If you are available when I'm out in October and want to do some scouting together after the rut is over, I'd love to meet up. I'm thinking the weekend of the 21st and probably that Monday and Tuesday. The rim seems tempting from what I've heard, but I'm also interested in some of the deep pockets in the south end too. Hence, why I'm looking to see it in person before November. Talk to you soon!
Arizona Unit 23 Late Archery Elk
- Thread starter gwhunter
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Archeryonly
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Looks like you have the support you need on this hunt. I just got a call from the AZFGD and I will be hunting this season as well! I am scrambling a bit since this was not something I planned, but I will be able to scout the week prior to the hunt.
I will also be going solo, so let me know if you end up needing some support. (plans change) I am hearing that this unit is extremely dry this year. They had a phenomenal winter last year (e.g. horn growth will be good), but virtually no monsoon and 30+ days over 110 degrees. Water may be the key this year. I hope you were able to get out in October to get a feel for the area!
I will also be going solo, so let me know if you end up needing some support. (plans change) I am hearing that this unit is extremely dry this year. They had a phenomenal winter last year (e.g. horn growth will be good), but virtually no monsoon and 30+ days over 110 degrees. Water may be the key this year. I hope you were able to get out in October to get a feel for the area!
The first 3 days of the hunt are expected to rain keep an eye on that weather if it does indeed rain those 3 days water will be everywhere 23 is full of washways and lots of slopes. The water will be in every drainage. I've hunted this unit multiple times and know for sure if it rains water will be in the deep holes the elk will hold up in.
Sorry I didn't see this I haven't been on here much I had a mule deer hunt as well I had to plan for. Unfortunately it's a little past October lol. But I hope you got out and got a feel for the area. And yes the sound end is a good area as well. I'm all ready to go for next week I'm going to be up there a couple days before opener. Likely Wednesday night. Ill make sure to check back in to see if you replied as I won't have service up there.
I did get out there in October. Found some decent sign and located a couple of elk. But nothing in the way of the type of glassing opportunities I thought I would have with my virtual scouting. It's definitely dry. I haven't been on HuntTalk much since I've been focusing on my family and work responsibilities to be able to leave for 2 weeks. I'm heading out in the morning (So I missed the first couple days of the season). I'll be staying for the first couple of days at either the Colcord campground or Valentine campground. If you're up there, let me know and we can touch base to compare notes!
Yeah, I got some good intel from actually seeing it in person. I talked to quite a few people who were out on the cow elk hunt while I was out there. I was out there for 5 days and got a pretty good feel for the unit and got to experience the areas that seem like they are going to be the best parts of the unit to hunt with archery gear. It's going to be a tough archery hunt for sure!!! But I'm planning to spend now until the end of the season if I need to. Here's hoping to filling a tag!
Hammer37
New member
Interested in if you were successful with filling this tag. Just drew late archery for unit 23. I plan on making a scouting trip or two to get boots on the ground beforehand. From what I can gather this is a tough hunt that will test anyone during the late season due to terrain, post rut activity, and needing to get within bow range. Looking forward to the challenge!!!
I did not fill my tag. The weather was crazy and daytime elk activity was not what I was expecting. It rained/snowed almost every night, just enough to fill the puddles with water, but not enough to quiet down the walking conditions. So there was almost no daytime elk activity because they didn't need to travel to get water. And any attempts to stalk within 40 yards would have been a no-go with how incredibly noisy it was. But...AT NIGHT...driving back to camp from the areas I parked, I saw elk almost every night. Always 2-3 hours after dark. All 6 point bulls. So they are in there. And it's why the early hunt takes so many points. There are a lot of roads.
Send me a message and I can send you over some more detailed notes about what I saw and where I went.
Hammer37
New member
I appreciate the input! Sounds like an elk hunt, ton of challenges with weather and terrain, still hope you enjoyed it even though the tag didn't get punched.
I'm newer on here, so have a couple more posts to make before I can PM, but once I cross that threshold I'll reach out, appreciate it!
I'm newer on here, so have a couple more posts to make before I can PM, but once I cross that threshold I'll reach out, appreciate it!
rustednuts
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I wouldn't scout until the 2 weeks before the hunt. The bulls migrate and move around a lot before the hunt.
Hammer37
New member
Appreciate the heads up! Given timing, the main scouting will be just before the hunting opener and then roll right into the hunt from there. Maybe a pre scout 2-3weeks prior if I'm able to swing it. Other than that, anything else would be more just to get the lay of the land so to speak. I like Arizona, so can never have enough excuses to visit.
Hammer37
New member
Hi gwhunter, I crossed the newbie threshold and sent you a message. All the best!
