Anyone in unit 1?

tmbr_hntr · Sep 10, 2020

Headed down for my sons archery elk hunt. Anyone there? Bulls going off? They have been going good for last few days in ID where I've been. Everything looks setup for a great hunt for him. Can't wait to hit the mts. We'll miss opening morning, but will be there for the rest of the season.

BGbasbhat · Sep 10, 2020

Good luck to you elkocd. I had this tag last year and was a bunch of fun. I never messed much in the major burn areas, since that's where alot of people were. Flats and PJs hold elk too!

azbiggame · Sep 13, 2020

good advise from above, their over Labor Day weekend ... most/many waterholes dry !!! High country to low hold elk in this GREAT ELK UNIT, Good Luck
Bruce & SilverGrand

tmbr_hntr · Sep 14, 2020

Seen a lot of(30+)bulls so far, but most have been small. Only one decent one. Not too sure what to expect as far as quality. Thought it would be better.

Broadside_Shot · Sep 14, 2020

I would love to hear how this hunt goes. I am a non resident and have been applying for this unit. I have 17 points and want to make the most of the hunt when I draw. Good Luck!!!

AZGuy · Sep 14, 2020

Broadside_Shot said:
I would love to hear how this hunt goes. I am a non resident and have been applying for this unit. I have 17 points and want to make the most of the hunt when I draw. Good Luck!!!

there are better units with 17 points.

BOHNTR · Sep 14, 2020

Saw a solid 350” bull yesterday in 1.

Lancetkenyon · Sep 14, 2020

BOHNTR said:
Saw a solid 350” bull yesterday in 1.

You mean 250".....right?

BOHNTR · Sep 14, 2020

Ha....yeah, yeah, I meant 250”. ?

tmbr_hntr · Sep 19, 2020

chuckD said:
there are better units with 17 points.

From what I've seen I'd have to agree. I've hunted elk in WY, MT, ID, OR, UT, NV, AZ. Plenty of bulls in the 300ish range, but not really seeing the quality to justify 17 points.

BOHNTR · Sep 19, 2020

I guess the few I measured last year were flukes. ?

AZGuy · Sep 20, 2020

BOHNTR said:
I guess the few I measured last year were flukes. ?

No doubt they are in there it’s just not what it was years ago.

SlowElk · Sep 20, 2020

There are No Big Bulls in Arizona, nor Big Bucks!

And it's always hot and there aren't any trees for shade, only cacti?.

tmbr_hntr · Sep 21, 2020

Still looking... We've probably;y looked at 100 bulls at this point with only around 6 being over 320" Did find one absolute monster yesterday, but he is staying 500 yards on private and not coming off. With only a few days left we have decided to lower the bar and try and kill one of the bulls we know where they are and have passed up already, but are only in the 300-320 range.

It's been a fun hunt since my son drew with 5 NR points, but back to the point above about 17 points, I think I'd be super disappointed if it took that many points to get a tag. I've been on many better for a fraction of that many points.

BGbasbhat · Sep 22, 2020

Good luck to you elkocd. Finish strong!

BOHNTR · Sep 22, 2020

Just did a green score on a bull from there......real nice bull. Hunter said it seems like the prime rut is still a week or two out.

tmbr_hntr · Sep 23, 2020

Rut just hit really hard yesterday. Herd bulls in area we've been hunting all season jumped up by 20-30". Bulls going nuts. Lots of close calls last 24hrs. Down to 1 day.

SlowElk · Sep 23, 2020

elkocd said:
Rut just hit really hard yesterday. Herd bulls in area we've been hunting all season jumped up by 20-30". Bulls going nuts. Lots of close calls last 24hrs. Down to 1 day.

Now is the time to pick one and stick it!

BGbasbhat · Sep 23, 2020

Go for it elkocd! Time to get aggressive!

BOHNTR · Sep 23, 2020

Was on a dirt road near the house just inside 1 tonight. Bulls were really worked up. Saw three bulls, best one was a about 340” net type bull. The muzzy hunters are going to have a good time, it appears.

Largebull · Sep 28, 2020

1 is still My favorite unit. . Keep the negatives coming about it. Better for those that know it..........................BULL!

GilaJeff · Sep 30, 2020

Remind me to tell you about the guys from Texas who went to Unit 1 to shoot a 400" bull.....I ran into them at Safeway in Springerville. They told me they passed on a 398" bull because he wasn't 400". I am not making that up!!!

tmbr_hntr · Oct 5, 2020

patxarano said:
Remind me to tell you about the guys from Texas who went to Unit 1 to shoot a 400" bull.....I ran into them at Safeway in Springerville. They told me they passed on a 398" bull because he wasn't 400". I am not making that up!!!

I believe that.

Sorry for not following up... Went straight to WY on the 24th, shot a good general area bull and just got home.

The hunt did finally get really good the last 3 days. As said, the real herd bulls did finally show up. My son stuck to his goal and we had went after bulls in the true 340-370 range. Got really close a number of times, but we just ran out of time.

It was a fun hunt and he has no regrets. He drew it at 17 years old with 5 points. He went for broke.

Here is the little guy I shot in WY a few days later. Nothing like AZ, but also very different. If you want to read about hunting elk in Grizz country here is the story:

NW Wyoming General season bull

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rick Searcy (@ricksearcy) on Oct 5, 2020 at 9:34am PDT First real gr...

elkocd.blogspot.com

SlowElk · Oct 6, 2020

Liked your write up, got me nervous reading it. Glad you and your dad are OK!

CAelknuts · Oct 6, 2020

Great write up on your Wyoming bull experience. Scary experience, you’re fortunate to have gotten out with only a scare of what could have happened. Thanks for sharing that.

By the way... Nice bull!