22 north?

[skyhawkbowhunter]

Anyone hunted in 22 north i am looking for general areas if anyone could help it would be greatly appreciated it is the late bull hunt.

[GameHauler]

Anyone hunted in 22 north i am looking for general areas if anyone could help it would be greatly appreciated it is the late bull hunt.

 

I thought this was your third hunt?

[ac guy]

Overview: Elk numbers in Unit 22 are stable around the 900 level, with a bull/cow ratio hovering around the objective of 60 bulls: 100 cows. Generally, good populations of elk exist throughout the northern portions of Unit 22. Unit 22 has been split into three subunits to better direct elk hunting pressure to areas where elk need to be harvested (see hunting regulations for a full description of subunit boundaries. Unit 22 north is basically the area north and west of Payson, and it holds the majority of the elk in the Unit. Unit 22 south includes the entire area of Unit 22 south of the Unit 22 North subunit. Elk in 22 south generally occur in lower densities compared to 22 North, but nevertheless, elk numbers were expanding in 22 south and few hunters were taking advantage of these elk, so the 22 South hunt Unit was created for force hunters to harvest some of these elk. The Unit 22 Mazatazal hunt unit was created because some bulls exist within the Mazatzal Mountain range, especially in the Mazatzal wilderness. A few permits have been allocated to this area to encourage people to enter into the wilderness area to harvest these bulls. Be aware that if you get the Unit 22 Mazatzal hunt subunit, the hunt is in rough, remote terrain and access can be difficult, especially if you hunt in the Mazatzal Wilderness. Also be aware that elk densities in this subunit are lower compared to other parts of Unit 22.

 

The early 22 north and 22 south hunts will have the usual warm to hot daytime temperatures, so be prepared to transport the meat to a walk-in freezer location as soon as possible. Several walk-ins or butcher shops are located in the Payson area. The Mazatzal bull hunt has been pushed back to October to help ensure that people who harvest a bull in the wilderness areas will have cooler weather in which to pack out their trophy.

 

For all the hunts (firearms and archery), hunter success will increase with time spent glassing. A good pair of binoculars and spotting scope will improve the chance of taking a trophy bull.

 

Unit 22 exists entirely below the Mogollon Rim. Annually, elk from Units 5A, 6A, and 4A migrate into northern Unit 22 when feed in the other Units dries out, or when the snow gets deep enough to make them want to move. The peak of the winter movement depends on weather to a large degree, but generally occurs by late November of each year. With the increase of elk in the winter months, hunters will also face the inclement weather that pushes the elk off the rim. A 4-wheel-drive vehicle will be required if the weather turns to rain or snow. Temperature will average a daily high in the 40s to a low in the 20s.

 

Archery hunt success is closely related to the late October and early November temperatures. If rainfall patterns are normal, hunting around tanks from a tree stand will produce good success. It's still warm enough each day that elk will water in morning or evening.

 

Areas: The area around and in the Dude Burn (northeast corner of Unit 22) is an excellent place to hunt for all the hunts. Areas inside the burn with standing sections of live trees will hold elk in larger numbers. The burn area is now over a decade old so the regenerated forage is not as choice as it was in the mid 1990s. However, good numbers of elk can be found within the dude burn area, especially during the later hunts. The Mogollon Rim is a magnet to elk during the late hunts because of the extensive browse that is found along its expanse. There are numerous roads that will take you under the Rim off the Control Road. Take any of these roads during the late hunt and pick a good spot to glass. More than likely you can find elk feeding one or just below the Rim itself. Take a pack frame with you if you hunt in this area because there are a lot of logs that have blown down since the fire and dragging a downed elk or driving to a downed elk in the Dude Burn is nearly impossible.

 

Hardscrabble Mesa (northwest corner of Unit 22) and the northern end of the Mazatzal Wilderness can be good depending on the current year livestock use.

 

The brush thickets below the Little Diamond Rim east to Diamond Point Area has produce some nice bulls in the past, but is limited to vehicle use. Recovery of downed elk can be difficult and pack animals are recommended.

