AS a reminder: Dont stand really close to edge, the sandstone/ granite crumbles with very little weight or movement, you dont want to see the bottom or top, depending on which way your falling on the way down. As the crow flies its not more than 50 miles to the north end of the Kaibab plateau. On a 12A early hunt, once again, dont bother with pinyon/juniper habitat types unless it has snowed. Therefore, chances for success are very low. Excellent recruitment and low winter mortality for the past two years has lead to population levels similar to the early 90s. Unlike the early hunt, the late hunt is managed for harvesting older aged deer, having high hunter success, and low density of hunters. Come join the discussion about safety, gear, tips, tricks, optics, gunsmithing, reviews, reports, accessories, classifieds, and more! There are very few elk in this unit. Finally, enjoy the finest terrain, climate, and surroundings that nature has to offer, the Kaibab Plateau. These areas are open to foot and horseback travel only. I've made far worse mistakes for sure. Antelope, Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer, Chukar. Areas: The Buckskin Mountains in the central portion of the unit contains the highest densities of deer and is best to hunt after mid-October. Many hunters go home disappointed that they did not see big bucks on the early hunt, but every hunter should do their homework and know what they should expect on a hunt before setting high expectations. On the ever in demand 12A late hunt, pray (if religious) for snow. Practice with a flat shooting rifle at longer distances before the hunt begins. Although this herd is only estimated to have around 100 animals, the herd appears to be fairly stable. All three hunts are for any . A map of the zones can be found at mountain lion management zones map. Lesson learned! Use the link, or scan code to get to this page and select the questionnaire for your hunt. Elk tags are offered thru the draw system. During the fall hunt gas, food, and lodging can be found in Fredonia, Jacob Lake, and near DeMotte Park. So research first, pick better Units and the PointGuard. Seems like an expensive camping and hiking excursion in a beautiful part of the country with good friends and maybe a random elk. Hunt the travel corridors up or down from water and you will improve your odds. Hunting in the bottom of the Paria Canyon requires hiking with wet feet in sandy terrain along the Paria River. The Kaibab has supplied many happy hunting experiences in the past and will hopefully continue to do so for generations to come. Over-the-counter elk seasons are described in the 2014 pronghorn antelope and elk regulations. Arizona Wildlife Outfitters also offers some exceptional deer hunting on Mule Deer units 12A and 13B. Follow a few simple rules and your chance of success will increase exponentially. Contact Us Contact Us Thank you for your interest in our Deer and Elk Hunts. New Harvest Thresholds When the number of harvested mountain lions reaches the threshold, that zone closes to the additional harvest of mountain lions at sundown the Wednesday immediately following. Please contact the USFS North Kaibab Ranger District for further information at the phone number listed below. Elk Hunting in Arizona Game Management Unit 12A Elevations vary from 3,000' to more than 9,200', with a large plateau, the Kaibab, comprising a majority of the unit. So what do you think Bearfoot1? First, on an archery hunt dont bother with pinyon/juniper areas unless it has snowed (not likely). Other areas to consider are Badger Springs and Soap Spring along the Vermillion Cliffs within the wilderness area. The Paria Plateau in eastern 12B has the lowest density of deer and is not part of the migratory herds from the Kaibab Plateau or the Paunsaugunt. This is my first year being drawn for elk and got a tag for all 12 and 13 units for any elk and this tag is good until April of 19. During the early 12B hunts, deer are typically concentrated in the pinyon-juniper and along meadow edges at higher elevations in the Buckskins, southwest toward Snake Gulch. BOOK YOUR HUNT. Waterhole hunting becomes less productive as frost begins to supply the need for water. I had a similar tag 10 years ago for the Kaibab proper. Since 2016 a slight decline in the number of squirrels observed has taken place. The Department reminds hunters that bison within these hunt areas may not be present during the hunt. Game and fish would rather have hunters do it legally. While realistically many of the heard bulls with average 280-330" in both units. Come join the discussion about safety, gear, tips, tricks, optics, gunsmithing, reviews, reports, accessories, classifieds, and more! The Grand Canyon National Park is not open to hunting. During big winter storms, unit experiences snowfalls that can make travel hazardous. Worst case you get to explore az with some friends! On National Park Service lands, camping is restricted to designated areas. The Arizona Game and Fish Department has posted a list of leftover hunt permit-tags, as well as a printable paper application, on its website. The fall hunt is often characterized by warm to hot daytime temperatures and afternoon rains. Areas: Any areas with concentrations of deer or