AZ Deer. It’s On!!

[Tbob]

I just got access to a giant ranch down in SE AZ to hunt deer and Javelina for next years archery season in January.. I’ll be the only one out there hunting! It’s pretty open country, but has tons of Javelina and deer. Any advise for hunting this type of terrain would be greatly appreciated. I know that’s Mule deer rut time as well, anybody know when the best week to hunt it would be?? Thanks so much!! Can’t wait!

[carpsniperg2]

1 make sure it’s not some gem that require a tag draw for deer that takes many years of applying.
2 chaps and snake boots
3 your my new best friend when we going lol

[Tbob]

Ha ha. Thanks for the heads up!
    Yeah, I already called the AZ fish and game, it’s all over the counter :-)

[WAcoueshunter]

Access and pressure are not big factors down there during the archery season, very very few people out there even on public ground. The challenge with mule deer in the desert is finding them. The challenge with coues deer in the desert is getting close enough with your bow. Success rates are less than 10%. I’ve taken a handful of javelina with my bow while chasing coues, super fun side show. Randy Newberg has done the archery deer/javelina combo trip the last couple years, they are on YouTube. Take a look. Super fun hunts with lots of action, just hard to actually put one of those bucks on the ground in the open desert. Regardless, you will have a great time!  Really a fun hunt, and a nice time of year to leave WA and get some sunshine. I've done the archery hunt probably 10 times, probably 30 hunts down there total over the last 20 years.  Just got back on Monday.  We primarily chase coues and pigs.  Happy to answer any questions, lemme know!

[WAcoueshunter]

Here's my kid on Sunday!

[kentrek]

Get some type if stalking shoe or slipper...amazing how dead still it can be down there sometimes

[Skillet]

Here's my kid on Sunday!

 

[jae]

Anyone’s card get hit?

[Tbob]

My tag is OTC so no card hit for me 😁

[Tbob]

Access and pressure are not big factors down there during the archery season, very very few people out there even on public ground. The challenge with mule deer in the desert is finding them. The challenge with coues deer in the desert is getting close enough with your bow. Success rates are less than 10%. I’ve taken a handful of javelina with my bow while chasing coues, super fun side show. Randy Newberg has done the archery deer/javelina combo trip the last couple years, they are on YouTube. Take a look. Super fun hunts with lots of action, just hard to actually put one of those bucks on the ground in the open desert. Regardless, you will have a great time!  Really a fun hunt, and a nice time of year to leave WA and get some sunshine. I've done the archery hunt probably 10 times, probably 30 hunts down there total over the last 20 years.  Just got back on Monday.  We primarily chase coues and pigs.  Happy to answer any questions, lemme know!

Thanks for the info and insight! Yeah, I didn’t think this would be easy, but I’m gonna go give it hell! There’s tons of mule deer on the ranch. Not sure about the little whitetails, but Javelina and mule deer for sure. I’ve got a few AZ archery Javelina under my belt so I’m pretty confident on getting one of those guys. Mule deer on the other hand....... I know that will be a tough test, but fun either way! My buddies retired dad and his buddy offered to go with me for the week and help with the glassing. Plus these dudes swill some great bourbon and cook on a campfire like nobody’s business.. they’ve got endless hunting stories too!  can’t wait!

[WAcoueshunter]

Cool that the ranch has more mule deer, that will be fun!  Those desert bucks can get really tall and wide.  Doesn't seem to be many mule deer left in the units I hunt down there.  Coues are doing great, maybe they are pushing out the mule deer like our eastern whitetail do up here?   

[MAVsled]

private land access, lucky you!!

I've archery otc deer hunted AZ for 17 years. All hunts on public.
Noticed this: the last 3 years the numbers of NR hunters has increased a lot! thanks YTube!!

areas I hunted where a few locals observed, now vehicles with TX, OK, AR, MS, MO license plates.
and those newbie yahoos running thru country like idiots, don't know what they are doing.

but I've used their IDIOCY as my advantage to arrow several nice bucks. Good bird dogs those TX, AR plates.