Huge bucks, forkhorns, and even does have been the objects of desire for hunters in this unit. *There are currently no Population Management Seasons for elk tags available for successfully drawn deer hunters in Units 12A East and/or West. If I was going in to there I'd focus on the Mt. Concentrate your efforts in areas with waterholes (not necessarily on the water), as the plateau is often dry at this time of the year. A few, very few elk wander south from Utah now and then. Getting off the road and into the canyons will improve your observations of mule deer bucks, especially mature ones. A unit may have 80% public land, but a particluar species may only occupy 20% on the entire area. JM. Yearly reported harvest figures fluctuate around 1 dozen lions with most of these animals taken by houndsmen during the winter months. Books and countless articles have been written on the subject. Studies have shown that the Paunsaugunt deer arrive in Unit 12B in mid-October through early November, extending southward about 8 miles into Arizona. The grouse season in the fall provides a beautiful time to camp on the Kaibab and an inability to locate grouse is a great excuse for enjoying some of the finest scenery and weather Arizona has to offer. Be prepared for extreme weather. Sir, Cut your losses and stay home, worst unit almost in whole state. But it is any elk so.At least you'll get to see a lot of the Grand Canyon. As the season progresses mule deer bucks on the plateau become more and more secretive. The health and longevity of this winter range is critical to the long term sustainability of the 12A deer herd. Actually, n reports of elk have been reported in these areas or in the unit for the last couple of years. Dispersed camping is allowed along BLM routes. In the recent past several bucks taken on the Kaibab have been entered into the record books. Overview: Desert bighorn sheep were eliminated from Unit 12B in the early 1900s probably due to diseases they received from interacting with domestic sheep. Adjust your hunting strategies accordingly and have fun. 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. Large swings indicate a good layering system should be used. Elevations vary from 3,000' to more than 9,200', with a large plateau, the Kaibab, comprising a majority of the unit. Approximately 20% of Arizona's elk hunting opportunity is found in this unit. Some bighorns have also been taken from the north rim of the Paria Canyon and near spring sources along the Vermilion Cliffs. Come join the discussion about safety, gear, tips, tricks, optics, gunsmithing, reviews, reports, accessories, classifieds, and more! The health and longevity of this winter range is critical to the long term sustainability of the 12A deer herd. The bulls I saw near Bryce were while mule deer hunting. The Grand Canyon National Park is not open to hunting. Since 2016 a slight decline in the number of squirrels observed has taken place. Concentrate your efforts in areas with rim-rock and significant changes in elevation. Most of the scouting packages we offer are two days. There are several small herds that reside on the north side of Highway 89A in the grassland. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Elevation ranges are based on weather stations in or near the unit. Does that sound confusing? Essentially, it could take decades of applying to get drawn for a premier hunt for one of Arizona's world class mule deer. Northern half of the unit is ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forest, rolling hills, and high mountains. 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. This squirrel is most active early in the morning and just prior to dark and is always associated with Ponderosa Pines. I think may try to look for antlers first. During the spring hunt be prepared for cold temperatures and even snow. Bureau of Land Management, AZ Strip Field Office 435 688-3200 The Grand Canyon National Park is not open to hunting. As the fall progresses the deer become more and more secretive. The elk nonpermit-tags are not valid in all units statewide. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. The majority of the unit is public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management. While realistically many of the heard bulls with average 280-330" in both units. Overview: The world famous, or infamous, Kaibab Mule Deer herd. Read about advertising on huntscore here. Current data indicates that buck:doe ratios are excellent. J John McLaughlin Registered Drier habitat conditions further to the east limit use of this area. That is not a problem since the other units may not have any elk at all. During the spring hunt be prepared for cold temperatures and even snow. Want to hunt as soon as 1-3 years? Update: In 2008, the Arizona Game and Fish Department discontinued aerial flights on the Kaibab National Forest to locate bison prior to hunts because so few bison were observed in previous years. Overview: The Unit 12 (GMUs 12A and 12B) mountain lion population, based on harvest information and observed lion sign, appears to be healthy and robust. 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. The Kaibab Squirrel is a subspecies of the Aberts Squirrel which is found only on the Kaibab Plateau, Mount Logan, and Mount Trumbull. 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. Public land and private land percentages can sometime be misleading. The large canyons and rocky areas that form the edges of the Kaibab and Paria plateaus are likely areas to locate lion sign. The Vermillion Cliffs and Paria Plateau in 12BE, the western side of Buckskin Mountain, and the Gunsight peninsula including Kanab Creek and Snake Gulch have seen harvests in recent years, and are good starting points. Worst case you get to explore az with some friends! According to Arizona Game and Fish, Hunt No. Game and fish would rather have hunters do it legally. Remember this deer herd is extremely migratory and will remain at higher elevations until significant snowfall pushes them off. Overview: The Unit 12A Mountain Lion population, based on harvest information and observed lion sign, appears to be healthy and robust. BOOK YOUR HUNT. 