sheep often have lions associated with them. The average age of a buck harvested on the late hunts has climbed from just over two years of age to over 4 years of age in the past several years, yearling buck weights have stabilized at an acceptable level in recent years and as a result antler development has been excellent. Watching waterholes that have turkey sign around them provide the turkey hunter with the best opportunity to bag a bearded turkey during this often dry time of the year. By this time of year the deer are visiting water in the dark. The average Boone and Crockett score for the last 5 years has been in the mid-150s. . The elevation in this area ranges from approximately 1,490' near Lake Mead to more than 8,000' in the Virgin Mountains. Areas: It may be hard to believe but the likelihood of running into an older age class buck, as near as the author can tell, is just about equal almost anywhere on the plateau. Cold nights are the norm in all seasons, specially in non summer months. Have fun, Maybe the trees will be in fall colors when your there, Beautiful colors that time of year. Finally, remember that you could be sitting in the office and enjoy the opportunity to get away and take part in the oldest most admirable sport there is. However, locating and harvesting an antlerless deer is likely to become more challenging as these animals become more educated about two-legged visitors to the plateau. But if you go, Good Luck!!!! They were good 330-350 bulls. Elk Hunting Arizona Elk 2a,2b,2c Ronin75 Oct 26, 2019 Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum Become a supporting member R Ronin75 Well-Known Member Joined Feb 29, 2012 Messages 570 Oct 26, 2019 #1 Anyone have experience hunting the above units for elk? The premium late season rut hunts in Unit 12A-East have the highest success rates on big mule deer, but lots of huge bucks have been taken in the early rifle and archery hunts. Chukar are not numerous anywhere in Kanab Creek or its associated drainages. From the South: None. As the fall progresses the deer become more and more secretive. Does that sound confusing? This is the classic western mule deer hunt. Be prepared for remote camping as the only amenities during the spring hunt are at Jacob Lake and in Fredonia. Be prepared for extreme weather. From the West: State Hwy 389 Hunt success figures have fluctuated around the 40-50% range for the last decade, some of the highest hunt success for mule deer in the state. Dont be a statistic. It is the hunters responsibility to know where they are and the state line is patrolled heavily by both Utah and Arizona law enforcement. Overview: The world famous, or infamous, Kaibab Mule Deer herd. Waterhole hunting becomes less productive as frost begins to supply the need for water. The majority of the unit is public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management. Use the link, or scan code to get to this page and select the questionnaire for your hunt. Keep movements to a minimum, scan the surrounding area constantly, and listen for turkey vocalizations. The separation of 12BW from 12B was designed to limit the number of hunters and the deer harvest on the Paria Plateau, but not restrict a hunter with a 12B permit to only hunting the Paria Plateau. From the West: U.S. Hwy 89A Arizona is landlocked, and its terrain is comprised of deep canyons, high- and low-elevation deserts, many natural rock formations, and volcanic mountain ranges. The current population estimate is around 250 bighorn sheep. This behavior includes becoming more and more nocturnal, spending more time in thick aspen and mixed conifer stands, and remaining in unroaded canyon habitats. We consider 5B North to have 350+ potential on early archery hunts. And that 20% species distribution may lie 100% within private lands. Large numbers of domestic sheep grazed on the Paria Plateau, Vermilion Cliffs, and Paria Canyon until the 1960s when the Bureau of Land Management converted all grazing permits to cattle only. Take care in species identification before dropping the hammer. A good pair of binoculars and spotting scope will improve the chance of taking a trophy bull. I will get my elk tag, hope for a turkey tag, and chase the best looking squirrels anywhere, The Kaibab. . If I was going in to there I'd focus on the Mt. Page, Marble Canyon, Jacob Lake, Cliff Dwellers, Fredonia, Major Highways and Roads Leading To Grouse hunting is a great excuse to come to the Kaibab to enjoy a cooler climate. If frost has cured out the summer range forage and some cold weather has struck, concentrate your efforts in the pinyon/juniper areas and even farther out in the sage and open canyon country. With conditions slowly improving in the burned area of 12AW, and with the initiation of a landscape scale habitat restoration effort, the outlook for the Kaibab deer herd is indeed very optimistic. Arizona units down on the border can also provide some good mule deer hunting. Antlerless hunters continue to enjoy high hunt success. Drier habitat conditions further to the east limit use of this area. Also, before the hunt begins, study topo maps and enlist the aid of others who have hunted the area before. Under alternative management these favorable ratios should be maintained or even improved. Likewise, hunters who want to hunt the Paria Plateau must apply for a 12B permit. