Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

860.0. "Arizona Elk Hunting" by PNO::HORN () Mon Nov 19 1990 11:47

    	Well, the moment that my hunting partner (Ron) and I have been
    waitingfor is almost here.  So, I thought that I would share our story
    with you.  
    
    	Our story began last June.  Ron and I spent several days selecting
    the Elk unit that we would hopefully get drawn for here in Arizona.  We
    decided to go for the best.  The odds of getting drawn were not good,
    less than 7 percent.  Well, along comes August and in the mail I had 3
    pink slips (pink cards are rejection tags) and 2 grey tags.  Well I
    about broke my fingers trying to rip open the grey tag envelopes.  I
    figured one was for deer (that was correct), which left either Elk,
    Buffalo, Antelope or Desert Bighorn Sheep.  Well it was an Elk tag for
    our first choice unit.  Tag numbers 31 and 32 out of 100.  By the way,
    that gives every hunter about 20-25 square miles to cover -- alot of
    land with few hunters, good stuff.  
    
    	Now the planning began.  We had to buy all the topographical maps,
    buy more gear (even when you have the kitchen sink you are still
    compelled to spend money at the gun stores, camping stores, surplus
    stores (heck, I have enough surplus that I could open my own store)
    and of course Cabella's gets their share every year.  
    
    	Mid-September the scouting began.  Yes that is a bit early for a
    hunt that starts the day after Thanksgiving, but we had never hunted in
    that unit before.  So, we wanted to spend the first 3-4 weekends just
    getting familiar with the lay of the land.  Well, we arrived about
    mid-night on our first trip and as soon as we pulled onto the dirt road
    our lights gave us a nice view of a 6x6.  What a good omen that was.
    Well we saw a big 7x6, several 6x6's and a spike.  We went nuts,  we
    saw more 6x6's or better than anything else (including cows).  
    
    	From that point on, every weekend until two weeks ago we saw lots
    of elk and lots of big bulls.  We went up there every weekend.  About 
    6 weeks ago I found a spot with a herd of 20+ cows and two big 6's
    (350+ score), 2 other 6's, some 5's, 4's and a spike.  We were so
    excited, but all along we knew that things would change some day. 
    Either weather would roll in, or they would run out of food or water at
    that spot or the bulls would leave the cows or you name it.  Well, two
    weeks ago a two week deer hunt started.  all was fine the first
    weekend.  Last week we went up there and we saw 1 cow the entire
    weekend.  Well I about went nuts!  I was worried sick all last week.  I
    studied the maps trying to figure out where they could have moved to
    for more food or to get out of the hunter pressure.  I went back up
    there Last friday and saw some elk where the had been before along the
    road, so I was starting to feel better.  Saturday morning I got out to
    my secret spot.  Right on time, 7:01 am I heard the herd bull bugle.  
    The herd has grown, 4 spikes and about 15 more cows.  But one of the 2 
    big bulls is not around (naturally it's the biggest of the two).  I
    watched them and others Saturday night and Sunday morning.  Then Sunday
    night (last night) we rented a plane and flew the unit.  We found
    several new herds and some loners.  That was alot of fun (except when
    I got air sick, but that was over in a jiffy).  
    
    	We got the camp all setup this past weekend as well.  We have a
    20x16 wall tent complete with a wood burning stove, wall-to-wall 
    out door carpet, kitchen set, dinning table and our cots.  We have a 
    12x12 tent for clothes and hunting gear, a trailer for other camp
    equipment, a 12x14 screened dinning fly, a cord of wood (that was
    Sundays job), enough food to feed the town of Wickenburg for a week,
    4 dogs and well, 3 trucks and  you name it you could find two of it.
    
    	I left my partner and his wife up there after we flew the area.  I
    had to work today and tomorrow (it's tough! but, I have to save some
    days for my Canadian Moose hunt next fall).  So, tomorrow afternoon
    I'll leave work as soon as I can, go home take one last good shower,
    put my 35mm and video cameras in the truck along with my .340
    Weatherby and .300 Weatherby.  Then blaze up the hill.  About 4 hours
    later I'll arrive at camp in time to scout that evening.  
    
    	Thursday, Thanksgiving, we will smoke a turkey and have a grand 
    feast, relax and geet to bed early.  Come friday morning, I'll get up
    around 3:00 (if I sleep at all).  Then the hunt is on and the rest of
    the story will be told when I return in about a week and a half. 
    Our hunt runs from this friday (the day after Thanksgiving) until the
    following Thursday at sundown.
    
    	Well, I hope to report many good things the next time I add to this
    note file -- at least 2 big good things.  Until then, to all of the
    others out there that are lucky enough to be hunting as well -- GOOD
    LUCK!!!!! and GOOD SHOOTING!!!!!  Keep your scope clean, your camp
    warm, your gun and bullets dry and your meat hung high.
    
    
    Scott Horn
    PNO Finance

    Scott, that brings back some sweet memories, back in 87, I got my Elk, I
    believe in Unit 7. There were Elk everywhere, I passed up many shots at
    younger bulls and got me a nice 6X6. I hunted high on the ridges, the
    higher the better. I had 5 bulls feeding at about 35 yards, when I got
    mine. Good Luck and Hold out for Grand Daddy, they say he's being
    hanging around Arizona's High country.
    
    Good Luck And Enjoy!!
    
    Franc.   
    

    	I normally don't give out alot of info regarding where I hunt, but
    everyone around here knows what unit I'm in....so, I don't mind sharing
    that with you.  I'm in unit 9, which Franc well knows is just North of
    unit 7.  From what we have been told there are several 380+ bulls and 2
    or 3 400+ bulls.  This is the unit where both of the buyers of the 1990 
    special Arizona Elk tags hunted.  Those tags sold for $52,000.00 and
    $12,500.00 at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation's banquets.  So, if
    someone paid that much to hunt in that unit, I've got to figure that
    there are a few big ones around.  The one hunter got a real nice 385
    6x6.  The other hunter (52.0K tag) found a 420+ bull one evening and
    went back the next morning to put a stalk on it only to find the bull
    had gotten into a fight and broke of 2 tines.  He found a couple of
    other nice ones, but passed them up.  I know this hunter and he is
    trying like crazy to get a 420+ bull.  A good friend of his got a 419 
    bull in Canada a few years ago and he plans to beat him out.  Heaven
    knows he is out spending him.  He has baught our tag 3 years now, about
    $50,000.00 each time and last year he also purchased the Nevada tag.
    At least his money is going to help Elk (that where dollars for special
    Elk tags goes to -- Elk habitat projects).  
    
    	Franc, You can count on me trying my best.  I'm glad you had a
    chance to hunt in our great state and had such a great hunt and good
    success.
    
    Scott

    
     Well, almost 2 weeks have gone by now. How was your hunt Scott ?
    
                                              Mark