 

The early hunt in Unit 22 South has several good places to check out including Round Valley northeast to the Lion Springs area, and the area around Little Green Valley.

 

For cow elk hunting in Unit 22 south, the two best places are National Forest land south of the Rim Golf Club and the Payson Municipal Golf Club. Elk feed on these golf courses at night and then move onto national forest land in the mornings to bed. They can frequently be intercepted in the mornings if you do your homework. To get to the Rim club elk, take Granite Dells Road off of Hwy 260 in Payson (next to Safeway). Granite Dells Road will take you onto National Forest Land south of the Rim Club. Get there early and glass and look for sign where the elk are traveling in the area. Just be aware that it is illegal to fire a gun while taking wildlife within a quarter mile of any occupied building. That means both you and your target must be more than ¼ mile from any homes in the area. So do a thorough job of scouting the area prior to the hunt to be sure you are familiar with private and public land boundaries as well as the locations of all the homes. If you are cited for shooting within a ¼ mile of an occupied residence you can also loose your elk!

 

The Payson Municipal Golf Course can be found by going east on Main Street in Payson off the Beeline Hwy. There is access to the National Forest directly south of the golf clubhouse. The city limits actually extend about ¼ mile south of the swinging metal gate in that area, so again, do your scouting early and be sure of your property boundaries and house locations. National Forest land adjacent to both these golf courses can be great places to harvest elk if you do your homework ahead of time.

[skyhawkbowhunter]

This is my third hunt but my first two hunts were the junior hunts in 6a. I was succesful in both of those hunts.

[GameHauler]

This is my third hunt but my first two hunts were the junior hunts in 6a. I was succesful in both of those hunts.

 

Sorry, I got the idea all three were 22

Good Luck,

[skyhawkbowhunter]

No problem I should have went in to more detail last time.

[grizzly]

I got the same hunt, 22N archery bull, Nov 14-27. Dont know anything about the unit yet, just that I see elk everytime I drive through Cristopher Creek and I have camped all over the rim as a kid. I will be doing some scouting this summer and fall. Do you live in the valley? maybe we could split gas on a couple of scouting trips.

[Coues 'n' Sheep]

I got the same hunt, 22N archery bull, Nov 14-27. Dont know anything about the unit yet, just that I see elk everytime I drive through Cristopher Creek and I have camped all over the rim as a kid. I will be doing some scouting this summer and fall. Do you live in the valley? maybe we could split gas on a couple of scouting trips.

 

 

Too bad Christopher Cr. is in 23N.... Good luck on your hunt... atleast you have a bull tag!

[bobbyo]

If I had this tag I would walk Three Quarters of the way up the rim in the Strawberry area and side hill it all the way around to Myrtle point. You will find a nice bull somewhere in there.

[coueschaser3]

hey both yall with questions on 22n go ahead and PM me any particular questions ya got. ive hunted the unit alot helpin buddys and will be on the early hunt this year also. i cant give ya any "honey holes" but i can give some advise on findin' a place that you can call your own honey hole, what to look for and how to find it. Its much more gratifyin when ya do all your own work, trust me.

[Coues 'n' Sheep]

If I had this tag I would walk Three Quarters of the way up the rim in the Strawberry area and side hill it all the way around to Myrtle point. You will find a nice bull somewhere in there.

 

 

Ouch!!!!! Can you say blisters!!!!!

 

 

 

You are one cold fish, bobbyo!!!!!

 

[skyhawkbowhunter]

I got the same hunt, 22N archery bull, Nov 14-27. Dont know anything about the unit yet, just that I see elk everytime I drive through Cristopher Creek and I have camped all over the rim as a kid. I will be doing some scouting this summer and fall. Do you live in the valley? maybe we could split gas on a couple of scouting trips.

That sounds good i have the tag with my stepdad so i would have to ask him because i am only 14 but we have been lookin for scoutin partner.