No motor vehicles are allowed in the Paria Canyon/Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area. Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. 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. The elevation in this area ranges from approximately 1,490' near Lake Mead to more than 8,000' in the Virgin Mountains. These units are specifically managed for wildlife values other than elk, and an established elk population is not desirable. 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. If you plan on hunting in higher elevation, as a rule of thumb, expect the tempture to decrease roughly 5 for every 1000' in elevation gain. 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. Grand Canyon National Park, North Rim 928-638-7888, view harvest thresholds and zone closures. After a snow storm a hunter will drive the roads found within the Unit 12 winter deer range early in the morning looking for tracks. After this hunt, you will know what hunt never to apply for again, other then Lots of deer in whole area, and some monsters. Before each hunting trip, verify that the zone is still open, by calling 877-438-0447 or checking online: view harvest thresholds and zone closures. Learn more. Well, I wasn't, but welcome to AHT to you also! The deeply eroded terrain is characterized by many protruding rock formations, with the massive sandstone Vermilion Cliffs dominating the landscape. Important Note: (See unit description under Unit Boundaries) 12BW includes the Buckskins to the north of the Kaibab and the west side winter range including Pigeon Canyon and Gunsight Point. Overview: The world famous, or infamous, Kaibab Mule Deer herd. 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. I plan on going up there to scout sometime soon but was wondering if anyone has seen elk up there. From the North: None Included in these hunts are bull only, antlerless and even 275 any-elk tags. 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. Units 36A, B and C and unit 35A and 35B have good populations of mule deer (and whitetail deer). But if you go, Good Luck!!!! Take care in species identification before dropping the hammer. The majority of elk in this unit are located on National Forest lands in the southern part of the unit. You will find the majority of antelope south and east of the ranch and all the way out to the rim of Marble Canyon. Grouse, like squirrels, appear to be most active early in the morning but walking throughout the day can result in flushed birds. I was thinking about that hunt also . It is the hunters responsibility to know where they are and the state line is patrolled heavily by both Utah and Arizona law enforcement. 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. Overview: Unit 12A, world famous for the Kaibab Deer Herd, is also home to one of the premier turkey populations in the state of Arizona. This unit is not known for producing large bulls, though elk in the 300-inch or larger range are occasionally taken. These hunts include the Arizona strip (Units 13A or 13B) or Kaibab (Units 12A East, 12A West and 12B) for mule deer. Elk are primarily found along the Black Hills that make up the Verde Rim from I-17 to the Bloody Basin road. Some lions have been harvested incidental to these other activities. So yes its possible, but not likely. The grouse season in the fall provides a beautiful time to camp on the Kaibab and an inability to locate grouse is a great excuse for enjoying some of the finest scenery and weather Arizona has to offer. Areas of elk concentrations change somewhat year-to-year, depending on localized summer rainfall filling stock tanks and greening up vegetation. Although these are a little tougher hunts, a trophy Arizona elk is definitely a likely possibility to harvest. Salt licks are a great attractant for deer and provide the same opportunity as waterholes. Learn More. If you are considering hunting mountain lions on the Kaibab for the first time consider hiring a good houndsman/guide to increase your likelihood of success. Finally, mule deer throughout their range are altering their behavior as hunting pressure increases. Watching waterholes that have turkey sign around them provide the turkey hunter with the best opportunity to bag a bearded turkey during this often dry time of the year. This is all conjecture on my part of course. Read about advertising on huntscore here. Pronghorn are also found along the edge of the plateau in the pinyon-juniper transition zone. Current data indicates that buck:doe ratios are excellent. Large swings indicate a good layering system should be used. Great Buffalo viewing areas a couple miles north of park entry, If your Lucky. Essentially, it could take decades of applying to get drawn for a premier hunt for one of Arizona's world class mule deer. Bighorn have typically been harvested along the rim of the Paria Plateau near Bush Head, Powells Monument, and Fisher Point. The state line is only marked at dirt road crossings. The lion population in Unit 12 is a migratory population of roughly 60-80 animals with the lions essentially following the deer herd as it migrates from summer to winter ranges. Areas: During the spring turkey hunt significant winter snowfall can affect access and often dictates hunting locations. 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. With continued and persistent drought the woody winter browse in 12AW has been less than productive for the past several years and as result concerns over the carrying capacity of this vital range are warranted. Books and countless articles have been written on the subject. Also, Jacobs Lake is about 30 minutes from the canyon and a great spot to camp. Antlerless hunters continue to enjoy high hunt success. No off-road travel by motor vehicles is allowed. The central part of the unit, the Buckskin Mountains, contains the highest deer densities and is best to hunt after mid-October. The Kaibab Plateau ranges from 6,000 to 9,200; vegetation consists of ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, and aspen. Several roads lead along the edge to the west on west side, some Excellent views all the way to the bottom, see the Colorado river and all. The population grew to about 160 bighorns within the first 8 years. 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. Mature grouse average between 2 and 4 pounds of succulent white meat and provide delicious table fare. Follow a few simple rules and your chance of success will increase exponentially. Come prepared for all types of weather. 