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ULTRACARRY
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Lol
I would like nothing more than to drive out and put some kids and adults on some big bulls and have them shoot the cows. If it were two years ago I would still be making ky way out for the entire elk season just to help people for free. No rush like calling in monster bulls for someone who has never had them run in. Pucker factor is 10 fold lol.
My buddy Sam will help out and is great. He knows the areas well. And will have them patterned before you show up.
Now desert mule deer with a bow in January! That's my cup right there. Jobs been getting in the way the last two years and now that I don't have one its kinda rough explaining it to the wife
I would like nothing more than to drive out and put some kids and adults on some big bulls and have them shoot the cows. If it were two years ago I would still be making ky way out for the entire elk season just to help people for free. No rush like calling in monster bulls for someone who has never had them run in. Pucker factor is 10 fold lol.
My buddy Sam will help out and is great. He knows the areas well. And will have them patterned before you show up.
Now desert mule deer with a bow in January! That's my cup right there. Jobs been getting in the way the last two years and now that I don't have one its kinda rough explaining it to the wife
D
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So my card hasn't been charged and when I enter my I.D. into the AZ automated system it says draw results are unavailable. Am I pooched or does the draw drag on for awhile? I'm thinking I may have to put in for elk tags elsewhere and soon. Anyone know?
To ULTRACARRY...you are waaay too cool brothuh! I tip my hat to ya. Very generous of you. Good karma is yours, hope you get a 400+ bull. I dream of archery elk. Am told getting within 30 yards of a bull in AZ is highly unlikely though.
To ULTRACARRY...you are waaay too cool brothuh! I tip my hat to ya. Very generous of you. Good karma is yours, hope you get a 400+ bull. I dream of archery elk. Am told getting within 30 yards of a bull in AZ is highly unlikely though.
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CODE3RUN
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SpeciesHunt No.Season DatesOpen AreasPermit No.ResultReject Description |
AZ Jim
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CODE3RUN,
Congrats on the boys drawing a 6A Cow Elk tag. My family, friends and I have been hunting that unit for many years and have had many successful hunts. We also spend a lot of time in the unit during the off season, scouting, shed hunting, hiking and camping. Although the elk herd in that unit has declined in recent years, there are still plenty of elk and hunting opportunities. I'm sure your boys will have a great time and bring back some great memories and hopefully fill their tag. Fill their tag or not, their success will be measured by what they see, learn, and experience on the hunt. I see they drew the youth hunt tag; be sure to get them there in time for the juniors elk camp the night before. It is usually put on by RMEF and AZ G&F Dept. or similar. They will learn a lot and have a good time.
The time you spend pre-season scouting, and the homework you do in advance will help make it a more memorable experience. As far as the Quad goes, I don't have one myself, but bring yours to help retrieve the game, access some of the remote hunting areas (as long as you stay on the trails), use them legally, respect the environment and other hunters. What ever you do, don't road hunt with them (or with the truck for that matter) as you know that will not teach the boys the right way to do it, and will get you a citation.
In October you have a good chance of the roads being dry, but like Itdann stated a little rain or an early snow (although not likely), will turn the roads to glue. Even if it is dry, many of the roads are very rough, so a 4x4 with high ground clearance is highly recommended. If you have a winch or come-a-long, bring it with plenty of rope, game carts and your pack-frames as well. Be prepared for an easy retrieval or a very difficult one. You never know what challenge you may come your way. You will want to plan to get the animal field dressed ASAP and get the skin off as soon as you can, keeping the meat clean, dry and cool. October can still be fairly warm during the day, so your game care is even more important. If you are not going to butcher your own meat, I recommend Coconino Game Processing near Flagstaff. Dennis, the owner, keeps a clean shop, handles the meat properly and makes some great sausage and jerky. Millers Southwest Processing usually has a refrigerated truck at Mormon Lake. They also have done a good job for us over the years.
As far as the .243 goes; if the 12 year old shoots the .270 accurately under pressure, by all means have him use it. An elk is a big tough animal so use enough gun and a well constructed bullet. That being said, if he can't shoot it well, have him use the .243, with 100 grn. Nosler Partitions (Federal Loads them in their "Premium" line). Just limit his shots to 100 - 115 yards or less and make sure the animal is still and positioned for the bullet to get to the vitals, preferably broadside. Better to have a dead elk from a well placed .243 bullet, than a wounded one from a .270 shot poorly. Practice, practice, practice pre-season shooting the rifles and sighting in so the boys are effective when the time comes. When my son was 11 years old he shot his first elk west of Mormon lake from 80 yards with a .243. The shot was through the heart. The elk took 10 steps and dropped dead.
