During the hunting seasons, unit 12A is characterized by sudden and drastic weather changes. This behavior includes becoming more and more nocturnal, spending more time in thick aspen and mixed conifer stands, and remaining in unroaded canyon habitats. *There are open limited opportunity draw bison hunts offered in 12A/12B/13A as well as general non-permit tag (non-draw) elk hunts offered in 12B. Happens every year. Outdoor Hub, LLC (d/b/a Carbon Media Group), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. As the fall progresses the deer become more and more secretive. First, on an archery hunt dont bother with pinyon/juniper areas unless it has snowed (not likely). With continued and persistent drought the woody winter browse in 12AW has been less productive for the past several years and as result concerns over the carrying capacity of this vital range are warranted. Areas: It may be hard to believe but the likelihood of running into an older age class buck, as near as the author can tell, is just about equal almost anywhere on the plateau. Conditions can vary from 80 degrees to below freezing, from sunny to snow, and from pleasant to down right ugly. . The Arizona Game and Fish Commission authorized over-the-counter (OTC) elk tags that include units 12A and 12B and others (see regulations). Learn more. As a result of continued drought those areas of higher elevation, specifically those areas with spruce/fir/aspen forests have been the most productive areas for the past several years. Ill definitely pm you sooner than later. While realistically many of the heard bulls with average 280-330" in both units. No motorized vehicles are allowed in BLM wilderness. Beginning at U.S. Hwy 89A and the Kaibab Naitonal Forest boundary near mp 566; southerly and easterly along the forest boundary to Grand Canyon National Park; southerly and westerly along the park boundary to Kanab Creek; northerly along Kanab Creek to Snake Gulch; northerly, easterly and southerly around the Kaibab National Forest boundary to U.S. Hwy 89A near mp 566. I'd go the end of September into early October. Its going to be HOT, if all else fails and you put in little effort, you could come away with a new pair of rattle snake boots! Motor vehicle travel is restricted to existing roads on all BLM land in the Unit. The state line is only marked at dirt road crossings. Concentrate your efforts in areas with waterholes (not necessarily on the water), as the plateau is often dry at this time of the year. Finally, remember that you could be sitting in the office and enjoy the opportunity to get away and take part in the oldest most admirable sport there is. If there are any elk they migrate down from Utah and move south until the canyon stops them. Be prepared for snow, mud, and adverse weather conditions, and bring plenty of supplies. Toggle between terrain, satellite, and topographic views, 1st choice license applications and licenses drawn, Draw odds for resident and nonresident applicants, Harvest stats by hunt_code, manner, season, sex, type, Average # of days between precip or snow event, Probability of other weather events (thunder, hail, etc) by by month. The average Boone and Crockett score for the last 5 years has been in the mid-150s. 3799 - Units 12A, 12B, 13A, and 13B have an extremely low-density elk population, about 40-50 elk combined for all four units. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. . Our Arizona hunting unit scouting packages were developed to give the do it yourself hunter a head start when planning their Arizona Deer, Elk, Bear and Javelina hunts. Elk Hunting Arizona Elk 2a,2b,2c Ronin75 Oct 26, 2019 Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum Become a supporting member R Ronin75 Well-Known Member Joined Feb 29, 2012 Messages 570 Oct 26, 2019 #1 Anyone have experience hunting the above units for elk? Finally, remember that you could be sitting in the office and enjoy the opportunity to get away and take part in the oldest most admirable sport there is. QUICK NAV: RESIDENCY STATUS: SHOW ODDS FOR: or SHOW UNIT: Arizona - Elk. Actually, n reports of elk have been reported in these areas or in the unit for the last couple of years. Antlerless Hunting: After several years of antlerless hunting, many of the does on the plateau have become as hunter-wise as most bucks. Follow a few simple rules and your chance of success will increase exponentially. On a 12A early hunt, once again, dont bother with pinyon/juniper habitat types unless it has snowed. However, for the past few years, bison have been seen near Wall Lake, as well as along Forest Service Roads 219B, 223, 270, and 610. Got a Buffalo up there , why ont Elk ? Being prepared on this hunt is even more crucial than on the early hunt. Forage quality and snowfall will push the deer to the lower winter range. Overview: The Unit 12 (GMUs 12A and 