Raising Arizona

[Bean Counter]

Mojave County



http://www.outdoorhub.com/pr/2014/12/23/pope-young-club-announces-potential-new-worlds-record-typical-mule-deer/?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=December%2023%202014%20Daily%20Newswire%20(1)&utm_content=&spMailingID=47688256&spUserID=NDQxNTMxMzU0MzYS1&spJobID=584202259&spReportId=NTg0MjAyMjU5S0

Patience is a particular virtue of bowhunting. It was an ample supply of patience that resulted in the harvest of a potential  new World’s Record typical Mule deer.

Having observed this buck on many occasions, and knowing the buck’s home range was particularly thick cover—“as thick as dog hair”—Arizona veteran bowhunter John McClendon knew his best chance would be to carefully hunt the buck over a waterhole. He patiently waited out several days of raining, and then the drying, for the perfect opportunity to hunt that water. The result—a perfect 25-yard shot at the buck of anyone’s dreams!

The current World’s Record typical mule deer is: 205 0/8 • Hermosillo, Mexico • 2009 • George Harms

Mr. McClendon’s mule deer, from Mohave County, Arizona, has an initial entry score of 207 5/8. The final score is yet subject to Panel Judging verification, which may change the final accepted score for a variety of reasons, including unusual shrinkage, initial mis-measurement, etc.

This mule deer is entered into the current, ongoing 29th Recording Period—the biennium representing entries accepted into the P&Y Records Program from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2014...

[_TONY_]

 

[Tbob]

Holy velvet batman! I'm headed to Arizona in a few weeks! That's awesome!

[Bean Counter]

Bob you find out where you're hunting?

[Tbob]

No.. I'm seeing my buddy tomorrow so I'll ask him some details and let ya know. I'll PM ya.

[Bean Counter]

K

[Fishcrazy82]

Wow look what happens when people have standards and permit only!!!!

[Bean Counter]

    For rifle and many archery Arizona is draw only. There is an OTC archery deer tag during the rut for about half the state that TBob is referencing.

[WAcoueshunter]

Wow look what happens when people have standards and permit only!!!!

Well that, and the single best mule deer genetics in the world.   Mojave County includes Unit 13B.  Not like they consistently grow like that anywhere else, Arizona included, whether permit only, OTC, or no hunting at all.

Of course, it also helps when the hunter is one of the better known guides anywhere, with a particular focus on The Strip.   Sometimes they shoot elk a little too close to houses, but who's counting.

[Bean Counter]

Good genetics don't hurt.

I wonder how Mr. McClendon would have enjoyed his hunt if he passed by 89 campsites of drinking buddies on their annual Spike Buck hunt in the same area while he was privilege to hunt a mature animal...

[WAcoueshunter]

Good genetics don't hurt.

I wonder how Mr. McClendon would have enjoyed his hunt if he passed by 89 campsites of drinking buddies on their annual Spike Buck hunt in the same area while he was privilege to hunt a mature animal...

Annual spike buck hunt?

Also wonder how he liked the last 10 years of not having an Arizona deer tag?

I should clarify, I'm not opposed to permit only.  Just pointing out that giant deer are not that simple.  You need genetics.  And permit only doesn't guarantee having the place to yourself.  Go hunt 33 on the October or November tag sometime.  Looks about like the Entiat on opening day, except people aren't required to wear orange. 

[Bean Counter]

Having lived in Arizona for the past half decade I have had a draw deer tag each and every single year. Most of them have been from the leftover bin but for those who really want it and plan without excuses a tag can usually be had. Done smartly a hunter can get a tag like this every year and continue to build points for a 13B quality hunt.

Yes, for a bull elk tag you have to wait 3-7 years as a resident for a quality hunt. I'll take that any day over the OTC pumpkin patch madness that I left. 

[Bean Counter]

Go hunt 33 on the October or November tag sometime.

I had a 33 tag (mule deer)  several years ago and yes we saw other tag holders, but it was far from a sea of hunters 

I think when we have tags available up to and during the season OTC you get a lot of swinging dicks who aren't serious hunters and do little for the purposes of conservation other than the money they spend on the tag and the sense of entitlement they bring to occupying THEIR campsite on public land.   

[WAcoueshunter]

Yeah, I was thinking about the 33 coues hunts.  Three fall hunts with 700 tags each, all packed into 7-day windows.  Not many mule deer left there, and only 300 total mule deer tags.  They run that mule deer hunt between the coues hunts, so you wouldn't have seen all the coues hunters.  Don't get me wrong, I love the opportunities in AZ.  Filled a leftover tag about six weeks ago, and headed back down with a 2015 OTC tag next week.  But I also love the fact that basically every mule deer in WA is fair game (save the Desert and private land only bucks) on an annual basis, I just have to put in the time and effort to find them.  Can't say that about a permit only state.

Anyway, back to my original point - if it were just about a permit system, you'd see deer like that come out of the Desert.

[Bean Counter]

low muley density indeed--I ate that 33 mule deer tag 

36B has even more coues tags than 33--something like 800, 800, 700.. then 40 for the rut. I was able to tag a decent coues deer in that unit but I decided not to go back. yes to be fair that was one of the highest pressure hunts I've ever been on.