Hey Hammer, I got drawn again for this unit this year, if youd like I could put you on a spot id check. Gw is right. Its hard during the day. No glassing in the northern part of unit. Im mixing up my strategie this year and hunting northern part for the first 4 days then ending the rest about mid unit. There is alot of big bulls in the unit but theu are good at hiding. Top thirds of every ridge you come by is where youll find them bedding most the time. Also, find creeks and natural water sources as you'll only find spikes and raghors hitting the water tanks and such. Me and my brother in law had this hunt 2 years ago and I arrowed an 8x9 bull but never did find him. So not saying that those caliber of bulls are everywhere but definitely big boys in the unit and plenty of them let me know if you uave any questions. Im going to be up that way from the 14th thru the 23rd.
Madcock01
New member
My buddy drew late archery for that unit as well. Hope all the best for you and we should be out there around the same time
Hammer37
New member
Great to hear! I was out for a scouting venture late march/april to get a feel for the terrain and access, looks like a solid unit overall, lots of places for elk to go and hide, will be a challenge!My buddy drew late archery for that unit as well. Hope all the best for you and we should be out there around the same time
Hammer37
New member
Yup, I'll be out around the same, hoping to have a great experience trying get on some elk and hopefully fire an arrow at one! Man, 8x9 would be tough to stay steady on, hope you and you have a good hunt and have great success this year!
What's up everyone, new to hunttalk but I've been hunting AZ my whole life. I have the 23 late archery tag as do many of you in here. I have a little bit of intel on the unit but not a ton as I've only scouted it once. Would be more than happy to bounce ideas off of others and hopefully we can both benefit. Seemed like such a dry year in the elk woods this year, I'm curious how you all think that will effect the timing of bulls moving into their lower elevation winter ranges. I've heard that water higher up will dry up quicker so bulls will head lower earlier but I've also heard it takes snow to push them to lower elevation. Also curious with the rut starting so late this year if it will take longer for the bulls to head to their winter ranges. Thoughts?
Hammer37
New member
Being from out of state my scouting opportunities are limited, although I did make it out to the unit back in late March as a "shed hunt" but it was mostly me just driving around the unit getting an understanding of the terrain and road access. My first time hunting AZ, so I am excited for the opportunity and challenge this hunt will present.
What I've learned with elk hunting is to primarily have an adaptable hunting plan. Conditions and when/where the elk decide they want to be always seem to differ from whatever I attempt to predict haha. So, I rely on getting boots on the ground, starting wide with road travel and transitioning to hiking to gain understanding for terrain, access, conditions and ideally spot an actual elk, and then refine from there. Base camp set up closer to road access for comfort and rest. And then pack camp (sleeping bag/tarp) for when I hike in deeper to stay wherever my day ends for 2-3 day loop. This strategy may not be best for this hunt/zone/season, but just a high-level approach.
Common message from others is to find and sit water as the top strategy but I wouldn't be able to tell you anything about behavior of elk for AZ. Really just do your best to allow for enough time to check multiple areas with a route(s) that doesn't burn excessive time (i.e. full day hike just to glass/sit one spot that's a bust). Instinct tells me to start higher and then work to lower elevations if elk activity is absent up high.
What I've learned with elk hunting is to primarily have an adaptable hunting plan. Conditions and when/where the elk decide they want to be always seem to differ from whatever I attempt to predict haha. So, I rely on getting boots on the ground, starting wide with road travel and transitioning to hiking to gain understanding for terrain, access, conditions and ideally spot an actual elk, and then refine from there. Base camp set up closer to road access for comfort and rest. And then pack camp (sleeping bag/tarp) for when I hike in deeper to stay wherever my day ends for 2-3 day loop. This strategy may not be best for this hunt/zone/season, but just a high-level approach.
Common message from others is to find and sit water as the top strategy but I wouldn't be able to tell you anything about behavior of elk for AZ. Really just do your best to allow for enough time to check multiple areas with a route(s) that doesn't burn excessive time (i.e. full day hike just to glass/sit one spot that's a bust). Instinct tells me to start higher and then work to lower elevations if elk activity is absent up high.
Im from AZ and hunt this unit quite a bit this is my second late archery elk tag in here. But I hunt for deer quite a bit and sometimes bear. That being said the moment the rut stops, which will be here in a couple of weeks. Thos mature bulls dissapear into the thick. And in 23 thick is about as thick as it gets. Atleast in the northern part of the unit. Mid unit is a good place for bulls but lots of pressure. Just to remember 200 something tags and about 1 to 3 buddies per hunter. And everyone heads for those pinion junipers for an easier hunting terrain. South part of unit has bulls but way less density. Still some nice ones in there though. And snow is not that common on the late hunt in November and if it does its not much. Its a tough hunt but a Fun one me and my brother have a tag and we'll have a buddy with us keep in touch maybe we'll link up in the woods.
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