12B) mountain lion population, based on harvest information and observed lion sign, appears to be healthy and robust. A forum community dedicated to hunting and fishing enthusiasts in the Arizona area. If you end up wanting to take a camping trip and see the Grand Canyon then 12A is a great spot. This game bird tends to concentrate around water sources, especially along steep cliffs. During the fall hunt, turkey hunting is a totally different game. The AZ/UT state line on a GPS unit is N37 00.0 latitude. The elevation in this area ranges from approximately 1,490' near Lake Mead to more than 8,000' in the Virgin Mountains. Be prepared for a wide range of conditions including severe winter weather. Salt licks are a great attractant for deer and provide the same opportunity as waterholes. Less pressure o grow big? Excellent recruitment and low winter mortality for the past two years has lead to population levels similar to the early 90s. It is common to observe bighorns in locations where it is not possible to recover them. This is my first year being drawn for elk and got a tag for all 12 and 13 units for any elk and this tag is good until April of '19. Often roosting turkeys will respond to these calls giving a hunter a location to begin the mornings hunt. Areas: Any areas with concentrations of deer or sheep often have lions associated with them. Areas: Most of the desert bighorn sheep in unit 12BE are found within the Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness Area. Elevations vary from 3,000' to more than 9,200', with a large plateau, the Kaibab, comprising a majority of the unit. Waterhole hunting becomes less productive as frost begins to supply the need for water. Unit 12A continues to provide the turkey hunter and/or wildlife enthusiast a unique opportunity to observe Merriam's Turkeys. Be prepared for extreme weather. This behavior includes becoming more and more nocturnal, spending more time in thick aspen and mixed conifer stands, and remaining in unroaded canyon habitats. During the early 12B hunts, deer are typically concentrated in the pinyon-juniper and along meadow edges at higher elevations in the Buckskins, southwest toward Snake Gulch. Seems like an expensive camping and hiking excursion in a beautiful part of the country with good friends and maybe a random elk. Trumbull and or Grand Canyon Wilderness. Remember that hunting with the aid of a vehicle is prohibited. About Us; Staff; Camps; Scuba. Chukar are not numerous anywhere in Kanab Creek or its associated drainages. Identification seems to be a prevalent problem for first time grouse hunters as poult turkeys, Band-tailed Pigeons, and even Northern Goshawks are often mistaken for grouse. In the recent past several bucks taken on the Kaibab have been entered into the record books. If frost has cured out the summer range forage and some cold weather has struck, concentrate your efforts in the pinyon/juniper areas and even farther out in the sage and open canyon country. Areas: The Buckskin Mountains in the central portion of the unit contains the highest densities of deer and is best to hunt after mid-October. The unit's terrain is very rocky with rugged mountains. Mistakes are painful or expensive or both. Antelope, Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer, Chukar. There are very few elk in this unit. The average age of a buck harvested on the late hunts has climbed from just over two years of age to over 4 years of age in the past several years, yearling buck weights have stabilized at an acceptable level in recent years and as a result antler development has been excellent. A few, very few elk wander south from Utah now and then. Outdoor Hub, LLC (d/b/a Carbon Media Group), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. As the fall progresses the deer become more and more secretive. While calling in a higher-pressure unit like 5A it often requires a hunter to be very mobile. Current data indicates that buck:doe ratios are excellent. Overview: The world famous, or infamous, Kaibab Mule Deer herd. This is a small resident herd and is not part of the deer that migrate from Paunsaugunt or the Kaibab. Articles often lead to false expectations; huge bucks do not exist behind every tree anywhere in the world. Arizona Mule Deer, Elk & Antelope Hunts. Adjust your hunting strategies accordingly and have fun. First, on an archery hunt dont bother with pinyon/juniper areas unless it has snowed (not likely). 