Antlerless hunters continue to enjoy high hunt success. Areas: It may be hard to believe but the likelihood of running into an older age class buck, as near as the author can tell, is just about equal almost anywhere on the plateau. JavaScript is disabled. Follow a few simple rules and your chance of success will increase exponentially. Contact Us Contact Us Thank you for your interest in our Deer and Elk Hunts. The Kaibab uplift extends into Utah about 15 miles, so a big bull might wander to the south and spend summer up in the high country (the Kaibab runs for 60 miles above 8000 ft and down at the GC park boundary it's over 9000). Often roosting turkeys will respond to these calls giving a hunter a location to begin the mornings hunt. Overview: Chukar Partridge is an overlooked game bird in this unit. Is it tough to draw, what is the hunting pressure like and elk density like. Bring binoculars and spotting scopes. The previous year a few elk were seen and even taken there, and since I had been drawn for elk the previous year I took a chance and was drawn. Remember this deer herd is extremely migratory and will remain at higher elevations until significant snowfall pushes them off. Motor vehicle travel is restricted to existing roads on all BLM land in the Unit. Elk summer in the higher elevations, and as snow depths increase, they move north to lower elevations. This behavior includes becoming more and more nocturnal, spending more time in thick aspen and mixed conifer stands, and remaining in unroaded canyon habitats. Getting off the road and into the canyons will improve your observations of mule deer bucks, especially mature ones. Elk Hunting in Arizona Game Management Unit 12A Elevations vary from 3,000' to more than 9,200', with a large plateau, the Kaibab, comprising a majority of the unit. A relatively constant output of older age-class deer has been evident, throughout the history of the plateau. Note: 12BW is the entire portion of 12B that is west of BLM road 1065 (House Rock Valley/ Coyote Valley Road), excluding the Paria Plateau. Chukar also been occasionally observed in drainages to the Colorado River and along the Vermillion Cliffs in the wilderness area in 12BE. Majority of the deer harvested on the early hunt are younger bucks around 2 years of age. Antlerless Hunting: After several years of antlerless hunting, many of the does on the plateau have become as hunter-wise as most bucks. Many hunters utilize horses and mules, snowmobiles, and other recreational vehicles to overcome these access limitations. Overview: Unit 12A is home to one of the most unique game animals in Arizona and perhaps the nation. This is the classic western mule deer hunt. 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. The elevation in this area ranges from 3,000' to 7,000'; vegetation ranges from riparian cottonwood-willow and salt cedar along the Gila River, to Chihuahuan Desert in the lower elevations a Elk hunting in this unit can be extremely difficult due to the terrain. The large canyons and rocky areas that form the edges of the Kaibab plateau, both on the east and west side of the plateau, are likely areas to locate lion sign. New Detailed bison hunt information web page. BOOK YOUR HUNT. Be prepared for snow, mud, and adverse weather conditions, and bring plenty of supplies. Over-the-counter elk seasons are described in the 2014 pronghorn antelope and elk regulations. Older age "mature" bulls are taken on a regular basis. If you have a 12B tag and are trying to decide whether to hunt 12BW or the Paria Plateau, there are a few additional things that you should consider. 12A includes the Kaibab plateau that actually starts in southern Utah and rising up to the south to 9300+ ft. If outside of wilderness you may drive cross country to retrieve your animal. Older age "mature" bulls are taken on a regular basis. Unlock the secrets of limited license lotteries and discover drawing and harvest trends to create a better hunt planning strategy. If frost has cured out the summer range forage and some cold weather has struck, concentrate your efforts in the pinyon/juniper areas and even farther out in the sage and open canyon country. The elevation in this area ranges from approximately 1,490' near Lake Mead to more than 8,000' in the Virgin Mountains. Motor vehicle travel is restricted to existing roads on all BLM land in the Unit. The Kaibab Squirrel is a subspecies of the Aberts Squirrel which is found only on the Kaibab Plateau, Mount Logan, and Mount Trumbull. With conditions slowly improving in the burned area of 12AW, and with the initiation of a landscape scale habitat restoration effort, the outlook for the Kaibab deer herd is indeed very optimistic. Also, before the hunt begins, study topo maps and enlist the aid of others who have hunted the area before. One . Mountain Lion: The Unit 12 or Zone B (GMUs 12A and 12B) Mountain Lion population, based on harvest information and observed lion sign, appears to be healthy and robust. Please contact any department office for additional information or to purchase an elk OTC tag. No motorized vehicles are allowed in BLM wilderness. From the East: State Hwy 98 This behavior includes becoming more and more nocturnal, spending more time in thick aspen and mixed conifer stands, and remaining in unroaded canyon habitats. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. From the South: U.S. Hwy 89A, Wahweap Marina Campground at Lake Powell, administered by the National Park Service; Page Lake Powell Campground, 849 S. Coppermine Rd. The Arizona Game and Fish Commission authorized over-the-counter (OTC) elk tags that include units 12A and 12B and others (see regulations). See all stats but the last 2 years with a free account! 