The Warm Springs and Nail Canyon areas in 12AW, the Cocks Combs area in 12AE, and the Paria Platea have seen harvests in recent years and are good starting points. 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. Data currently indicates that buck: doe ratios, a very important management statistic, have rebounded as of late and are significantly higher than the statewide average. On the Kaibab Plateau the bird has a very restricted range occupying mixed conifer habitat types near the south end of the Kaibab National Forest and is also found in the Grand Canyon National Park North Rim. Over-the-counter elk seasons are described in the 2014 pronghorn antelope and elk regulations. During the fall hunt gas, food, and lodging can be found in Fredonia, Jacob Lake, and near DeMotte Park. Sir, Cut your losses and stay home, worst unit almost in whole state. Camping is allowed on BLM administered lands over most of the unit. Good boots, parkas, and camping gear can make or break your hunt. Non-resident draw odds reach 100% at ~12-13 bonus points for both units. The best hunting techniques include walking, and watching and listening while sitting with your back to a tree. On National Park Service lands, camping is restricted to designated areas. Remember this deer herd is extremely migratory and will remain at higher elevations until significant snowfall pushes them off. I don't know if there is a worse hunt to be drawn for to be honest. Elk Hunting Arizona Elk 2a,2b,2c Ronin75 Oct 26, 2019 Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum Become a supporting member R Ronin75 Well-Known Member Joined Feb 29, 2012 Messages 570 Oct 26, 2019 #1 Anyone have experience hunting the above units for elk? The Kaibab Plateau ranges from 6,000' to 9,200'; vegetation consists of ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, and aspen. Forage quality and snowfall will push the deer to the lower winter range. It excludes the Paria Plateau and any areas east of BLM road 1065. These hunts include the Arizona strip (Units 13A or 13B) or Kaibab (Units 12A East, 12A West and 12B) for mule deer. Grouse, like squirrels, appear to be most active early in the morning but walking throughout the day can result in flushed birds. As the season progresses mule deer bucks on the plateau become more and more secretive. On the ever in demand 12A late hunt, pray (if religious) for snow. Check stock tanks for elk use (tracks) prior to the season. During December, sheep are generally found at lower elevations on the talus slopes below the steep cliff faces. The Paria Plateau to the east has the lowest number of deer. This is all conjecture on my part of course. Once the location of turkeys has been determined getting up early, hours before first light, is critical. As the weather continues to cool down and the snow fall increases, Kaibab deer from the western portion of the plateau move down towards Pigeon Canyon, Toothpick Ridge and Gunsight Point, making this area best after early November. most GC visitors will hit the south side where the Grand Canyon Village is at but the North is just as amazing with fewer crowds. Lesson learned! Practice with a flat shooting rifle at longer distances before the hunt begins. The elevation in this area ranges from approximately 1,650' on the plateau region to 8,028' on Mount Trumbull. 12A includes the Kaibab plateau that actually starts in southern Utah and rising up to the south to 9300+ ft. Grouse, like squirrels, appear to be most active early in the morning but walking throughout the day can result in flushed birds. There are many stock tanks located throughout House Rock Valley and the antelope herds tend to center their activities on these water sources depending on the frequency of summer monsoons. Welcome to ahf! New Detailed bison hunt information web page. Also, several lions are sighted each year by hunters glassing canyons and watching waters. About Us; Staff; Camps; Scuba. From the West: State Hwy 389 We are a family owned and operated business. Grouse hunting is a great excuse to come to the Kaibab to enjoy a cooler climate. 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. hunter success will increase with time spent glassing. Elk season dates can be found in the regulations. BLM road 1065 runs north from U.S. Hwy 89A to U.S. Hwy 89 in Utah between the Buckskin Mountains and the Paria Plateau. Just bad luck. Scouting is recommended only a week or two prior to the start of the hunt, due to the nature of the migration pattern. 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. Unit 12A continues to provide the turkey hunter and/or wildlife enthusiast a unique opportunity to observe Merriam's Turkeys. Also, before the hunt begins, study topo maps and enlist the aid of others who have hunted the area before. In the last few years, only a few elk or elk sign has been seen, mainly around Rock Canyon and the Pine Hollow habitat treatments. There's nothing like autumn on the North Kaibab and Arizona Strip. Unit 12A - first choice. Hunt the travel corridors up or down from water and you will improve your odds. Some tags in the state may take upwards of two and a half decades to draw as a non-resident. Salt licks are a great attractant for deer and provide the same opportunity as waterholes. Overview: The world famous, or infamous, Kaibab Mule Deer herd. However, for the past few years, bison have been seen near Wall Lake, as well as along Forest Service Roads 219B, 223, 270, and 610. No motor vehicles are allowed in the Paria Canyon/Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area. The majority of Chukar observed along the rim of the Paria Plateau are in the vicinity of Bush Head, Powells Monument, and Fisher Point. This herd generally varies from 15 to 30 animals, depending on movement between 13A and Utah. Overview: The world famous, or infamous, Kaibab Mule Deer herd. The prepared hunter is often the successful hunter. This area is very isolated and will require 4-wheel drive for the soft sandy roads. Elevations vary from 3,000' to more than 9,200', with a large plateau, the Kaibab, comprising a majority of the unit. Keep movements to a minimum, scan the surrounding area constantly, and listen for turkey vocalizations. 