New member in AZ

[ArtP]

Hi all, just created my account and need to hit 10 posts apparently before I can create threads in other forums.

I'm a lifelong Arizona resident, and I've been hunting small game for most of my adult life. Mostly quail, occasionally rabbits and squirrels. I've been applying for deer and elk for years, and finally got lucky this year and drew a bull tag with 9 bonus points. It's a late hunt in either 5B or 6A. As I've never really had the opportunity to get out and hunt big game, I think it's going to be a big learning experience for me. I'm already feeling a little worried that I will have no clue what I'm doing, so if anyone wants to offer any kind of advice or tips or pointers on how to hunt elk in the late hunt, I would be very grateful.

Thanks!

 

[Lostinthewoods]

Congrats on drawing the tag.

 

[ArtP]

Thanks! I'm extremely excited. In fact, two of my brothers also drew this year. We all put in for the same two hunts, but still waiting to find out if we all drew for the same unit. We're all pretty much newbie big game hunters.

 

[Elkhunter24]

Welcome from PA!

 

[typhoon916]

Good luck ... I wanna come to that state at some point in my life .

 

[pabearhunter]

Welcome aboard.

 

[ArtP]

Thanks, all, for the warm welcome. There's probably not a lot of point in scouting this early in the year, but I picked up a new pair of 12x binoculars, and some .300 WM ammo on sale. Also bought a Primos cow and calf call. My hunt is well after the rut I think, so I don't know how effective calling will be, but figured it couldn't hurt to have.

 

[ArtP]

Draw results are available, I drew a bull tag in 5B, mid-winter hunt. I can't wait! But I don't even know where to start on finding animals at that time of the year.

 

[CouesKelly]

Draw results are available, I drew a bull tag in 5B, mid-winter hunt. I can't wait! But I don't even know where to start on finding animals at that time of the year.

Post rut those bulls will be in the canyons. Search the map for places you won't want to pack a bull out of and start looking there.

 

[ArtP]

Post rut those bulls will be in the canyons. Search the map for places you won't want to pack a bull out of and start looking there.

Thanks for the advice! I know some parts of the unit pretty well, so I have some canyons in mind that I can check out. I guess scouting will probably not be that worthwhile until after the rut?

 

[CouesKelly]

Well they could be in some of the same areas now. The bulls are bachelored up and there really hasn't been any snow to push them out of the areas they went post rut. The only thing that may have moved them is lack of feed or water. It has been really dry so they are likely near water sources right now too.

Also, scouting to just get to know the roads and glassing points and stuff is good too.