I hunted the 1-14 and my report is nearly identical. We were having some small bulls come into wallows and that was promising until all the wallows dried up by day three. Incredible country, it felt like there should have been a much higher population, but water is definitely an issue. It was hot and dry - very dry. I heard one wolf but never saw any. Several bears. I knew the success rates were only about 15% for this hunt but I also know there are some studs running around in there. It was my third choice and at least I was hunting. The most surprising part to me was the hunting pressure - it was rare that we did not run into other hunters on a nearly daily basis. The second week we were a long way from any trailhead, and it did not change anything. I have always wanted to hunt the Gila wilderness area, and I can check that off. If you are going to hunt this unit, go in with realistic expectations: lots of hunting pressure, it will be hot, success rate is 15% (and many of these are rag horns), and getting an elk out in those temps without four+ people or horses/lamas would be impossible. There were several days we did not see or hear an elk. We had one morning they were bugling good, and I should have been more aggressive.