That time of year the majority of the elk herd will still be in the higher elevations. Look for pines, pine / oak mix, or higher firs and aspen trees. Generally the junipers hold very low numbers of elk in October and they are difficult to locate. Don't totally rule out the Mormon Lake Area it has some good hunting opportunities, just be wise how you do it. There are a lot of hunters there, because there are a lot of elk around there. Use the crowd to your advantage. There are 4 major escape routes from the lake bed where the elk feed all night. Get away from the crowd, but be on the escape routes where they go to bed for the day. Get set up well before first light. As soon as the first shot is fired be ready they are coming your way. This usually only works for the first couple of days, then they get wise to it. Don't forget your hunter orange.
There are plenty of other good spots in 6A for cows as well. If I am available one of the times you come over to scout I can go over some maps with you and possibly meet you up there if the timing works out. I will P.M. you with my phone number. This is a good hunting forum, so listen to the advice from others, but I caution you to filter it. In my experience, the "Hunting Gods" (those highly intellectual, perfect physical specimens, better than the rest of us, who think they know it all about hunting, are judgmental of the way others hunt and retrieve game without having been in the other hunters shoes or knowing all of the details); generally don't know everything or the right way when it comes down to it. We all learn as we go and hopefully become better hunters along the way. Take your boys, teach them right, let them learn through the process and have fun doing it.
Good luck,
AZ Jim
Congrats on the boys drawing a 6A Cow Elk tag. My family, friends and I have been hunting that unit for many years and have had many successful hunts. We also spend a lot of time in the unit during the off season, scouting, shed hunting, hiking and camping. Although the elk herd in that unit has declined in recent years, there are still plenty of elk and hunting opportunities. I'm sure your boys will have a great time and bring back some great memories and hopefully fill their tag. Fill their tag or not, their success will be measured by what they see, learn, and experience on the hunt. I see they drew the youth hunt tag; be sure to get them there in time for the juniors elk camp the night before. It is usually put on by RMEF and AZ G&F Dept. or similar. They will learn a lot and have a good time.
The time you spend pre-season scouting, and the homework you do in advance will help make it a more memorable experience. As far as the Quad goes, I don't have one myself, but bring yours to help retrieve the game, access some of the remote hunting areas (as long as you stay on the trails), use them legally, respect the environment and other hunters. What ever you do, don't road hunt with them (or with the truck for that matter) as you know that will not teach the boys the right way to do it, and will get you a citation.
In October you have a good chance of the roads being dry, but like Itdann stated a little rain or an early snow (although not likely), will turn the roads to glue. Even if it is dry, many of the roads are very rough, so a 4x4 with high ground clearance is highly recommended. If you have a winch or come-a-long, bring it with plenty of rope, game carts and your pack-frames as well. Be prepared for an easy retrieval or a very difficult one. You never know what challenge you may come your way. You will want to plan to get the animal field dressed ASAP and get the skin off as soon as you can, keeping the meat clean, dry and cool. October can still be fairly warm during the day, so your game care is even more important. If you are not going to butcher your own meat, I recommend Coconino Game Processing near Flagstaff. Dennis, the owner, keeps a clean shop, handles the meat properly and makes some great sausage and jerky. Millers Southwest Processing usually has a refrigerated truck at Mormon Lake. They also have done a good job for us over the years.
As far as the .243 goes; if the 12 year old shoots the .270 accurately under pressure, by all means have him use it. An elk is a big tough animal so use enough gun and a well constructed bullet. That being said, if he can't shoot it well, have him use the .243, with 100 grn. Nosler Partitions (Federal Loads them in their "Premium" line). Just limit his shots to 100 - 115 yards or less and make sure the animal is still and positioned for the bullet to get to the vitals, preferably broadside. Better to have a dead elk from a well placed .243 bullet, than a wounded one from a .270 shot poorly. Practice, practice, practice pre-season shooting the rifles and sighting in so the boys are effective when the time comes. When my son was 11 years old he shot his first elk west of Mormon lake from 80 yards with a .243. The shot was through the heart. The elk took 10 steps and dropped dead.
That time of year the majority of the elk herd will still be in the higher elevations. Look for pines, pine / oak mix, or higher firs and aspen trees. Generally the junipers hold very low numbers of elk in October and they are difficult to locate. Don't totally rule out the Mormon Lake Area it has some good hunting opportunities, just be wise how you do it. There are a lot of hunters there, because there are a lot of elk around there. Use the crowd to your advantage. There are 4 major escape routes from the lake bed where the elk feed all night. Get away from the crowd, but be on the escape routes where they go to bed for the day. Get set up well before first light. As soon as the first shot is fired be ready they are coming your way. This usually only works for the first couple of days, then they get wise to it. Don't forget your hunter orange.
There are plenty of other good spots in 6A for cows as well. If I am available one of the times you come over to scout I can go over some maps with you and possibly meet you up there if the timing works out. I will P.M. you with my phone number. This is a good hunting forum, so listen to the advice from others, but I caution you to filter it. In my experience, the "Hunting Gods" (those highly intellectual, perfect physical specimens, better than the rest of us, who think they know it all about hunting, are judgmental of the way others hunt and retrieve game without having been in the other hunters shoes or knowing all of the details); generally don't know everything or the right way when it comes down to it. We all learn as we go and hopefully become better hunters along the way. Take your boys, teach them right, let them learn through the process and have fun doing it.
