probably more. My main concern if I went the DIY route would be not knowing what the population density is like. Researching seems that people say most of AZ is managed for quality over quantity which is great but it makes me wonder if that then means more miles of scouting to find them. Obviously whatever it takes I’ll make happen. If I did go solo, would there be any areas to camp? 

[yotebuster]

There’s a ton of forest service up there.  You can camp anywhere you want.  Antelope hunting is just getting out and driving and looking.  The more hours you can spend behind the wheel and behind the glass the better chance you have of turning up a big boy.  I wouldn’t stress too much about scouting in the summer.  Use that time leading up to the hunt.  If you can scout for a week beforehand that’s even better.  I’d take 5 days of scouting and only having opening morning to hunt over having 6 days there during the season.  Call the warden in that unit, they will point you in the right area where there are antelope but I’m guessing they’re gonna say they are everywhere, because they are.   The common places with lots of antelope will have more hunters as well. 

[NonResAdventurist]

I alpreciate the help guys, it’s refreshing to see people helping people when it comes to hunting. 

[StickFlicker]

Unit 9, unlike many other units, has a lot of "broken" antelope country. It's a less conventional antelope unit, with less "typical antelope country" than many other areas. It's a big unit, with antelope scattered. It might take some time scouting to turn up a buck worth shooting. I would concentrate on the southern third of the unit, on both sides of the highway. Good luck!

[AZkiller]

I drove thru 9 last month varmint calling. Just off of the roads we probably saw over 100 antelope. There everywhere.

[lionhunter]

pm sent

[Beaton]

My boy had this tag 2 years ago and drew it with 2 points I'm up to 22points now go figure. We scouted a lot before his hunt. He shot one that was 82 and change.  I'll PM you. 

[Jayhook]

I am headed out this weekend to scout unit 9.  I somehow drew an archery tag.  Still can't believe it.  And I've been busting my butt trying to get out there and scout but life keeps getting in the way.  It's about a 7.5 hour drive for me.  At this point, I'm going to enjoy the time away during the hunt and hopefully if the Good Lord is willing, I'll get an opportunity to draw back! 

I really am green on the pronghorn. I grew up hunting ducks and whitetails back home in the southeast Arkansas.  But Western hunting has shown me that I don't know crap.  It's a whole different game.  But I love it!  I have found that some folks who are pretty guarded with their knowledge have been a little helpful going into this hunt.  Maybe because there are only 5 tags and the success rate has been 0% for the last couple of years.  Maybe too many rooks like me have gotten lucky and got drawn the last few years. LOL  Anyway, I appreciate it very much.  I need to grow some confidence going into this hunt because I'm going to dedicate most of my vacation time that I spread out on a few different hunts to this one.  

I hope to narrow down the info I've been given and really concentrate on how I'm going to hunt this unit while I'm out there this weekend.  I obviously would like to find the perfect waterhole and sit my blind because my stalking experience is pretty slim.  But I haven't gotten the impression by folks that that is going to be effective.

I'm shooting good out to long distance.  The bow is tuned up good.  And I'm not concerned about score necessarily.  I decide what to shoot based on the individual encounter and how I feel.  A rookie shouldn't be holding out for a booner.  I'll be happy with a good buck.  Any other insight anyone could provide would be much appreciated!  

  

[jdown]

Never hunted 9 but will say we had our first archery goat tag 2 years ago (my son and he drew again this year) and got a lot of trial by fire.  I think it was stalk 25 or 26 on day 7 when it all came together.  Four or five other stalks during the week resulted in bow range but couldn't get it done for one reason or another.  The goat decoy (dunton) worked twice as I recall but didn't work several times (they love to get to about 100-120 with it and turn away).  We ran to town and got the cow decoy on day 5 or 6 and didn't work a few times but then worked like a charm on the one that counted.  And two stalks without anything got within bow range as the cover worked out.  We were in 10 so couldn't sit water but wasn't high on his list to do anyway.   I think the biggest lesson we learned after day 3 or 4 was to pick your poison and not go after everything.  We probably put in 5-6 stalks in each of the first couple of days and after that it was 2 or 3 with mostly better results.  Fun to hunt a species that you can learn as you go and still have opportunity each day!  Good luck! 

[Jayhook]

Wow! That sounds like a fun awesome hunt! Thanks for the feedback! If I come home empty and have 25 or 26 stalk opportunities, I would consider that a successful hunt. You can only hope for opportunities. Everything working out and resulting in a kill is a blessing in my book.