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. Antlerless Hunting: After several years of antlerless hunting, many of the does on the plateau have become as hunter-wise as most bucks. Notice: Archery deer hunters Unit 12B and 12B West are not an open area for over-the-counter tag holders since 2008. This is a small resident herd and is not part of the deer that migrate from Paunsaugunt or the Kaibab. These areas are open to foot and horseback travel only. Areas: The Buckskin Mountains in the central portion of the unit contains the highest densities of deer and is best to hunt after mid-October. Chukar also been occasionally observed in drainages to the Colorado River and along the Vermillion Cliffs in the wilderness area in 12BE. 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; southerly and westerly along the park boundary to Kanab Creek; northerly along Kanab Creek to Snake Gulch; northerly, easterly and southerly around the Kaibab National Forest boundary to U.S. Hwy 89A near mp 566. J John McLaughlin Registered Elevation ranges are based on weather stations in or near the unit. Mature grouse average between 2 and 4 pounds of succulent white meat and provide delicious table fare. If I draw a 12A deer tag I will be there around Labor Day. I think may try to look for antlers first. The Arizona Game and Fish Commission authorized over-the-counter (OTC) elk tags that include units 12A and 12B and others (see regulations). Forest road 68G accesses Tule Mesa, and forest road 68 access the Pine Mountain Wilderness. The early hunt is managed for hunter opportunity and usually occurs during the early part of the deer migration, thus few older-age class bucks are found during the early hunt. 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. Use the link, or scan code to get to this page and select the questionnaire for your hunt. 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. The Alternative Deer Management Plan provides the guidelines for which decisions on hunt recommendations are made. The majority of the unit is public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management, Arizona Strip District, 345 E. Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84770, phone (435) 688-3200. Identification seems to be a prevalent problem for first time grouse hunters as poult turkeys, Band-tailed Pigeons, and even Northern Goshawks are often mistaken for grouse. Traveling off established roads is prohibited throughout House Rock Valley on BLM and Wilderness land. Grand Canyon National Park, North Rim 928 638-7870 First, on an archery hunt dont bother with pinyon/juniper areas unless it has snowed (not likely). During both the spring and fall hunts be safe and acquire positive target identification. 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. Come join the discussion about safety, gear, tips, tricks, optics, gunsmithing, reviews, reports, accessories, classifieds, and more! During both the spring and fall hunts be safe and acquire positive target identification. Very few deer reside in 12BW year round, making it difficult to hunt during the archery season in August and September. Sometimes the November and December hunts can be. I had a similar tag 10 years ago for the Kaibab proper. We consider 5B North to have 350+ potential on early archery hunts. Bring binoculars and spotting scopes. The squirrel is dark in color, has tufted ears, and has a large white bushy tail. Waterhole hunting becomes less productive as frost begins to supply the need for water. The short story is that at several west side springs where I expected to find rubs and wallows, there were none. Glassing from the slopes of the Kaibab plateau can give you a higher vantage point. Yearly reported harvest figures fluctuate around 1 dozen lions with most of these animals taken by houndsmen during the winter months. If you are fortunate enough to draw one of the most sought after deer tags in the United States come to the Kaibab with realistic expectations and remember, we hunt for the experience. The elk nonpermit-tags are not valid in all units statewide. Hunters should note, the OTC elk tag is not a companion or corresponding tag and has its own hunting season dates, areas and other restrictions. These hunts take place in late November or early December. Full Guided hunts. Areas around Crystal Springs, Sourdough Well, and along the 610 rd near the National Park Boundary provide the best opportunity for finding the often secretive Blue Grouse. Areas: Any areas with concentrations of deer often have lions associated with them. Antlerless Hunting: After several years of antlerless hunting, many of the does on the plateau have become as hunter-wise as most bucks. The elevation in this area ranges from approximately 1,490' near Lake Mead to more than 8,000' in the Virgin Mountains. Update: In 2008, the Arizona Game and Fish Department discontinued aerial flights on the Kaibab National Forest to locate bison prior to hunts because so few bison were observed in previous years. Create a free account to read the rest of this terrain note! Likewise, hunters who want to hunt the Paria Plateau must apply for a 12B permit. Motor vehicle travel is restricted to existing roads on all BLM land in the Unit. The majority of elk in this unit are located on National Forest lands in the southern part of the unit. Learn more. Walking and stalking in areas determined by scouting to hold bachelor herds of bucks can be exciting and productive. Overview: Chukar Partridge is an overlooked game bird in this unit. A good bird dog can be of great assistance in retrieving downed birds. That is not a problem since the other units may not have any elk at all. 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