Arizona deer, bighorn, etc

[Bean Counter]

Credit cards are getting hit. Congrats to the fortunate tag holders.

[Tbob]

No credit card hit for me yet and the website doesn't show anything either way yet.. Fingers crossed!

[Bean Counter]

 Don't forget about the hidden gems in the leftover list. 

[lamrith]

Crossing fingers.  Went in as 3rd hunter in a group with two in-staters to better my odds..

We already have plans to run for the leftover list if we strike out..  Sounds like they changed number of permits this year for a number of hunts, hoping we do not get bit because of it..

[Bean Counter]

Cool. There's a lot of good deer to be had in leftover units 

[lamrith]

Cool. There's a lot of good deer to be had in leftover units 

I know we put in for at least one hunt that "always has leftover tags".  But he said with the change in # of permits this year there night not be as many left overs.  I just want to get away from work and put some meat in the freezers.

[Bean Counter]

Not sure I'd travel all the way down here when Colorado and Wyoming are closer for just meat and getting out.. our deer are quite small  That said, there's a lot of great country for the elusive coues deer and you can't find 'em anywhere up north. Fun hunting deer amongst cactus, too 

[lamrith]

Not sure I'd travel all the way down here when Colorado and Wyoming are closer for just meat and getting out.. our deer are quite small  That said, there's a lot of great country for the elusive coues deer and you can't find 'em anywhere up north. Fun hunting deer amongst cactus, too 

It's a family hunt trip, excuse to leave work and be out with family.  If just for the animals yeah I would probably pass for deer.  Couse is one of our choices, not 100% sure which.

[lamrith]

So any idea when results will actually be released? 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

[Tbob]

I couldn't handle it anymore and called today. They lady said they had over 700 people to call to update there credit card info and that would take a couple of weeks still. So she told me probably 3 more weeks till results come out. Dang!

[lamrith]

Thanks Tbob, not news I wanted to hear but it is something rather than going stir crazy each day..

[Todd_ID]

I had to call yesterday to get my Department ID from them. They told me they were furiously working on it and we should see results posted in less than a week.

[lamrith]

I had to call yesterday to get my Department ID from them. They told me they were furiously working on it and we should see results posted in less than a week.

I got my actual hunting license in the mail yesterday.

I signed up lastnight on the website (application was paper on a group form with two residents)  Plan to call tonight to see if they can link my license to that account etc so can track things online as well.

Good luck everyone!

[WAcoueshunter]

Official results are posted.

Headed to the leftover bin here. 

[Bean Counter]

  beat me too it!

https://az.gov/azgfd/draw/home.xhtml

[lamrith]

WOOT!  We drew 34A October hunt!

Good luck on left overs WACoues!  Sorry you did not draw.

yeah you both beat me was just coming here to post..

[Bean Counter]

You could draw a worse hunt than that. I saw a beast in 34A last year. Nearly drove off a cliff trying to get a better look at him.  It was worth it.

[lamrith]

You could draw a worse hunt than that. I saw a beast in 34A last year. Nearly drove off a cliff trying to get a better look at him.  It was worth it.

Yeah it was our 2nd choice, 1st was #1003 Oct-Nov 3A&C hunt.

I need to see what I can find for economical decent bino's now.  Stepdad has Vortex he likes, but says they not gather a ton of light for late evening..

Any power rating you recommend knowing that terrain Bean?  12x, 14x?...

[Bean Counter]

I've seen my share of the Rocky Mountain west and would say that southern Arizona is about the last place I'd want to hunt without quality optics. Some of my honeyholes I hike up in the morning and stay up until I either see something to chase or the sun  goes down.Even on my archery  elk hunt in northern Arizona last year, which is higher in elevation, can be done without too much fuss. After my first few scouting trips I quit bringing my spotting scope altogether and when I was out with my bow I usually just had my rangefinder. Not so down south. I have Nikon EDG 10x32s which are a bit shaky given the power vs the objective lens but for 65% off retail I couldn't pass that up. I think 8x is too short and 10 or 12x is ideal. A spotter or at least some 15x56s on a dinky tripod would do you good.

The Santa Rita Mountains are the primary place to hunt coues deer in this unit. Its a lot greener than you'd think. Surprised they call this the desert. I'll post up a few pics later.

I've looked through midrange Vortex and I was not impressed. 

[WAcoueshunter]

I hunted for years down there with just a pair of 10's around my neck.  But then I got a pair of 15x56's on a tripod, and am now spoiled.  Buy the 10's (or 8's) first, then add the 15's if/when you can.  They serve different purposes.  There are exceptions of course, but the foothills of most coues terrain in southern AZ is made for glassing with 15's.  Our spotters usually don't leave the truck.  We use them more down lower in the flats looking for desert mulies. 

[Bean Counter]

There's your 'desert' hunt 

A few fun facts about 34a:

• The Santa Ritas are home to the Whipple Observatory. Which should give you an idea as to how high you can get and glass in this unit
• It is the last known spotting of a jaguar in the US

[WAcoueshunter]

Exactly, perfect 15 distance to glass those hills in front!  My point is, we're not talking 10,000 foot peaks that are three miles away.  Heck, I used my 15's to see if the ski lift is running after the snow last New Years.   

[Tbob]

Not drawn for me! I didn't expect much anyways. I put in for 12A west.. Anyways, looks like mulies and stink pigs in January again for me! Really enjoyed that hunt last year! And this year it's a short drive rather than a flight..

[Bean Counter]

I just got off the phone (text) with a guy who joined my elk hunt last year. He pulled one of the 12AW tags

[Tbob]

Damn! That's awesome for him! that's an excellent area! Be sure and post up a pick if he's cool with that!

[lamrith]

There's your 'desert' hunt 

A few fun facts about 34a:

• The Santa Ritas are home to the Whipple Observatory. Which should give you an idea as to how high you can get and glass in this unit
• It is the last known spotting of a jaguar in the US

:drool:Thats just mean..
IS IT OCTOBER YET!?!?

[Bean Counter]

Damn! That's awesome for him! that's an excellent area! Be sure and post up a pick if he's cool with that!

What I'd really like  is to get up there and photograph the hunt. But I think I have to chose between a wildlife lens for my DSLR and a new riflescope for my trophy pronghorn hunt this fall according to my better half 

[Tbob]

Dude.. Tough choice... I'd buy the lens with my credit card and then find a way to get that scope cash money on the down-lo! Mount it and nobody has to even notice.. Usually works for me:-) and I just don't ask questions when I see new shoes on her feet..

[Bean Counter]

Lamrith: sending you a PM.

(can't attach photos to PM and too lazy to upload elsewhere).