AZ hunting

I think there was an abundant supply of food this year. I shot a few last year and they were half this size. Going back today, taking my 6 year old daughter. Probably won’t be as susccesful since I will be keeping an eye on her. She isn’t shooting, just following me around.

 

You're raising her right!

 

Anyone hunt ducks? Mountain zone is open now

Limited out this morning

 

Nice work!

 

Thanks man. She enjoys it. Had a good time camping overnight too. I saw some other dads out with their kids chasing squirrels too.

 

Nicely done! Where you in the lake mary area? I was up in the white mountains this weekend and killed a few honkers, pintails and green wing teal. Had 4 shooters so it was hard shooting a group limit but we did quite a bit of shooting.

 

Yea around the lake Mary area. Surprisingly more hunters than I expected making it harder.

Hopefully the pressure dies down a bit

 

I stopped hunting up there because of how many locals just jump shoot and usually ends up screwin' things up for me when I've got 5 doz decoys and a full on blind built... I find that in the white mountains, the locals typically will only hunt the opening day if they are going to jump tanks.

 

Hmm maybe I'll have to get out that way then sometime.

 

Thanks! Now I just need to get out and buy one.

 

Reminder : Last day to get your apps submitted!

Decided last min to hunt javelinas, anyone hunt them up north near camp verde? I usually hunt them in 36 but getting tired of the foot traffic and BP racing through my camp site. New scenery would be nice but I'm not sure what unit i should ne looking at up north...

 

I used to hunt them in 6a and 6b. I haven't in a few years but I know a few spots if you get drawn there and want some input.

 

Right on! Much Appreciated. I'm eye balling 20a as well.

 

I put in for a 34a HAM tag and am hoping to pick up a 21 archery tag. I havent done too much scouting since i moved up here, but this will give me another reason to get out.

That and I put in for a unit 1 turkey tag.

 

Unit 1 turkey here too.

Good times up there. Weather is always changing...love springtime when they're gobbling.

 

Nice. My inlaws have a place up there so I have always seen turkeys but havent hunted them in AZ.

Hunted them back east quite a bit so I have all the gear. Should be fun, run and gun

 

I'm hunting whitetail in 36c the last week of this month. Any advice for dealing with the problems you mentioned or for avoiding bad situations?

 

There isn't much you can do about BP, however depending how long you are out there, they will start to recognize you and your rig. I make it a point to try and talk to the BP guys when I see them so they know where I am going to be and what I am doing out there. They won't harrass ya and not saying they won't spook the deer, but in my experience they tend to not do mach 1 on the dirt roads if they see your rig.

As for the foot traffic, if you're down on 36C, I'd carry a firearm. It's not as bad as it was 5-6 years ago but it's still very active down there. Last time I was there, I came across 6 different groups carry loads on their backs. They typically want nothing to do with you, occasionally I come back to my truck and discover someone went through my cooler. I leave a cooler in the back of my truck jammed full of ice and water. I've never had a problem with them trying to break into my truck or anything. They've just taken food or water in my cooler. I am always paranoid because i've surprised 2 groups of guys before in the past, one was in the bottom of a canyon I was creeping into while chasing the grey ghost and another time I topped over a dry river bed while chasing hogs. The guys in the canyon weren't armed and I just waved and kept walking. The guys in the river bed were armed and luckily they were as scared/surprised as I was and they ran.

I rifle hunt out there and I carry extra mags for the rifle as well as extra mags for my pistol that I carry. everyone on my hunting party carries some sort of firearm even if they are not hunting. Depending where you are going to be in 36C, you may come across areas where they are stashing their goods, stay away from them.

 

Unit 1 for gobblers should be good! The hatch was really good from what I can tell from my trips up there scouting for elk and geese/ducks. Seen some decent groups of them and a TON of turkey sign. I was going to put in for meriem's but with the points I have, I'm going to put in for Glouds. if you get drawn, let me know and I'll tell you where I was going to hunt due to the sign.

 

That's some really good info. Thanks. Its nice to hear that they never tried to mess with your truck. I was worried about that and my rtt getting screwed with while I'm away. I was also thinking of chaining my cooler closed and to my bed rack so they don't steal all my carne y cerveza. Haha. I pretty much figured that they want as little to do with me as I want to do with them but my main concern is exactly what you had happen... coming around a blind corner and startling a group of armed smugglers. But I'll have my .243 and my Glock 20 will be on me at all times in my kenai chest holster w/ two spare mags. Hope for the best but prepare for the worst right.