Most of the unit is private property that is open to public access, but closed to off-road travel. Not feeling too excited at this point. In many cases seasoned hunters have far more specific considerations to evaluate. Ranch rules and requirements went into effect August 22, 2013. Mule deer in Unit 10 do not appear to be migratory. Since AZGFD manages their elk herd aggressively, meaning that if a unit has over 35% harvest on the late firearm hunt and has over a 35:100 bull to cow ratio, they dont hesitate to increase tags. Please hunt responsibly, obey all signage and have a safe legal hunt. Out of all these units, unit 1 has been the black sheep with quality being noticeably lower, but with recent tag cuts and a great population, it is looking better and better. But we're focusing on that side, as we understand there are elk there and likely less hunters (I've been told the further west and north you go, the less hunters [williams area will be slammed]). Overview: Unit 10 is not a white-tailed deer hotspot. All of these trophy elk areas have a very long and very distinguished history of producing some of the highest-scoring trophy elk that have ever been harvested worldwide. I thought we might start hearing some bugling, but didn't hear a peep at all. Dude Ranches, Horse Riding and Pack Trips. Then drive another mile up and glass. There are usually a few 400-point bulls here in years of good precipitation and range conditions. Arizona Unit 10 Unit 10 is our #1 pick for the best unit for elk hunting in Arizona. He has 40 or 80 acres up there. How to uncover hidden gem Arizona elk areas. Dont shoot the first bull you see, unless it is a real monster. Elk antler sizes on bulls killed during the late season hunts average much less than those killed during the early bull elk seasons for several reasons. Arizona. All of these units have the potential to produce magnum size bulls. PO Box 250 I would recommend spending a lot of time from high points glassing for elk. If you are unfamiliar with the AZ Draw process I'd suggest reading our post, Late Archery: Easiest to Draw, Hardest to Hunt, Late Rifle: Best Draw odds for Firearms Hunts, Early Rifle/Muzzleloader: Most Coveted, Largest Bulls, There are many hunt options to choose from and many people will apply for the most sought after early season "trophy" hunts. Pay attention to where you are and where development is occurring. Areas: Sheep are most commonly observed in the northern portion of the hunt area along Cataract Canyon. Early season should be great. You are using an out of date browser. The 2022 Arizona Hunting Regulations and Applications regarding sheep, fall bison, and deer are available online at www. They have a fee (I think $60) to hunt their ranch property. This means that as of the time permit recommendations were passed, AZGFD made them based on unit 10 hunters not being allowed to hunt the Boquillas Ranch. If trophy quality and hunting the iconic top tiered units with a firearm is your goal, the only option is to wait. He has 40 or 80 acres up there. Several of the hunters checked scouted prior to the hunt by driving around and checking for tracks at many of the waterholes. There is a fall archery-only over-the-counter permit hunt available in the fall. The area north and west of Round Mountain, Bishop Lake, Long Point, Paradise Ridge, and Cataract Canyon are all in this category. Overview: Unit 10 is a great elk unit. It also has an anti-microbial that eliminates mold/mildew growth. Athough a monster bull can be pulled from any unit, the numbers of big bulls are down from 10 years ago, in my humble opinion, and lots of hours on the groundToo many bull tags and an opinion of the Game and fish board wanting to reduce the numbers of elk overall.. Unit 9 alternates between a rifle and muzzleloader hunt each year. Be prepared with extra food, water, gas, and perhaps a second spare tire. Arizona has two separate archery and rifle seasons in most units. For information about accessing the Big Boquillas Ranch for hunting purposes, please visit their webpage at www.huntbigboranch.com. If sheep are above the rim the hunt could be over quickly. Our hard-working highly experienced team of professional Arizona elk guides outfits and guides trophy elk hunts in Unit 10 every single year and have so for decades. The Arizona Elk Outfitters LLC Team of Arizona elk hunting professionals has produced several giant Arizona bull elk that score over 400 inches out of Arizonas Unit 10 including the 451 inch Boone and Crockett beast that is featured in the picture at the top of this post. The further off the roads