12A includes the Kaibab plateau that actually starts in southern Utah and rising up to the south to 9300+ ft. Other areas to consider are Badger Springs and Soap Spring along the Vermillion Cliffs within the wilderness area. Create a free account to read the rest of this access note! Drier habitat conditions further to the east limit use of this area. The Kaibab Plateau ranges from 6,000' to 9,200'; vegetation consists of ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, and aspen. From the North: None Use temperature ranges to plan and prepare for your hunt. If you are fortunate enough to draw one of the most sought after deer tags in the United States come to the Kaibab with realistic expectations and remember, we hunt for the experience. Hunters are required to report their mountain lion harvest information to the Arizona Game and Fish Department within 48 hours of taking a mountain lion. Excellent recruitment and low winter mortality for the past several years has lead to population levels similar to the early 90s. The large canyons and rocky areas that form the edges of the Kaibab and Paria plateaus are likely areas to locate lion sign. If you are fortunate enough to receive a coveted 12A or 12B deer tag you might consider purchasing a mountain lion tag before heading to the units. Many hunters utilize horses and mules, snowmobiles, and other recreational vehicles to overcome these access limitations. AS a reminder: Dont stand really close to edge, the sandstone/ granite crumbles with very little weight or movement, you dont want to see the bottom or top, depending on which way your falling on the way down. I'm not at all familiar with the area but read on azgfd that the population is super low. The nature of early archery hunts dictates that most successful hunters will need to be physically fit enough to hike 3-5 miles a day in terrain ranging from 4800-7800 feet in elevation. Welcome to ahf! All off-highway vehicles must display a current OHV decal and a street legal registration if operated on a county road. Areas: The Buckskin Mountains in the central portion of the unit contains the highest densities of deer and is best to hunt after mid-October. Likewise, hunters who want to hunt the Paria Plateau must apply for a 12B permit. Forest road 68G accesses Tule Mesa, and forest road 68 access the Pine Mountain Wilderness. Many hunters utilize horses and mules, snowmobiles, and other recreational vehicles to overcome these access limitations. During the fall hunt gas, food, and lodging can be found in Fredonia, Jacob Lake, and near DeMotte Park. Included in these hunts are bull only, antlerless and even 275 any-elk tags. The Paria Plateau, which is surrounded by the Paria canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness Area, has few roads and can only be accessed from BLM road 1065 on the west side of the plateau. Antlerless hunters continue to enjoy high hunt success. 0. The Kaibab uplift extends into Utah about 15 miles, so a big bull might wander to the south and spend summer up in the high country (the Kaibab runs for 60 miles above 8000 ft and down at the GC park boundary it's over 9000). Chukar also been occasionally observed in drainages to the Colorado River and along the Vermillion Cliffs in the wilderness area in 12BE. Very few deer reside in 12BW year round, making it difficult to hunt during the archery season in August and September. Many hunters utilize horses and mules, snowmobiles, and other recreational vehicles to overcome these access limitations. Forage quality and snowfall will push the deer to the lower winter range. If the deer are low and you glass enough it will pay off. Enjoy the natural splendor of the Kaibab Plateau, revel in your good fortune at having a tag, relish the fact that a huge deer is a possibility, but most of all be a responsible sportsman and represent our sport in the best manner possible. Before each hunting trip, verify that the zone is still open, by calling 877-438-0447 or checking online at View harvest thresholds and zone closures. From the West: State Hwy 389 Create a free account to read the rest of this terrain note! This may be a good place to introduce yourself and your site or include some credits. Be prepared for remote camping as the only amenities during the spring hunt are at Jacob Lake and in Fredonia. Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Under alternative management these favorable ratios should be maintained or even improved. It is the hunters responsibility to know where they are and the state line is patrolled heavily by both Utah and Arizona law enforcement. Once a track is located the hounds are released and the lion is pursued until treed. Elevations vary from 3,000 to more than 9,200, with a large plateau, the Kaibab, comprising a majority of the unit. Arizona Unit 8 Elk Hunting. As unit 10 is known for giant bull elk, Units 12A and 13B are just as famous for producing monster mule deer bucks and Arizona Wildlife Outfitters has taken their share of trophy heads from both units. That is a huge area to even begin to scout. Concentrate on areas that are more inaccessible. And that 20% species distribution may lie 100% within private lands. The early hunt is managed for hunter opportunity and usually occurs during the early part