Areas around Crystal Springs, Sourdough Well, and along the 610 rd near the National Park Boundary provide the best opportunity for finding the often secretive Blue Grouse. One . Practice with a flat shooting rifle at longer distances before the hunt begins. The Grand Canyon National Park is not open to hunting. Therefore, chances for success are very low. The majority of the unit is public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management, Arizona Strip District, 345 E. Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84770, phone (435) 688-3200. Major Cities and Towns in or Near Game Management Unit and Nearest Gas, Food, and Lodging Hunters obtaining an elk tag should be aware that this unit has few elk and is considered a limited opportunity hunt. Grouse hunting is a great excuse to come to the Kaibab to enjoy a cooler climate. Hunters can report their mountain lion harvest in person, by telephone at 1-877-438-0447, or online at https://www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Questionnaires/. Remember that hunting with the aid of a vehicle is prohibited. The fall hunt is often characterized by warm to hot daytime temperatures and afternoon rains. As unit 10 is known for giant bull elk, Units 12A and 13B are just as famous for producing monster mule deer bucks and Arizona Wildlife Outfitters has taken their share of trophy heads from both units. Concentrate your efforts in areas with rim-rock and significant changes in elevation. Check for current or recent wildfires in this area. The health and longevity of this winter range is critical to the long term sustainability of the 12A deer herd. Although this herd is only estimated to have around 100 animals, the herd appears to be fairly stable. If I draw a 12A deer tag I will be there around Labor Day. Large numbers of domestic sheep grazed on the Paria Plateau, Vermilion Cliffs, and Paria Canyon until the 1960s when the Bureau of Land Management converted all grazing permits to cattle only. The best hunting techniques include walking, and watching and listening while sitting with your back to a tree. Like many Arizona elk units, 5A bulls are very responsive to calling. . That is not a problem since the other units may not have any elk at all. Be prepared for extreme weather. If you plan on hunting in higher elevation, as a rule of thumb, expect the tempture to decrease roughly 5 for every 1000' in elevation gain. Elevation ranges are based on weather stations in or near the unit. Once the location of turkeys has been determined getting up early, hours before first light, is critical. Good boots, parkas, and camping gear can make or break your hunt. Areas for hunting elk in this unit vary according to the time period in which the hunt occurs. Older age "mature" bulls are taken on a regular basis. JavaScript is disabled. Many hunters go home disappointed that they did not see big bucks on the early hunt, but every hunter should do their homework and know what they should expect on a hunt before setting high expectations. After a snow storm a hunter will drive the roads found within the 12A winter deer range early in the morning looking for tracks. Chukars are generally found within the lower 8 or 9 miles of Paria Canyon, along the rim of the Paria Plateau, and at spring sources along the Vermilion Cliffs. BLM road 1065 runs north from U.S. Hwy 89A to U.S. Hwy 89 in Utah between the Buckskin Mountains and the Paria Plateau. There are many stock tanks located throughout House Rock Valley and the antelope herds tend to center their activities on these water sources depending on the frequency of summer monsoons. The Grand Canyon National Park is not open to hunting. Practice with a flat shooting rifle at longer distances before the hunt begins. Getting off the road and into the canyons will improve your observations of mule deer bucks, especially mature ones. During the fall hunt gas, food, and lodging can be found in Fredonia, Jacob Lake, and near DeMotte Park. Look for areas with mixed conifer, aspens, and berry bushes in close proximity. This includes the premier trophy units 1, 9, 10, 23, and 27. Blue Grouse, Kaibab Squirrel, Merriams Turkey, Mountain Lion, Mule Deer. If frost has cured out the summer range forage and some cold weather has struck, concentrate your efforts in the pinyon/juniper areas and even farther out in the sage and open canyon country. From the East: State Hwy 98 Humphreys Peak is the highest point in Arizona, sitting at 12,637 feet in elevation, and it is a dormant volcano. After a snow storm a hunter will drive the roads found within the Unit 12 winter deer range early in the morning looking for tracks. From the West: U.S. Hwy 89A Its going to be HOT, if all else fails and you put in little effort, you could come away with a new pair of rattle snake boots! Update: For the past few years, bison have been seen near Wall Lake, as well as along Forest Service Roads 219B, 223, 270, and 610. The prepared hunter is often the successful hunter. Essentially, it could take decades of applying to get drawn for a premier hunt for one of Arizona's world class mule deer. The elevation in this area ranges from 3,000' to 7,000'; vegetation ranges from riparian cottonwood-willow and salt cedar along the Gila River, to Chihuahuan Desert in the lower elevations a Elk hunting in this unit can be extremely difficult due to the terrain. Be prepared for a wide range of conditions including severe winter weather. Also, several lions are sighted each year by hunters glassing canyons and watching waters. The population grew to about 160 bighorns within the first 8 years. Northern half of the unit is ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forest, rolling hills, and high mountains. Grand Canyon National Park, North Rim 928-638-7888, view harvest thresholds and zone closures. This game bird tends to concentrate around water sources, especially along steep cliffs. Come prepared for all types of weather. Just remember that there are always exceptions to the rule, and land ownership is just one piece of the puzzle. I've made far worse mistakes for sure. Yearly reported harvest figures fluctuate around 1 dozen lions with most of these animals taken by houndsmen during the winter months. This area is very remote with only a few conveniences provided at the communities of Vermilion Cliffs, Cliff Dwellers, Marble Canyon, Fredonia/Kanab, and Jacob Lake. Create a free account to read the rest of this access note! Areas: The Buckskin