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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Michael Pfander on January 28, 2014, 08:32:00 AM

Title: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: Michael Pfander on January 28, 2014, 08:32:00 AM
I thought I would share a few thoughts and pics about how the seasons flow here in AZ.  We have a lot to chase with a bow and a wide range of terrain and climate.  For me the year always starts with the deer and javalina season in January. (http://i.imgur.com/jcJMFM1.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/nG29cTy.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/0oJ87qy.jpg)Dawn in the Santa Ritas.  This is the area that I spend a lot of time in.  It is only an hour and a half from the house.  I have put people on pigs and deer in these mountains.  It also has a good bear and turkey population.  You can find Goulds here.  For most of the bow hunters in AZ this time of year is all about pigs. (http://i.imgur.com/TDPgAwK.jpg)Javalina are usually how most bow hunters in AZ get started.  For some of us January is all about seeing giant Coues whitetais   This is the time to find the ones everybody dreams of. (http://i.imgur.com/D7O2N46.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/lr4qBKK.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/NpapyQD.jpg) This was my giant for this year.
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: centaur on January 28, 2014, 09:04:00 AM
Nice pics, Michael.
I am snowbirding in your part of the world, and will be heading down to the Chiricahuas tomorrow for some hiking, and I'm hoping to get into some Coues deer there. I only see mulies and javelina where we are.
Arizona is a great place, and very different from my home state. Everyone who loves wild places should experience the Sonoran desert; beautiful in a rugged way.
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: twitchstick on January 28, 2014, 09:26:00 AM
Cool country! My brother has moved to Arizona and is trying hard to get me down there chasing critters. Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: huntingarcher on January 28, 2014, 09:40:00 AM
Great pics,I have never been to Arizona or hunted Coues deer.The deer you have pics of looks to be a great Coues deer.Now we both have the javelina and they are super fun critters for us bowhunters.Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: -snypershot317- on January 28, 2014, 10:09:00 AM
I lived in az for a lil bit of my life...very beautiful area and state. Plenty of game and plenty to chase with a bow. Only thing i didnt like was the draw process; mainly because i grew up on over the counter tags with no drawing other than specialty hunt areas. I plan on going back at some point to chase turkeys (hopefully), fling some arrows at some quail or maybe just end up chasing a coues deer...who knows but i am deff planning a trip back when i am able to afford it.
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: RIng on January 28, 2014, 10:22:00 AM
Wow great country !! I hope to be in Az in May for the USA benchrest air rifle championship ..Hope to get in some Tenkara fly fishing and small critter shooting .
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: Michael Pfander on January 28, 2014, 01:20:00 PM
A few pictures of the people and the places we hunt. (http://i.imgur.com/vXaqdkM.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/oxCFhW0.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/wbGCWMU.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/jyGxuEk.jpg)This is the south end of the Chiricahua Mnts.  Typical AZ Coues country.  It also has a high Black bear pop. (http://i.imgur.com/i0OnmHv.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/0FJZQ4Z.jpg)These are from the Galiuro Mnts.  They have a huge wilderness area in them.  There is a small elk herd here as well as D,T,B,and P.  The spring hunts revolve around turkey and bear.  As all the dedicated turkey guys know we have 2 species the Merriams and the Goulds. (http://i.imgur.com/1g6k5V7.jpg)  If you look close you can see the no shoot tag hanging from this transplanted Goulds. (http://i.imgur.com/cWtvaTN.jpg)  For AZ the Chiricahua bear is big.
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: kill shot on January 28, 2014, 02:20:00 PM
I'm inspired to say the least. It's been cold here in Mi with lots of snow. The guy that plows snow from my driveway got stuck the other day and it was minus 19 degrees last night when I got out of work.
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: KentuckyTJ on January 28, 2014, 02:43:00 PM
Looks like a stalkers heaven to me.
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: Birdbow on January 28, 2014, 02:59:00 PM
Michael,
 Thanks for posting! Living in recent retirement in NH, my wife and I have AZ and NM on the short list to escape winter. Great pics have really stirred the interest (as well as -0 temps here)!
           Best regards,
                 Todd
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: FerretWYO on January 28, 2014, 03:06:00 PM
Awesome love AZ
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: cacciatore on January 28, 2014, 03:45:00 PM
Great stuff MAP.
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: maineac on January 28, 2014, 05:49:00 PM
What is it like for residents to get big game tags?  Draws? OTC?
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: Michael Pfander on January 28, 2014, 06:40:00 PM
Bow hunters have it easier than rifle hunters.  Archery deer is OTC.  Lion tags are good all year, fall turkey and bear are OTC.  Everything else is draw.  Although they now let you have 2 pig tags.
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: Michael Pfander on January 28, 2014, 06:46:00 PM
After the spring hunts things heat up here in Tucson.  I mostly head north to fish for trout and scout for elk and goats. (http://i.imgur.com/9MKNW4h.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/XphnCXP.jpg)This wallow had about 75 elk around it if you look close you can see where the 7x7 herd bull was thrashing around.
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: Tsalt on January 28, 2014, 07:51:00 PM
Awesome pics.  That is beautiful country!
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: Whitetailarcher on January 28, 2014, 09:14:00 PM
Great pictures! I would love to hunt javalia.
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: huntnmuleys on January 28, 2014, 10:21:00 PM
beautiful.  ive got a buddy that lives in Benson I hunt with from time to time, and its beautiful for sure.  but if I lived there, I think id spend half the year hunting an air conditioner!
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on January 28, 2014, 10:31:00 PM
:campfire:  Beautiful country!  would love to hunt it some day!
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: centaur on January 28, 2014, 10:37:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by huntnmuleys:
beautiful.  ive got a buddy that lives in Benson I hunt with from time to time, and its beautiful for sure.  but if I lived there, I think id spend half the year hunting an air conditioner!
I agree, but it is hard to argue with 70 degree temps right now!
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: Michael Pfander on January 28, 2014, 10:55:00 PM
I thought I would close out tonite with a few stream pics and little critters.  The elk still have their spots in july. (http://i.imgur.com/DFdsE8D.jpg)This is the headwaters of the Black River (http://i.imgur.com/cG6TA9q.jpg)This is about 40 or so miles downstream. (http://i.imgur.com/RQMD4Vn.jpg)This is AZ smallmouth water. (http://i.imgur.com/ZH1z1Iq.jpg)I took this above camp at the Sunrise 3-D shoot 4th of July weekend. (http://i.imgur.com/FlAFr8S.jpg) These are Goulds in the Santa Ritas. (http://i.imgur.com/vsELBr5.jpg)  These guys are about half grown.
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: Michael Pfander on January 29, 2014, 06:57:00 AM
When fall arrives things get more interesting.  Particularly if you've drawn.  If that is the case then you start seeing things like this. (http://i.imgur.com/Cu3sKNj.jpg)  Or like this. (http://i.imgur.com/stOH80H.jpg)  I got lucky and caught all four feet in the air.  Once in a while I draw an elk tag. (http://i.imgur.com/hQc9qK5.jpg)  This area had burned in the past[as you can tell] great forage and you can see them for quite a ways.
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: Michael Pfander on January 29, 2014, 07:11:00 AM
When December arrives archery deer opens up once more. [it closes when elk season starts, wouldn't want a "deer hunter" to make a mistake].   (http://i.imgur.com/D3DDYOx.jpg)  This is snow on the Rincon mnts. at sunset.  These are just to the east of Tucson.  The Saguaro Nat. Park takes a chunk out of them.  That said they are the only place I have put a stalk on a lion. (http://i.imgur.com/fQVZK93.jpg)  This is the west side of the Catalinas.  We only get clouds in the summer rainy season and in winter. (http://i.imgur.com/CWPOkmH.jpg)  This is from the same spot looking west,  that is Picacho Peak.  And One more Coues pick (http://i.imgur.com/jwOzBFo.jpg)
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: Zbone on January 29, 2014, 07:52:00 AM
Micheal - When is the Coues peak rut?