of the deer migration, thus few older-age class bucks are found during the early hunt. Several roads lead along the edge to the west on west side, some Excellent views all the way to the bottom, see the Colorado river and all. The Alternative Deer Management Plan provides the guidelines for which decisions on hunt recommendations are made. After an opening day of this activity plan on spending the next nine days in the same manner. G&F has enough problems with buffalo in that area and doesn't want ANY elk getting established in the Kaibab. LIST VIEW. Some say the great days of the Kaibab are past, others maintain things are as good or better than ever, and still others claim things will be great in the future. Older age "mature" bulls are taken on a regular basis. Please contact the USFS North Kaibab Ranger District for further information at the phone number listed below. Hunt success figures have fluctuated around the 40-50% range for the last decade, some of the highest hunt success for mule deer in the state. Areas: Concentrate your efforts on the southeast side of the Plateau in sub-unit 12AE. Cold nights are the norm in all seasons, specially in non summer months. If I draw a 12A deer tag I will be there around Labor Day. Grouse, like squirrels, appear to be most active early in the morning but walking throughout the day can result in flushed birds. Data currently indicates that buck: doe ratios, a very important management statistic, have rebounded as of late and are significantly higher than the statewide average. Https://www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Questionnaires/. Some bighorns have also been taken from the north rim of the Paria Canyon and near spring sources along the Vermilion Cliffs. Majority of the deer harvested on the early hunt are younger bucks around 2 years of age. The Paria Plateau in eastern 12B has the lowest density of deer and is not part of the migratory herds from the Kaibab Plateau or the Paunsaugunt. Traveling off established roads is prohibited throughout House Rock Valley on BLM and Wilderness land. As turkeys fly off the roost in the early pre-dawn, often the most active period of the day, they may provide a hunter the best opportunity to call in a wary old longbeard. The majority of the unit is public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management. Keep movements to a minimum, scan the surrounding area constantly, and listen for turkey vocalizations. Be patient, many long time grouse hunters often return to camp, after a long day of walking, with an empty vest. Arizona is landlocked, and its terrain is comprised of deep canyons, high- and low-elevation deserts, many natural rock formations, and volcanic mountain ranges. Climate Information But, if you plan to go regardless you should try to reach the AZGFD wildlife manager for that zone if at all possible and see if you can get some hints as to where to look. Hunt the travel corridors up or down from water and you will improve your odds. The prepared hunter is often the successful hunter. Use common sense; dont take shortcuts as they often take a lot longer than the more sensible route. Some tags in the state may take upwards of two and a half decades to draw as a non-resident. As the crow flies its not more than 50 miles to the north end of the Kaibab plateau. I've made far worse mistakes for sure. The deeply eroded terrain is characterized by many protruding rock formations, with the massive sandstone Vermilion Cliffs dominating the landscape. Also, several lions are sighted each year by hunters glassing canyons and watching waters. Overview: According to David Brown in Arizona Game Birds the Blue grouse is a native of the Kaibab Plateau and restricted locals in the White Mountains. Elevations range from 6,500-9,000. Dreams have been realized, or shattered, on every hunt in this Unit since its inception. Elk use open grasslands and sparsely forested areas more than most people think, and since these areas usually have fewer roads it is much easier to escape hunting pressure in these areas. Areas: As stated earlier, concentrate your efforts in areas with large Ponderosa Pine trees and focus your observation skills on the forest floor. Not all weather elements are available within the unit. The Kaibab Plateau ranges from 6,000' to 9,200'; vegetation consists of ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, and aspen. Apply for a 12B permit rocky areas that form the edges of the Kaibab BLM land in recent... Crow flies its not more than 50 miles to the lower winter range more and more secretive often roosting will... Tends to concentrate around water sources, especially along steep Cliffs be found in Fredonia been observed... Administered by the Bureau of land Management have been entered into the record books into the record.! 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