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I was thinking about that hunt also . Sir, Cut your losses and stay home, worst unit almost in whole state. The health and longevity of this winter range is critical to the long term sustainability of the 12A deer herd. I am just curious ,my first thoughts were not many bulls but maybe big? Jacob Lake Campground, administered by Kaibab National Forest, intersection of U.S. 89A and State Hwy 67 at Jacob Lake; DeMotte Campground, Kaibab National Forest, Hwy 67; Grand Canyon National Park, North Rim. Blue Grouse, Kaibab Squirrel, Merriams Turkey, Mountain Lion, Mule Deer. Deer begin to move down from the top Buckskin Mountains to the pinyon-juniper and sagebrush flats as the snow pushes them off the plateau during the late hunt. Being prepared on this hunt is even more crucial than on the early hunt. After an opening day of this activity plan on spending the next nine days in the same manner. This is the classic western mule deer hunt. Learn more. Hunters who have no desire to hunt the Paria Plateau and want to hunt the Buckskins or the west side winter range should apply for a 12BW permit. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Look for areas with mixed conifer, aspens, and berry bushes in close proximity. . Most of House Rock Valley is fairly flat with low rolling hills, so it is important to be able to locate the antelope from a distance and plan your stalk according to the surrounding terrain and conditions. As indicated by checkstation records, the average mature buck produced by the Kaibab is a 3-5 year old 23-25 four point. Getting off the road and into the canyons will improve your observations of mule deer bucks, especially mature ones. Often roosting turkeys will respond to these calls giving a hunter a location to begin the mornings hunt. The nonpermit-tag hunts in Units 12A and 12B are open through Dec. 31, while the nonpermit-tag hunts in Units 13A and 13B are open through Sept. 11, then again from Nov. 4 through Dec. 31. Temperatures and conditions may shift from temperate to extreme in the space of several hours. Being in position at first shooting light can be critical as the big boys are often bedded down for the day within minutes of the sun breaking the horizon. Current data indicates that buck:doe ratios are excellent. Enjoy the natural splendor of the Kaibab Plateau, revel in your good fortune at having a tag, but most of all be a responsible sportsman and represent our sport in the best manner possible. Areas: Any areas with concentrations of deer often have lions associated with them. However, locating and harvesting an antlerless deer is likely to become more challenging as these animals become more educated about two-legged visitors to the plateau. Your big game hunter questionnaire may no longer be mailed to you. Finally, mule deer throughout their range are altering their behavior as hunting pressure increases. The Kaibab Plateau ranges from 6,000 to 9,200; vegetation consists of ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, and aspen. Be patient, many long time grouse hunters often return to camp, after a long day of walking, with an empty vest. The Paria Plateau to the east has the lowest number of deer. There are generally one or two herds on South Canyon Point; however this area is more difficult to access as there are few roads in the area. Come prepared for all types of weather. If there are any elk they migrate down from Utah and move south until the canyon stops them. If you are fortunate enough to receive a coveted 12A or 12B deer tag you might consider purchasing a mountain lion tag before heading to the units. Huge bucks, forkhorns, and even does have been the objects of desire for hunters in this unit. Areas for hunting elk in this unit vary according to the time period in which the hunt occurs. Toggle between terrain, satellite, and topographic views, 1st choice license applications and licenses drawn, Draw odds for resident and nonresident applicants, Harvest stats by hunt_code, manner, season, sex, type, Average # of days between precip or snow event, Probability of other weather events (thunder, hail, etc) by by month. Overview: According to David Brown in Arizona Game Birds the Blue grouse is a native of the Kaibab Plateau and restricted locals in the White Mountains. The Warm Springs and Nail Canyon areas in 12AW, the Cocks Combs area in 12AE, and the Paria Platea have seen harvests in recent years and are good starting points. Identification seems to be a prevalent problem for first time grouse hunters as poult turkeys, Band-tailed Pigeons, and even Northern Goshawks are often mistaken for grouse. The terrain in this unit could generally be described as plateau/canyon country. Advertise on HuntScore and reach hunters interested in this hunting unit! I did find some ancient droppings from over a year before but no elk. Hunters obtaining an elk tag should be aware that this unit has few elk and is considered a limited opportunity hunt. Desire for hunters in this unit vary according to the time period in which the hunt the mid-150s considered limited... 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