Taking any advice on Arizona 16a

[bjochem]

I "accidentally" drew early archery in 16A. My fault, applied based on GoHunt odds(thought was less than 0.01%) but didn't look close enough at the unit. Either way its a September limited entry in AZ so I'm going.

Not finding a lot of information out on the interwebs. For sure will call biologist before the hunt. Gladly accepting any personal experience people have.

Coming from WI pre-scouting is not an option, 27 hour drive. So it will be a 10-14 day stretch of scouting and hunting, likely middle of the month.

Have hunted several times in ID, MT and CO so do have a decent base of knowledge but by no means an expert.

 

[dan.kirkpatrick]

that should be a good hunt,,find the waterholes that are off the beaten path and older burns,,id be happy with a 16 a archery tag

 

[bjochem]

I'm becoming more happy the more I think about it. Just really unexpected because I didnt do proper homework and it through a pretty good curve in to mine and my hunting partners fall.

 

[bjochem]

Thanks for the tips BTW Dan

 

[Peesh]

Goodluck bud.

 

[BOHNTR]

This info is pretty spot on

16A Info

 

[tom_89]

I "accidentally" drew early archery in 16A. My fault, applied based on GoHunt odds(thought was less than 0.01%) but didn't look close enough at the unit. Either way its a September limited entry in AZ so I'm going.

Not finding a lot of information out on the interwebs. For sure will call biologist before the hunt. Gladly accepting any personal experience people have.

Coming from WI pre-scouting is not an option, 27 hour drive. So it will be a 10-14 day stretch of scouting and hunting, likely middle of the month.

Have hunted several times in ID, MT and CO so do have a decent base of knowledge but by no means an expert.

My buddy did 16A last year. Said it was gorgeous but brutal. Elk are few and spooky. He finally tagged out on day 10 after hiking 10 miles in. Bring good boots and lots of patience. The rut was dead quiet.

 

[bjochem]

Can anyone speak to the road quality? Can a pickup get me around to the jump off points or would a wheeler be wise? Looks like no shortage of roads on OnX

 

[bjochem]

Thanks for the info tom. Do you know when your buddy hunted? Right now I'm thinking leaving WI early on 9/11. Probably puts me in country mid to late 9/12. Then hunt till the following weekend for sure. Did he by chance encounter any nasty critters that wanted to eat him? Never gave spiders, scorpions, snakes, etc a thought but sure am now!

 

[NoWiser]

Probably almost as good of a chance of getting eaten by a lion as bit by a rattler or stung by a scorpion there.

 

[BAKPAKR]

This info is pretty spot on

16A Info

Yikes! How many tags do they give out for the 20-25 bulls in the area?

 

[rustednuts]

How many points did you burn? I honestly think you have better odds of filling a tag on a late archery than on this hunt. If you do the hunt, it won’t be a call hunt but more spot and stalk / ambush.

 

[bjochem]

Id rather deal with lions so thats good to know. Technically only 1 pt. Thats why I said I drew it accidently. I just started AZ last year so this was my second application and I had no desire to go to AZ this year. My hunting partner was a shoe in for a CO muzzleloader tag. The goal was to build points for a real good tag down the road. Not necessarily a once in a lifetime but something better than general MT tag.

 

[bjochem]

Yikes! How many tags do they give out for the 20-25 bulls in the area?

According to GoHunt 8 last year

 

[PRO MO]

i've been going to that unit quail hunting for almost 20 years. there will be snakes out that time of year. never seen a scorpion there, but they are around. The elk are really only in two areas in that unit. I've never hunted the Hualapai's but further south the roads are mostly accessible by 4x4. i usually ride a wheeler around tho. some of the less used roads can get pretty hairy.

 

[Bullshot]

This is going to make a great live hunt report thread when the time comes. Just keep the unit info off it!

 

[bjochem]

This is going to make a great live hunt report thread when the time comes. Just keep the unit info off it!

I guess I can try to do my best

 

[Mustangs Rule]

Your primary mission, your number one priority on this hunt, is not to get snakebit. I speak from vast experience, having extensively hunted the southwestern deserts of both Arizona and California, and having lived in both states in areas where rattlesnakes were just part of my lifestyle.

I had two seasons, snakes are out season, snakes are in season.

I have successfully hunted my desert ram, made hunting desert deer a lifestyle, and have hunted desert elk. Always I have waited to do so after three nights when temperatures got below freezing, which began the "snakes are in season",

Mid-September is a time when rattlers are very active needing to feed before hibernation.

My most active period of hunting when rattle snakes were out was during the summer and fall, for wild boar on huge barely ranches. With grain crops and rodents, it was "rattlesnake-land".

I just adore my Chippewa snake boots, they come up to my knees, are comfortable and i can hike in them all day. My friends have used snake gaiters.

My preferred method of hunting desert big game is to engage in multiday tracking hunts. I of course hear all the time about knowing and finding water sources. My experience is under hunting pressure they drink at night.

I would highly suggest that you buy some chemical grade citric acid powder and keep a measured amount in a small container to be mixed with 8 ounces of water to create a spray that has a pH below 4. That will greatly limit bacterial growth on your meat in the heat, and also keep dirty flies off while dressing out.

Meat bags are of course a must. The extra safe part about a tracking hunt is always keeping your eyes on the ground is "snake smart"

For me the most enjoyable of all hunts are for desert game. I am 78 now and those days have passed but i remember them with a huge smile.

 

[MTGomer]

I have a pair of turtle skin gaiters. They help you walk with a little more confidence in snakes country and while warm, are not as miserable as snake boots.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

More on food sources for desert deer, elk and wild sheep in desert mountains. The time you are going should be when Pinyon Pines, Gambrel Oaks and Mesquite trees are all beginning to drop their seed/pods. Far and away the Mesquite seed pods and pinyon pine seeds are so much sweeter than acorns. Pinyon pines are higher up in elevation, mesquites are mid-lower elevation.

Call local biologists about the expected times and places for these natural sweet food sources. When these sweet desert mast crops are happening, the game animals will be there. Count on that. Find these places, use a squeeze bottle with ashes, get to understand the daily thermals and come back in three days using your approach plans.

Often I have taken desert big game with a rifle under 30 yards.


Mountain Mahogony as trees or bushes are a great food source for desert big game. Their seeds, called "Sky Fruit" is released from February through May and not a source of food during the time you will be there, but dense colonies of Mountain Mohagany as trees and shrubs are often daytime bedding areas.

Having all this plant knowledge is what it takes to fill your tag not trying to sit waterholes, which is really unethical anyway, often keeps young wild sheep from watering during the heat of the day. scares them away.