Good luck,
AZ Jim
ULTRACARRY
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I would also caution you from listening to advice from someone who volinteers and probably gives the same advice to everyone that has that same tag every year. Interesting how that works. I don't volunteer to help anyone with the same info that I will be giving others. Our project Jr. Hunters are too old so why not helo someone without the "morman lake escape route". No better way to get lead slung your way than working those tunnels in semi flat land.
Maybe those people who you describe as hunting gods are just those who expend alot more effort in what they do and research, study, and do alot of homework.
BTW shed hunting shows nothing about where the elk are in October, just where they end up in march, April.
I have someone in that unit 20 days a week checking trails, tanks, tunnels, canyons, and feeding areas. And yes he does it all on foot.
Maybe those people who you describe as hunting gods are just those who expend alot more effort in what they do and research, study, and do alot of homework.
BTW shed hunting shows nothing about where the elk are in October, just where they end up in march, April.
I have someone in that unit 20 days a week checking trails, tanks, tunnels, canyons, and feeding areas. And yes he does it all on foot.
ULTRACARRY
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Sorry... Month. Too bad that's all you could pick out of it. BTW hold the rack for your deer closer to the camera.. makes it look bigger.
CODE3RUN
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Guys thanks for all the information and willingness to help. I really want to see the boys have a exciting fun and hopfully sucessful hunt. I am going to be just as or more excited than they are I think. We will have a lot of hunting before this trip but really looking forward to this one. I am starting to compile my list together of things I need for it. My next thing to buy is a gps becuase the one I have stopped working so im going to buy the Garmin Rino 120. The rest of the crew has them and I like the idea of being able to plot other users position. I also need good shooting tripod I think?
I am hoping to get at least one scouting trip prior so would be great if we could get someone who knows the area and where the elk might be. Another factor for me is I only have a 2wd truck that I pull my trailer with so im hoping I dont have a problem just getting to where ever we area going to camp. From there we will have maybe 2 4wd trucks we can take out. If someone has some gps Cordinates of places we can set up camp with the trailers that would be great. Or if one of you guys meets us out there sometime we could figure it out from there. I dont like being stuck!
We have the rifles and will shoot the 180gr nosler partition Federal with the 30-06 and 150 gr with the 270. We are planning a couple trips to the range so the boys can shoot and get used to the guns. Other than that anything else that you can suggest would be great. Like I said earlier, my buddy who is going has killed elk and lots of other stuff and as for me, I have been bow hunting off and on for 30 yrs and have taken pigs, deer,goats, sheep, but never elk and only one deer with a rifle.
I am hoping to get at least one scouting trip prior so would be great if we could get someone who knows the area and where the elk might be. Another factor for me is I only have a 2wd truck that I pull my trailer with so im hoping I dont have a problem just getting to where ever we area going to camp. From there we will have maybe 2 4wd trucks we can take out. If someone has some gps Cordinates of places we can set up camp with the trailers that would be great. Or if one of you guys meets us out there sometime we could figure it out from there. I dont like being stuck!
We have the rifles and will shoot the 180gr nosler partition Federal with the 30-06 and 150 gr with the 270. We are planning a couple trips to the range so the boys can shoot and get used to the guns. Other than that anything else that you can suggest would be great. Like I said earlier, my buddy who is going has killed elk and lots of other stuff and as for me, I have been bow hunting off and on for 30 yrs and have taken pigs, deer,goats, sheep, but never elk and only one deer with a rifle.
cjack
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I believe your skunked Bruce. I was in the same boat so I called and they told me if it wasn't posted you weren't drawn. I discovered that I had listed a CC that had a $500 limit which wasn't enough to cover the tag.. DOH!
ULTRACARRY
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Rino is a good choice for GPS and would also allow them to see where your at if you say " got one down come over and help". Pretty nice to just be able to call people if you need help to pack em out.
For the area I would recommend the 2wd would be fine and the roads are maintained well.
Let me know when your makibg a trip up and my buddy will meet you and take you in to a few and show you some others on a map. You can hint pretty close to where you camp. I would recommend checking the forecast in advance and getting some rain gear that's breathable in case it rains. You have a lot better chance shooting an elk if you can hunt even in a downpour.
For the area I would recommend the 2wd would be fine and the roads are maintained well.
Let me know when your makibg a trip up and my buddy will meet you and take you in to a few and show you some others on a map. You can hint pretty close to where you camp. I would recommend checking the forecast in advance and getting some rain gear that's breathable in case it rains. You have a lot better chance shooting an elk if you can hunt even in a downpour.
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