3799 - Units 12A, 12B, 13A, and 13B have an extremely low-density elk population, about 40-50 elk combined for all four units. Once the location of turkeys has been determined getting up early, hours before first light, is critical. Overview: This unit is primarily winter range for migratory deer from both the North Kaibab Plateau in Arizona and from the Paunsaugunt Plateau in southern Utah. While calling can sometimes be productive, the most successful technique is more similar to archery hunting mule deer. But it is any elk so.At least you'll get to see a lot of the Grand Canyon. Notice: Archery deer hunters Unit 12B and 12B West are not an open area for over-the-counter tag holders since 2008. 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. Units 12A East, 12AWest and 12B require near max points, but hunters lucky enough to draw an East side Kaibab tag are in store for an incredible mule deer hunt. In addition to the 48-hr reporting requirement, the hunter (or their designee) needs to present the mountain lions skull and hide with attached proof of sex to a designated Arizona Game and Fish Department employee for inspection within 10 days of taking the mountain lion. You will find the majority of antelope south and east of the ranch and all the way out to the rim of Marble Canyon. Outdoor Hub, LLC (d/b/a Carbon Media Group), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. Unit 12A continues to provide the turkey hunter and/or wildlife enthusiast a unique opportunity to observe Merriam's Turkeys. Drier habitat conditions further to the east limit use of this area. . Proactive management steps in the form of an Alternative Management Plan and a large scale habitat improvement project in cooperation with the USFS have been taken by the Arizona Game and Fish Department in order to maintain a favorable buck:doe ratio, increase the representation of older age bucks in the population, ensure long term high quality habitat, and provide for greater hunt success. Overview: The world famous, or infamous, Kaibab Mule Deer herd. Finally, during the night, prior to a morning hunt drive the roads getting out occasionally and turkey calling. During the winter months access to areas within Unit 12 can be extremely limited, even nonexistent. The Paria Plateau, which is surrounded by the Paria canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness Area, has few roads and can only be accessed from BLM road 1065 on the west side of the plateau. This herd generally varies from 15 to 30 animals, depending on movement between 13A and Utah. Create a free account to read the rest of this terrain note! These areas are open to foot and horseback travel only. . AS a reminder: Dont stand really close to edge, the sandstone/ granite crumbles with very little weight or movement, you dont want to see the bottom or top, depending on which way your falling on the way down. Practice with a flat shooting rifle at longer distances before the hunt begins. Kaibab Natl Forest, North Kaibab District 928-643-7395 Send us an email at [emailprotected] to learn more. Scouting is recommended only a week or two prior to the start of the hunt, due to the nature of the migration pattern. Overview: Desert bighorn sheep were eliminated from Unit 12B in the early 1900s probably due to diseases they received from interacting with domestic sheep. Overview: According to David Brown in Arizona Game Birds the Blue grouse is a native of the Kaibab Plateau and restricted locals in the White Mountains. in Page; Lees Ferry Campground, 4 miles north of Marble Canyon, administered by the National Park Service. Hunt the travel corridors up or down from water and you will improve your odds. The bulls I saw near Bryce were while mule deer hunting. Finally, remember that you could be sitting in the office and enjoy the opportunity to get away and take part in the oldest most admirable sport there is. Concentrate your efforts in areas with waterholes (not necessarily on the water), as the plateau is often dry at this time of the year. The Kaibab has supplied many happy hunting experiences in the past and will hopefully continue to do so for generations to come. You know when they say that something sounds too good to be true then A forum community dedicated to hunting and fishing enthusiasts in the Arizona area. Very few deer reside in 12BW year round, making it difficult to hunt during the archery season in August and September. Its going to be HOT, if all else fails and you put in little effort, you could come away with a new pair of rattle snake boots! Lost Canyon Hunts. In the last couple of years, only a few elk have been spotted along the 12A/12B/12BW boundary on the west side of the Kaibab Plateau. Other areas to consider are Badger Springs and Soap Spring along the Vermillion Cliffs within the wilderness area. Salt licks are a great attractant for deer and provide the same opportunity as waterholes. I don't know if there is a worse hunt to be drawn for to be honest. There is also a small herd that lives just south of Fredonia in the grassland/ low shrub density areas. Check stock tanks for elk use (tracks) prior to the season. Unit 3a/3c - second choice. The premium late season rut hunts in Unit 12A-East have the highest success rates on big mule deer, but lots of huge bucks have been taken in the early rifle and archery hunts. Most of House Rock Valley is fairly flat with low rolling hills, so it is important to be able to locate the antelope from a distance and plan your stalk according to the surrounding terrain and conditions. Find areas overlooking large open expanses and plan on sitting still for hours on end and glassing until you feel like your eyes are going to fall out. The bottom line you may have to wait almost a quarter of your life to get a tag to go hunting in . And that 20% species distribution may lie 100% within private lands. I plan on going up there to scout sometime soon but was wondering if anyone has seen elk up there. If I draw a 12A deer tag I will be there around Labor Day. Since 2007 an increase in the number of squirrels observed has taken place, with the advent of more favorable environmental variables we are seeing a corresponding increase in the squirrel population. The Arizona Game and Fish Commission authorized over-the-counter (OTC) elk tags that include units 12A and 12B and others (see regulations). Your big game hunter questionnaire will no longer be mailed to you. That is not a problem since the other units may not have any elk at all. That is a huge area to even begin to scout. During the spring hunt be prepared for cold temperatures and even snow. The units lower elevations, those surrounding the plateau, consist of pinyon-juniper stands, open sagebrush, and cliff rose pushes. Unit 12A is bounded on the south by the Grand Canyon, on the west by Kanab Creek, on the east by House Rock Valley, and on the north by the Buckskin Mountains and the Arizona-Utah border. 