Thanx
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: Michael Pfander on January 29, 2014, 07:58:00 AM
Zbone:  I would have to say January.  It is a little dependant on the weather.  The warmer it is the later it is.  At altitude and in colder years its going good in December.  The Catalinas go up to over 9000', the Santa Ritas to almost 10,000.  The Coues go all the way to the top.  I am fairly sure I have seen the same buck working does up high early and down low late.
MAP
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: Onestringer on January 29, 2014, 10:32:00 AM
Awesome, thanks for sharing. I hunted coues this January, I plan on going back later this year.  How is the August/September hunting?

Thanks,

Scott
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: Michael Pfander on January 29, 2014, 10:37:00 AM
If you don't like the desert, hunt high.  They are in velvet in the early season.  I like to chase mule deer in the high country at that time.  You also get to chase turkey and bear.
MAP
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: elkken on January 29, 2014, 01:10:00 PM
Great pics Michael ... we winter a few months in Buckeye near the White Tank Mts. I see deer tracks all the time when I'm out riding my Mt bike but I promise the bride to leave my bows at home when we head south.
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: ron w on January 29, 2014, 01:43:00 PM
Thanks for showing us......neat stuff. Never would have thought there were smallmouth in AZ.
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: steadman on January 29, 2014, 01:46:00 PM
Very cool! Thanks for the pics. That is a monster couse you have pics of   :scared:  
Congrats on the elk  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: Zbone on January 29, 2014, 02:43:00 PM
Micheal - CONGRATS on your Coues!

If you don't mind me asking, what region did you take your Coues?

Hunted AZ twice, once as a teen chasing around small game, and again around 10 years ago chasing Javies, but the only time I seen whitetails was around Ft. Hauchuca.
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: trad_bowhunter1965 on January 29, 2014, 03:14:00 PM
Awesome !!!
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: Michael Pfander on January 29, 2014, 04:17:00 PM
Zbone:  I killed that one in the Catalinas.  They are so sneaky it helps to know the area.  They are much harder to pattern than other whitetail.  They have a much larger home range as well.
MAP
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: WESTBROOK on January 29, 2014, 06:15:00 PM
Excellent photos and beautiful country!

Thanks for the Tour    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: CoachBGriff on January 29, 2014, 06:30:00 PM
Michael,

Thanks so much for posting the pics.  A buddy and I love to hike, and we spent a week around Escudilla one year.  You all have some beautiful country.
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: akaboomer on January 29, 2014, 08:27:00 PM
I miss Az. I lived in Tucson and Catalina for several years. I really have enjoyed the pictures you have shared. One thing I will always miss are coveys of quail that were in my yard every morning.

Chris
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: Michael Pfander on January 29, 2014, 08:41:00 PM
Coach:  That part of the state burned in the last big fire.
Title: Re: Seasons of the hunt in AZ.
Post by: Michael Pfander on January 29, 2014, 08:42:00 PM
Coach:  That part of the state burned in the last big fire.  The drouth has been hurting the quail population and the spring flowers AKA.
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