This is probably me over thinkin it

[Hilljackoutlaw]

Do I really need to worry about drug mules and illegals hunting in the homeland security issues zone in Arizona?
I was just doing some google earth scouting and Arizonas website said "quality of hunt in these areas may be affected"

Anyone ever hunted those zones and if so did you have any issues?

 

[rjthehunter]

Okay, off topic with this response, but it seems fitting.

A number of years ago when my grandpa was on an elephant hunt in Africa, they came across some elephant poachers. Instantly all the trackers started shooting at these 2 poachers. The guide/professional hunter tells my grandpa he can shoot if he wants to but doesn't have to. (he didn't) A couple guys took off on foot to try to catch them and they actually caught one of the guys. They brought him back to the town and well that's where the story ends... For him and us. They gave my grandpas the guys sandles as a souviner. I guarantee a lot less people would illegally cross the border if border patrol started trying to shoot at them.

 

[tjones]

I guarantee a lot less people would illegally cross the border if hunters started trying to shoot them.

You can’t be serious? Hopefully this is a poor attempt at humor.

 

[rjthehunter]

You can’t be serious? Hopefully this is a poor attempt at humor.

Hunters is the wrong word. I wouldn't expect hunters to shoot at people. Border patrol is what I'm looking for.

 

[Hilljackoutlaw]

Okay, off topic with this response, but it seems fitting.

A number of years ago when my grandpa was on an elephant hunt in Africa, they came across some elephant poachers. Instantly all the trackers started shooting at these 2 poachers. The guide/professional hunter tells my grandpa he can shoot if he wants to but doesn't have to. (he didn't) A couple guys took off on foot to try to catch them and they actually caught one of the guys. They brought him back to the town and well that's where the story ends... For him and us. They gave my grandpas the guys sandles as a souviner. I guarantee a lot less people would illegally cross the border if border patrol started trying to shoot at them.

That's quite the experience right there.

 

[KipCarson]

No experience in AZ but I’ve hunted the TexMex border a good bit, just carry a side arm and sleep peacefully! I’m sure it’s possible you could run into some hairy situations but hey that’s hunting right?!

 

[dirtclod Az.]

Illegals don't want anything to do with you.They will try to avoid you.Just like Ratlesnakes they
try to run rather than fight.Ha!,Ha!
Stay vigilant,lock your truck and keep a clean camp.They want to get into the U.S. they
don't want to get dead.

 

[bobbydean]

I would avoid the border. You might run into the family group looking for a better life. You might run into the smugglers of drugs or people; they are not harmless.

 

[daltrix99]

I've run into camps used by illegal crossers on the Texas border; I assume it is a similar dilemma to Arizona. Federal LE down there was very explicit in warning us about the danger of encountering drug mules.

 

[dirtclod Az.]

I would avoid the border. You might run into the family group looking for a better life. You might run into the smugglers of drugs or people; they are not harmless.

Either is a Rattlesnake.Nuff Said'

 

[Hilljackoutlaw]

Sounds good thanks guys. I'll be mostly hunting up by the Gunnison Hills so not right on top of the border but still within the zone.

 

[dirtclod Az.]

Fullly loaded shotgun can make the difference.Quail hunting is excellent down south.

 

[Hilljackoutlaw]

Fullly loaded shotgun can make the difference.Quail hunting is excellent down south.

Do you need a special tag or permit for the quail?

 

[Hilljackoutlaw]

Do you need a special tag or permit for the quail?

I could look it up, but I'm lazy.

 

[Oak]

I've hunted on the border two times, and I mean right on the border. Both times we observed illegals and heavy CPB presence, but far less of both the second time (2014) vs. the first time (2009). I was never fearful of encounters either year, including in 2009 when 3 UI's walked by us at about 10 yards while we were glassing. Hola!

In 2009 we were bivvied out overnight in an area and ended up with a CBP helicopter with a floodlight circling over our area for an hour because a CBP officer had been wounded by a smuggler to our north, and they suspected he was heading for the border. In 2014 we had a CBP officer come and check on us at our glassing point because a drone had spotted us. But overall my experiences wouldn't keep me from hunting the border in the future. I did use a Club on my truck when I left it parked for long periods of time.

You can’t be serious? Hopefully this is a poor attempt at humor.

Probably my most startling experience on the border was my very first day there in 2009. We were driving a 2-track and nearly had a head-on with a CBP truck going the opposite direction. We stopped and had a good conversation with them. We asked about what to expect, and they said we would likely see many UI's, but that most of them were harmless. They explained that the ones to steer clear of were the ones carrying large backpacks, often looking like burlap. They said that since we were carrying guns, we could fire warning shots to make them drop their cargo, and then call the CBP to report it. It sounded like the type of advice that would get someone hurt someday.

 

[dirtclod Az.]

Do you need a special tag or permit for the quail?

Outlaw,Az.hunting license is all that needed,that and a pair of needlenose pliers to pull
all the Cactus needles outta Yo' azz!Ha!,Ha!Good Luck...

 

[88man]

I got checked out by border patrol in way southern New Mexico

 

[Oregon_Ryan]

I used to live along the border in SE Arizona. I've hunted and backpacked in the Huachuca, Dragoon and Chiricahua mountains, along with NF land in the valleys. I've encountered both drug mules and migrants in the backcountry but never had a problem with either group. One time my party and a group of mules met on a back country trail. We stood off to the side, didn't make eye contact and just let them on their way. Don't go looking for a confrontation, be aware of your surroundings and you'll be fine. "Firing warning shots", like that CPB officer apparently advised is a great way to get shot. Don't do that.

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

I've hunted on the border two times, and I mean right on the border. Both times we observed illegals and heavy CPB presence, but far less of both the second time (2014) vs. the first time (2009). I was never fearful of encounters either year, including in 2009 when 3 UI's walked by us at about 10 yards while we were glassing. Hola!

In 2009 we were bivvied out overnight in an area and ended up with a CBP helicopter with a floodlight circling over our area for an hour because a CBP officer had been wounded by a smuggler to our north, and they suspected he was heading for the border. In 2014 we had a CBP officer come and check on us at our glassing point because a drone had spotted us. But overall my experiences wouldn't keep me from hunting the border in the future. I did use a Club on my truck when I left it parked for long periods of time.


Probably my most startling experience on the border was my very first day there in 2009. We were driving a 2-track and nearly had a head-on with a CBP truck going the opposite direction. We stopped and had a good conversation with them. We asked about what to expect, and they said we would likely see many UI's, but that most of them were harmless. They explained that the ones to steer clear of were the ones carrying large backpacks, often looking like burlap. They said that since we were carrying guns, we could fire warning shots to make them drop their cargo, and then call the CBP to report it. It sounded like the type of advice that would get someone hurt someday.

Was the hunting any good with all that activity?

 

[Oak]

Was the hunting any good with all that activity?

Sure. There was very little hunting activity because tags are so limited for the December hunts. The 2009 trip we hunted for 13 days and only saw one other deer hunter, surprisingly one of the other two NR. If you think about it, the earlier deer seasons along the border have upwards of 800 tags each. That's a heck of a lot of people roaming around and you rarely hear of anyone having bad encounters.