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. Essentially, it could take decades of applying to get drawn for a premier hunt for one of Arizona's world class mule deer. Southern half of unit is south of Mogollon Rim and has some ponderosa pine forests in the higher elevatio Elk occur throughout unit from high elevation mixed conifer near the Mogollon Rim to the Sunset Mountains just south of Winslow. Jacob Lake Campground, administered by Kaibab National Forest, intersection of U.S. 89A and State Hwy 67 at Jacob Lake; DeMotte Campground, Kaibab National Forest, Hwy 67; Grand Canyon National Park, North Rim. Antelope, Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer, Chukar. So what do you think Bearfoot1? On the ever in demand 12A late hunt, pray (if religious) for snow. There are very few elk in this unit. Yearly reported harvest figures fluctuate around 1 dozen lions with most of these animals taken by houndsmen during the winter months. Unit 12A continues to provide the turkey hunter and/or wildlife enthusiast a unique opportunity to observe Merriams Turkeys. Areas: Most of the desert bighorn sheep in unit 12BE are found within the Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness Area. The vegetation in this area ranges from Great Basin desert scrub and desert grassland to pinyon-juniper and pine-oak woodlands. Elevations range from 6,500-9,000. (double face palm). I did find some ancient droppings from over a year before but no elk. Address 123 Main Street New York, NY 10001, Hours MondayFriday: 9:00AM5:00PM Saturday & Sunday: 11:00AM3:00PM. A few, very few elk wander south from Utah now and then. Pronghorn are also found along the edge of the plateau in the pinyon-juniper transition zone. As the crow flies its not more than 50 miles to the north end of the Kaibab plateau. Beginning at U.S. Hwy 89A and the Kaibab National Forest boundary near mp 566; southerly and easterly along the forest boundary to Grand Canyon National Park; northeasterly along the park boundary to Glen Canyon National Recreation area; easterly along the recreation area boundary to the Colorado River; northeasterly along the Colorado River to the Arizona-Utah state line; westerly along the state line to Kanab Creek; southerly along Kanab Creek to the Kaibab National Forest boundary; northerly, easterly, and southerly along this boundary to U.S. Hwy 89A near mp 566; except those portions that are sovereign tribal lands of the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians. If the deer are low and you glass enough it will pay off. You've got a lot of country to access. Does that sound confusing? Phone us at 928-713-4329 with any questions you may have. The large canyons and rocky areas that form the edges of the Kaibab and Paria plateaus are likely areas to locate lion sign. If you are fortunate enough to receive a coveted 12A or 12B deer tag you might consider purchasing a mountain lion tag before heading to the units. Take care in species identification before dropping the hammer. 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. Come join the discussion about safety, gear, tips, tricks, optics, gunsmithing, reviews, reports, accessories, classifieds, and more! In addition to the 48-hr reporting requirement, the hunter (or their designee) needs to present the mountain lions skull and hide with attached proof of sex to a designated Arizona Game and Fish Department employee for inspection within 10 days of taking the mountain lion. By this time of year the deer are visiting water in the dark. Although 12A/12B is not known for its record breaking antelope bucks, hunt success has typically been around 40% for archery and 100% for rifle. Be patient, many long time grouse hunters often return to camp, after a long day of walking, with an empty vest. Large swings indicate a good layering system should be used. On a 12A early hunt, once again, dont bother with pinyon/juniper habitat types unless it has snowed. While calling in a higher-pressure unit like 5A it often requires a hunter to be very mobile. A unit may have 80% public land, but a particluar species may only occupy 20% on the entire area. No motor vehicles are allowed in the Paria Canyon/Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area. From the East: U.S. Hwy 89A Be prepared for extreme weather. Some lions have been harvested incidental to these other activities. This bird was first documented in 12B in Paria Canyon, but has since been regularly observed along the Kanab Creek/ Snake Gulch drainage. Having extra spare tires would also be a good idea. Concentrate in areas dominated by this type of vegetation and look for turkey tracks in the snow, mud, dust, or around water sources. No motor vehicles are allowed in the Paria Canyon/Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area. See how weather varies by elevation within a unit by selecting an elevation range. Use common sense; dont take shortcuts as they often take a lot longer than the more sensible route. Hunt success figures have fluctuated around the 40-50% range for the last decade, some of the highest hunt success for mule deer in the state. We are a family owned and operated business. And mules, snowmobiles, and other recreational vehicles to overcome these access limitations these calls a! The higher elevations, those surrounding the plateau, consist of pinyon-juniper stands, open sagebrush, and adverse conditions! 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