you are willing to go the better you will be. We will continue to add and update individual hunts there. You really think they will be in the open in October? Current management has AZGFD maximising the amount of tags issued in units until there is clearly an issue with quality and then they will slowly start to reduce tags until they can see an upswing and then its back to pedal to the metal. The draw structure, management practices, elk population levels, and hunter interest results in Arizona being one of the more difficult states to acquire a tag in. Varmint callers have had luck calling in lions from time-to-time. Arizona has two separate archery and rifle seasons in most units. Unit 10 is approximately 51 percent private land, 30 percent state land, and 8 percent National Forest Service, with the remainder being National Park and Indian reservation that is not open to hunting. These hunts can be a nonstop adrenaline rush with screaming bulls and encounters with giants. I saw elk there also, but would be tough to pack one out. Unit Boundaries There are many hunt options to choose from and many people will apply for the most sought after early season "trophy" hunts. Looks like some good high timber and a few low spots. Elevations range from less than 2,000 along the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon National Park at the units north end to more than 7,600 on the Three Sisters just northwest of Williams in the southeastern part of the unit. It's easy! If you would like access to all of our research join today! Hike up the next hill and glass. Patience allows for higher probabilities of drawing "trophy" quality hunts. Our private land or public land rifle elk hunts offer opportunities at 300+ trophy bulls with 350+ bulls a possibility. Their elk forum is probably frequented by the highest number of serious AZ elk hunters. These trophy elk hunts in the rut are the best time to focus on trying to harvest a world-class Arizona bull elk in Unit 10. It is not terribly uncommon to find a bear track at or near water from late spring through the fall hunting seasons. The Buckeye State. Unit 10 is a very huntable elk unit due to the fact that this unit is interspersed with a lot of hills rolling hills, broken ridge country, and lots of knobs that make excellent glassing points from which to scout and hunt trophy Arizona elk from. Tom. The Boquillas Ranch/Diamond A Ranch will be implementing new ranch rules and requirements within the ranch boundaries. They are conducted in September and November/December. Boone and Crockett bulls are taken yearly in Arizona. Not all elk units are created equal. Check out what we offer at the links below:ATO Website: https://arizonatrophyoutfitters.comDCH Website: https://dropcamphunts.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/timmy.winslow/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aztrophyoutfitters/Book a hunt: https://arizonatrophyoutfitters.com/contact When elk are located at a distance, aggressive hunting tactics are likely in order. Ridgeline Outfitters provides Arizona elk hunts throughout the state, including Arizona elk units 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 3C, 7W, 8, 9, 10, and 27. look at the Arizona elk hunting species page or contact Dillon Currie at (623) 606-3364 or hunts@chasentheking.com. Sometimes I see them all day and then sometimes it takes days to see one. Javelina have been seen in the Ponderosa pine country near Williams. Don't let it get to you. Several of Arizonas Governor Tag elk have come from Unit 10 and with very good reason: Arizonas world-famous Unit 10 is a proven trophy elk producing unit. These hunts are much more desirable. DRAW ODDS . Do you have a specific elk hunting experience you are after? Don't miss out on your opportunity to chase giants, visit the Arizona Game & Fish Department website and select "Apply for a Draw." Looks like you and I will be sharing the same trails this December. An archery-only hunt in the fall is available with an over-the-counter permit tag. The Havasupai Reservation is off limits to sheep hunters. A herd of elk can feed along at a relatively fast rate and can easily out-distance a stalking bow hunter. The tricky part with this unit is the relationship with Navajo Nation who own the Boquillas Ranch, which holds most of the elk within that unit. It is big country. on a specific unit to access the Unit Profile in order to gain the greatest resource available to thoroughly learn a unit. The spot I'm referring to is directly below the above described campground. Access problems are increasing with the