6A Scouting Trip

[ltdann]

After a 7 hour drive, Jim and I met our buddy Chuck a little north of Camp Verde, AZ, just off I-17 and headed into an area where we plan on hunting elk in the fall. Chuck's hunted the area for a few years and took a couple of elk out of the area and we figured, why mess with a good thing?

We spent Friday and Saturday setting out trail cams in likely spots, mostly places with heavy elk traffic. Generally, we were doing light scouting, terrain familiarization and having a good time.



While setting out camera number 3, Chuck and I were discussing which trail to put the camera on when Jim says "Lets put it on whichever trail those elk take!" We turn and six elk are walking up the hill towards us. Naturally we freeze and let 'em come. They get to about 30 yards before they stop and start looking us over. They stayed for about 5 minutes and wandered off. It was at that point I realized I'd left the camera in the truck. Sorry guys. Young cows.

Later, at a waterhole, we barely missed some huge elk. The pictures below show the tracks and the grass was still springing back at the bottom.

All in all, we counted just under 20 elk, one confirmed bull just starting to horn up, over 40 mule deer and a real treat, a forest antelope.



We ran into a forest guy and he said it had been snowing the week before and it was hard to believe considering the great weather and the loads of wild flowers in bloom.



I've got a decent chance of bagging a bull in this area, hopefully something better than a raghorn.

 

[SoJo]

cool pics and nice to see some early scouting!

 

[Vermonster]

Very nice pics! I've seen a show on them hunting the forest antelope before. Funny seeign them shooting them in the trees.

 

[ltdann]

Thanks. A nice area and all 3 of us were suprised by the antelope. It didn't seemed to be overly alarmed by our presence.

Whenever I scout, I love to take photo's, because when its hunting season, I often get wrapped up in the hunt and forget.

 

[rooster85]

very cool, did you draw that tag or was it over the counter?

 

[cjack]

Great scouting trip! Any word whether or not the fires are having an impact on your hunt? Sounds like alot of Area 1 has burned and my hunt in the Greer area may be in joepordy.

 

[ltdann]

very cool, did you draw that tag or was it over the counter?

It was a draw. Took 3 years, and a permanent bonus point for taking the AZ hunter safety course, which was actually quite a bit of fun.

My buddy hunts in that area pretty regularly and tells me the elk patterns don't change very much, i.e. they don't migrate unless the snow is very deep.

I'm used to hunting in wide vista's, so hunting in forests is a bit alien to me.

 

[Bubblehide]

Those forest antelope are a hoot, if you like a frustrating hunt. I managed to harvest one with my bow years ago, but shot over the back of a true monster; but hey, a 14 1/2 isn't anything to complain about.

It looks like you got a sweet spot, best of luck!

 

[AZ Jim]

Bull or Cow tag ? What dates ? My daughter drew a bull tag in the same unit over Thanksgiving.

 

[ltdann]

Jim,

Bull tag over thanksgiving, hunt 3016. Are we gonna meet in the wilderness on some dusty road again? LOL

I'd tell you where we're camping but I'm not exactly sure. Somewhere near clints well, off the 229, kinda outta the way and off the beaten path. ChUck and I will both be there with our camo f-150's, one older than the other.

Got a hot spot?

 

[AZ Jim]

Sounds like we will be up there at the same time. I do know the area fairly well. I will look for your trucks.

These are pics from last years scouting trip.

 

[ltdann]

Nice! So there is hope!

 

[AZ Jim]

Itdann,

I sent you a P.M.

AZ Jim