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. Come prepared for all types of weather. Also, before the hunt begins, study topo maps and enlist the aid of others who have hunted the area before. By this time of year the deer are visiting water in the dark. Both of these units make up a portion of . Your big game hunter questionnaire may no longer be mailed to you. This behavior includes becoming more and more nocturnal, spending more time in thick aspen and mixed conifer stands, and remaining in unroaded canyon habitats. Harvesting birds should be viewed as a bonus. Some lions have been harvested incidental to these other activities. If the deer are low and you glass enough it will pay off. Unit 12A - first choice. The best hunting techniques include walking, and watching and listening while sitting with your back to a tree. Arizona is landlocked, and its terrain is comprised of deep canyons, high- and low-elevation deserts, many natural rock formations, and volcanic mountain ranges. Elk season dates can be found in the regulations. Bachelor herds are typically broken up by this hunt and bucks can be relatively evenly distributed throughout the plateau. Follow a few simple rules and your chance of success will increase exponentially. Remember this deer herd is extremely migratory and will remain at higher elevations until significant snowfall pushes them off. If outside of wilderness you may drive cross country to retrieve your animal. Fredonia, Marble Canyon, Page, Kanab, UT, Major Highways and Roads Leading To If I draw a 12A deer tag I will be there around Labor Day. Contact Us Contact Us Thank you for your interest in our Deer and Elk Hunts. This area will provide an excellent opportunity for archery and early season general deer hunters for the foreseeable future. Are you an outfitter, hunting guide, game processor or local hotel? The Kaibab Plateau ranges from 6,000 to 9,200; vegetation consists of ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, and aspen. The elevation in this area ranges from approximately 1,490' near Lake Mead to more than 8,000' in the Virgin Mountains. Be patient, many long time grouse hunters often return to camp, after a long day of walking, with an empty vest. A total of 52 desert bighorn sheep were transplanted in the Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs area in 1984 and 1985 from unit 15B near Lake Mead. By this time of year the deer are visiting water in the dark. 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. During the winter months access to areas within Unit 12 can be extremely limited, even nonexistent. If there are any elk they migrate down from Utah and move south until the canyon stops them. After a snow storm a hunter will drive the roads found within the Unit 12 winter deer range early in the morning looking for tracks. This is a small resident herd and is not part of the deer that migrate from Paunsaugunt or the Kaibab. The Kaibab has supplied many happy hunting experiences in the past and will hopefully continue to do so for generations to come. Salt licks are a great attractant for deer and provide the same opportunity as waterholes. Grouse, like squirrels, appear to be most active early in the morning but walking throughout the day can result in flushed birds. One of the few spots in the country to see Buffalo as well. On the ever in demand 12A late hunt, pray (if religious) for snow. Finally, mule deer throughout their range are altering their behavior as hunting pressure increases. Our Arizona late-season elk hunts are a great hunt for hunters that want to experience bachelor herds of bull elk. Alluvial sandy soils occur throughout most of the unit and vegetation is sparse, consisting mainly of sagebrush at lower elevations and pinyon-juniper trees at higher elevations. Therefore, chances for success are very low. Be prepared for remote camping as the only amenities during the spring hunt are at Jacob Lake and in Fredonia. After an opening day of this activity plan on spending the next nine days in the same manner. The grouse season in the fall provides a beautiful time to camp on the Kaibab and an inability to locate grouse is a great excuse for enjoying some of the finest scenery and weather Arizona has to offer. Grouse hunting is a great excuse to come to the Kaibab to enjoy a cooler climate. Please contact any department office for additional information or to purchase an elk OTC tag. The prepared hunter is often the successful hunter. I did find some ancient droppings from over a year before but no elk. Notice: Archery deer hunters Unit 12B and 12B West are not an open area for over-the-counter tag holders since 2008. From the North: U.S. Hwy 89 The majority of elk in this unit are located on National Forest lands in the southern part of the unit. No motor vehicles are allowed in the Paria Canyon/Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area. The effects of the 58,000 acre Warm Fire during the summer of 2006 appear to be largely positive for the foreseeable future with an incredible aspen, forb, and grass response being noted. The Warm Springs and Nail Canyon areas in 12AW and the Cocks Combs area in 12AE are good starting points. JavaScript is disabled. 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. During the fall hunt gas, food, and lodging can be found in Fredonia, Jacob Lake, and near DeMotte Park. Create a free account to read the rest of this elk hunting note! Overview: Unit 12A, world famous for the Kaibab Deer Herd, is also home to one of the premier turkey populations in the state of Arizona. At the time, the local WM told me that the local ranchers will "dispose" of any elk they find out there because elk compete with cattle for winter feed. 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