proliferation of remote real estate subdivisions. GIS Data: Unit Size and Land Ownership* Overall unit size: US Forest Service: The time I was able to hunt though- slim pickins. What elk units should I apply for? Thanks for the input and hopefully I will have a story to tell in about 5 months, not that I am counting. If the hunter makes a mistake, please report it to the Department. Get on google earth and find some areas on the ranch that have an area of openness that is in one of the patch's that the roads go around but do not cross thru. Glassing, spotting-and-stalking, still hunting, and sitting on water are all popular and effective ways to pursue mule deer here. Looks like some good high timber and a few low spots. I got off the road alot in unit 10 3 years ago. The ability to crawl for long distances helps. ALASKA; . Each season, we will only book 1 or 2 hunters per season on this ranch. Bulls prefer different habitat types during the late season tending toward secluded, isolated, and topographically rugged locations and many of the biggest bulls live in places where they cannot be reasonably hunted. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Many hunters already have a preconceived idea of what they would like to achieve, accomplish, or experience in a hunt. JavaScript is disabled. Hunters must follow the ranch rules: do not litter, do not camp mile from water, stay on roads/trails, keep gates closed, and no trail cameras on private property sections. In 2022, it will offer a muzzleloader hunt and not a rifle hunt. I told her it doesn't quite work that way, especially in December, but after insisting I gave it a try (cow calls) and sure enough called in a herd of cows where she proceeded to take a very large one. I was even more fortunate in 15' on my first year applying to get pulled for the same hunt and with some of your help (and 3 scouting trips from Mesa) was able to harvest a great 6x6 that year. Arizona Game and Fish Department, Region III 928- 692-7700 Kaibab National Forest, Williams Ranger District 928-635-2633 Arizona State Land Department, Flagstaff 928-774-1425. These are almost all resident deer. M. Joined: Aug 2010. The deadline for elk applications in Arizona is mid-February. We will be over by round mountain if that matters. These changes include implementation by the ranch operator and land owner of new Ranch Rules that govern allowable hunter activities and a recreational impact fee for most adults. Our elk hunt stories can be found in our "Elk" category on the blog as well. Lastly, it doesn't get any harder to guarantee yourself an AZ tag than applying for "trophy" rifle or muzzleloader units. Much of the Unit is part of a ranch (Boquillias) that limits off road use. There are a lot of elk in this unit. AZGFD has had a contract to allow unit 10 hunters the opportunity to hunt on this ranch for a minimal trespass fee in the past. Like everywhere else, there are a bunch that aren't so serious, but plenty who are, and know what they are doing. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. Our number 3 choice: Arizona Hunt Unit 23. I'm a mile wide and a inch deep, but hunting has been the only thing that is consistent in my life. For non-residents most of the tags worth hunting will range from 7 to 12 bonus points. Glassing is important in this area. . Late season rifle hunts take place in late November to early December. . Other areas in Unit 10 also hold mule deer, but population densities are generally low and hunting will be more difficult. You just have to be in the right place at the right time. Please respect private property and help to keep the unit open to public access. They are there! Interested Arizona elk hunters can also apply for the late season elk hunts in Unit 10 if they do not have enough Arizona elk bonus points built up to draw one of the highly sought after rut season elk tags in Arizona Unit 10. Previous advice I've been given is that by October they'll not be bugling, will be spooked and looking for sanctuary areas to hide. Dedicated lion hunters should also check around Long Point, Black Tanks, Cataract Canyon, Paradise Ridge and many points in between. Good luck and happy hunting. Consult with Hunters Who Have Hunted in Your Unit, Join Now! application process or if you'd like to hunt with us at CTK, we can get you applied for your optimal hunt choices. For specific seasons and dates check the regulations brochure. Arizonas Unit 10 also has plenty of flat, jungle thick juniper country that provides trophy elk with an ocean of thick cover in which to hide and grow record-breaking size antlers