Mountains in the central portion of the unit contains the highest densities of deer and is best to hunt after mid-October. Forest road 732 accesses the area around Squaw Peak. Climate Information The Arizona Game and Fish Department has posted a list of leftover hunt permit-tags, as well as a printable paper application, on its website. Having extra spare tires would also be a good idea. Create a free account to read the rest of this elk hunting note! Being prepared on this hunt is even more crucial than on the early hunt. After an opening day of this activity plan on spending the next nine days in the same manner. There's nothing like autumn on the North Kaibab and Arizona Strip. If you are fortunate enough to receive a coveted 12A deer tag you might consider purchasing a mountain lion tag before heading to the Kaibab. Elk use open grasslands and sparsely forested areas more than most people think, and since these areas usually have fewer roads it is much easier to escape hunting pressure in these areas. Create a free account to read the rest of this elk hunting note! Temperatures and conditions may shift from temperate to extreme in the space of several hours. Before each hunting trip, verify that the zone is still open, by calling 877-438-0447 or checking online at View harvest thresholds and zone closures. But if you go, Good Luck!!!! Well, I wasn't, but welcome to AHT to you also! If you are fortunate enough to receive a coveted 12B deer or sheep tag, you might consider purchasing a mountain lion tag before heading to the Unit. As a result of continued drought those areas of higher elevation, specifically those areas with spruce/fir/aspen forests have been the most productive areas for the past several years. I was thinking about that hunt also . No motorized vehicles are allowed in BLM wilderness. The average age of a buck harvested on the late hunts has climbed from just over two years of age to over 4 years of age in the past several years, yearling buck weights have stabilized at an acceptable level in recent years and as a result antler development has been excellent. Read about advertising on huntscore here. The lion population in 12A is a migratory population of roughly 60-80 animals with the lions essentially following the deer herd as it migrates from summer to winter ranges. Find areas overlooking large open expanses and plan on sitting still for hours on end and glassing until you feel like your eyes are going to fall out. The majority of the unit is public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management. By this time of year the deer are visiting water in the dark. Having extra spare tires would also be a good idea. The nature of early archery hunts dictates that most successful hunters will need to be physically fit enough to hike 3-5 miles a day in terrain ranging from 4800-7800 feet in elevation. Hunting in the bottom of the Paria Canyon requires hiking with wet feet in sandy terrain along the Paria River. Bring binoculars and spotting scopes. Areas: Chukar are found throughout the Kanab Creek drainage and associated side canyons and in Paria Canyon and Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area. Some say the great days of the Kaibab are past, others maintain things are as good or better than ever, and still others claim things will be great in the future. Concentrate in areas dominated by this type of vegetation and look for turkey tracks in the snow, mud, dust, or around water sources. The grouse season in the fall provides a beautiful time to camp on the Kaibab and an inability to locate grouse is a great excuse for enjoying some of the finest scenery and weather Arizona has to offer. Sir, Cut your losses and stay home, worst unit almost in whole state. Before each hunting trip, verify that the zone is still open, by calling 877-438-0447 or checking online: view harvest thresholds and zone closures. If you are fortunate enough to draw one of the most sought after deer tags in the United States come to the Kaibab with realistic expectations and remember, we hunt for the experience. Overview: Antelope in Hunt Units 12A/12B are found primarily in House Rock Valley on the east side of the Kaibab Plateau in the grassland/desert scrub. Elevations vary from 3,000' to more than 9,200', with a large plateau, the Kaibab, comprising a majority of the unit. This behavior includes becoming more and more nocturnal, spending more time in thick aspen and mixed conifer stands, and remaining in unroaded canyon habitats. The Kaibab uplift extends into Utah about 15 miles, so a big bull might wander to the south and spend summer up in the high country (the Kaibab runs for 60 miles above 8000 ft and down at the GC park boundary it's over 9000). Dreams have been realized, or shattered, on every hunt in this Unit since its inception. Hunters purchasing an elk tag should be aware that this unit has very few elk and is considered a limited opportunity hunt. The central part of the unit, the Buckskin Mountains, contains the highest deer densities and is best to hunt after mid-October. As the season progresses mule deer bucks on the plateau become more and more secretive. Come prepared for all types of weather. Units 12A East, 12AWest and 12B require near max points, but hunters lucky enough to draw an East side Kaibab tag are in store for an incredible mule deer hunt. The Department reminds hunters that bison within these hunt areas may not be present during the hunt. Overview: Unit 12A, world famous for the Kaibab Deer Herd, is also home to one of the premier turkey populations in the state of Arizona. Most of the scouting packages we offer are two days. Home. Four-wheel drive, chains, shovels, and winches can keep you hunting instead of being stuck for a day. Four-wheel drive, chains, shovels, and winches can keep you hunting instead of being stuck for a day. Use the link, or scan code to get to this page and select the questionnaire for your hunt. After this hunt, you will know what hunt never to apply for again, other then Lots of deer in whole area, and some monsters. That was our initial thoughts on region. Many come with visions of 32 wide racks with multiple points per side, still others are happy with a tender yearling forkhorn. Adjust your hunting strategies accordingly and have fun. Hunt success figures have fluctuated around the 40-50% range for the last decade, some of the highest hunt success for mule deer in the state. 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