in. There are trade offs for each and every situation. Since I was planning on an Arizona move I had been . That said, bulls bugle all year long so you may want to send out a "location bugle" to see what happens. RMEF Information for Arizona and National Elk Conservation Activities and EventsRMEF Convention . Cataract Lake Campground near Williams, managed by Coconino County Parks and Recreation (928-774-5139). If you can, get in early and glass, glass, glass. Antelope densities fluctuate from year-to-year based on climatic conditions and the amount of predation exerted upon the herd by the plentiful number of coyotes. The Black bear units we hunt are 240 and 216 these are elk and deer units 240, 250, 260, 261 and 270 On the Bitterroot National Forest and in the Selway Bitterroot . The goal of these hunts is to teach good hunter ethics and accountability. Calling, glassing, and sitting at water holes are the preferred methods of hunting turkey in this unit. These are the best areas to hunt if you want to see deer and have a chance of harvesting one. Finding quality bulls is extremely difficult. Our Arizona Elk Species Profile is another great way to determine . The Buckeye State. I wouldn't paint all AZ resident elk hunters with the same broad brush. We wouldnt say 2022 was a banner year, but it was definitely better than average with plenty of 350"+ bulls hitting the dirt. Nov 7, 2021. Being full-time year-round professional Arizona elk outfitters allows our highly experienced team of trophy elk hunting professionals to spend enormous amounts of time preseason scouting and locating the highest scoring trophy elk possible in Unit 10 for your long-awaited Arizona trophy elk hunt. Our preferred UNITS LIST is below UNITS:1,3A,3C,5A,5BN,5BS,6A,7W,7E,8,9,10,22,23,27 "LIMITED OPPORTUNITY" UNITS: 17A,17B,18A,18B,19A,19B,20A,20C APPLICATION PERIOD DEADLINE IS 2ND TUESDAY OF FEBRUARY Book Your Elk Hunt Trophy Elk Hunting in Arizona with Big Chino Outfitters Overview: Units 8 and 10 are hunted on the same permit both spring and fall. There are several herds in the Ash Fork area and along Welsh Road. However, they have their work cut out for them to harvest an older age class bull. Again, glassing from good vantage points and watching water can be good ways of locating elk. The state was once the home of the Merriam's elk, a smaller-bodied ungulate with massive antlers. There may be some bugling, but don't count on it. Episode 237: Breakdown Arizona Unit 10 Elk and Arizona Antelope Statewide Units with Craig Steele 442 views Apr 19, 2020 Jay Scott talks about Arizona Elk Unit 10 and Antelope in. A3 has exclusive access to a private elk ranch covering 65,000 acres that is equally divided between Units 9 and 10 with each side over 30,000 acres. The good news is that you can base right from where you park and hike into more inaccessible areas and find good elk. The next rung up the ladder and a drastic increase in quality are late season "general" rifle bull elk hunts. Please visit www.huntbigboranch.com for more information. FORLOH AllClima Softshell and AllClima Stretch Woven Pant Review. In 2022, it will offer a rifle hunt and not a muzzleloader hunt. The late seasons can be difficult hunts for obvious reasons, like weather and isolated bulls being harder to locate, but they offer significantly better draw odds to allow hunters to still be in a unit with quality animals. That contract expired, and contract negotiations have been much more difficult. It has become a long-haul state for any early archery or rifle bull tag, but it is well worth the wait. Search our database of Arizona Elk guided opportunities. Treat all land entered as if it were your own. During mid day put the wind in your face and creep thru the thickest stands of trees and follow the trails watching ahead of you. Areas: Javelina are not easy to locate in Unit 10. Thanks! Experience lends itself to patience. Glass early and hope to catch them on the tops of the hills. Is it possible that bugling is running late due to the hit, so it may run longer into October, or is that just wishful thinking? I dont much about unit 10, but I have hunted late season elk near by. it is very flat for an elk unit in AZ, very few remote canyons. If the sheep are on the bottom talus slope or the bottom of the canyon, a lot of difficult hiking is in the hunters future. Our online/print magazine has everything in one location: Application info, draw details and odds, fees, hunter requirements, point structure, age restrictions, youth information, weapon restrictions, other tag opportunities, hunt planning and much more.