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? That is not a problem since the other units may not have any elk at all. Antelope, Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer, Chukar. Both of these units make up a portion of . Yearly reported harvest figures fluctuate around 1 dozen lions with most of these animals taken by houndsmen during the winter months. But, if you plan to go regardless you should try to reach the AZGFD wildlife manager for that zone if at all possible and see if you can get some hints as to where to look. According to Arizona Game and Fish, Hunt No. This area is very isolated and will require 4-wheel drive for the soft sandy roads. Roads in the unit can become extremely muddy when wet and heavy rains frequently wash out the main roads, thus it is important to be prepared with suitable shelter, plenty of food, water and extra fuel. If old man winter has not yet shown his face follow the suggestions given for the early hunt and good luck. 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. 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. Notice: Archery deer hunters Unit 12B and 12B West are not an open area for over-the-counter tag holders since 2008. The Kaibab Plateau ranges from 6,000' to 9,200'; vegetation consists of ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, and aspen. A few, very few elk wander south from Utah now and then. Just remember that there are always exceptions to the rule, and land ownership is just one piece of the puzzle. 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. By this time of year the deer are visiting water in the dark. Be sure to make note of the extreme temperatures as these often pose the greatest risk to hunters. 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. I did find some ancient droppings from over a year before but no elk. It has also been introduced in the San Francisco Peaks area near Flagstaff. Very few services are available for gas and food. 0. Use temperature ranges to plan and prepare for your hunt. Being in position at first shooting light can be critical as the big boys are often bedded down for the day within minutes of the sun breaking the horizon. This behavior includes becoming more and more nocturnal, spending more time in thick aspen and mixed conifer stands, and remaining in unroaded canyon habitats. Older age "mature" bulls are taken on a regular basis. Hunters can report their mountain lion harvest in person, by telephone at 1-877-438-0447, or online. It was an early October hunt and the rut would be winding down but not over. 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. The Paria Plateau to the east has the lowest number of deer. 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. hunter success will increase with time spent glassing. The elevation in this area ranges from approximately 1,650' on the plateau region to 8,028' on Mount Trumbull. If there are any elk they migrate down from Utah and move south until the canyon stops them. Motor vehicle travel is restricted to existing roads on all BLM land in the Unit. There are generally one or two herds on South Canyon Point; however this area is more difficult to access as there are few roads in the area. Some say the great days of the Kaibab are past, others maintain things are as good or better than ever, and still others claim things will be great in the future. 3799 - Units 12A, 12B, 13A, and 13B have an extremely low-density elk population, about 40-50 elk combined for all four units. Concentrate in areas dominated by this type of vegetation and look for turkey tracks in the snow, mud, dust, or around water sources. Remember this deer herd is extremely migratory and will remain at higher elevations until significant snowfall pushes them off. Excellent recruitment and low winter mortality for the past two years has lead to population levels similar to the early 90s. Overview: The world famous, or infamous, Kaibab Mule Deer herd. While calling in a higher-pressure unit like 5A it often requires a hunter to be very mobile. Deer from the North Kaibab start migrating northward to merge with the Utah deer in early-November. Contact Us Contact Us Thank you for your interest in our Deer and Elk Hunts. Hunting in the bottom of the Paria Canyon requires hiking with wet feet in sandy terrain along the Paria River. Ill definitely pm you sooner than later. We hunt a variety of units in Arizona. The fall hunt is often characterized by warm to hot daytime temperatures and afternoon rains. I am just curious ,my first thoughts were not many bulls but maybe big? Deer begin to move down from the top Buckskin Mountains to the pinyon-juniper and sagebrush flats as the snow pushes them off the plateau during the late hunt. This squirrel is most active early in the morning and just prior to dark and is always associated with Ponderosa Pines. Other areas to consider are Badger Springs and Soap Spring along the Vermillion Cliffs within the wilderness area. The unit's terrain is very rocky with rugged mountains. The average age of a buck harvested on the late hunts has climbed from just over two years of age to over 4 years of age in the past several years, yearling buck weights have stabilized at an acceptable level in recent years and as a result antler development has been excellent. Actually, n reports of elk have been reported in these areas or in the unit for the last couple of years. Concentrate on areas that are more inaccessible. The large canyons and rocky areas that form the edges of the Kaibab and Paria plateaus are likely areas to locate lion sign. 3799 - Units 12A, 12B, 13A, and 13B have an extremely low-density elk population, about 40-50 elk combined for all four units. I drew this hunt 15 years ago when it covered only unit 12A. During the spring hunt be prepared for cold temperatures and even snow. Climate Information I don't know if there is a worse hunt to be drawn for to be honest. Unit 12A - first choice. Studies have shown that the Paunsaugunt deer arrive in Unit 12B in mid-October through early November, extending southward about 8 miles into Arizona. As unit 10 is known for giant bull elk, Units 12A and 13B are just as famous for producing monster mule deer bucks and Arizona Wildlife Outfitters has taken their share of trophy heads from both units. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Full Guided hunts. Many hunters utilize horses and mules, snowmobiles, and other recreational vehicles to overcome these access limitations. Remember this deer herd is extremely migratory and will remain at higher elevations until significant snowfall pushes them off. Risk to hunters extremely migratory and will require 4-wheel drive for the early 90s central of... Aht to you also a couple miles North of Park entry, if Lucky... Grouse, like squirrels, appear to be honest as hunting pressure increases between... In a higher-pressure unit like 5A it often requires a hunter to be drawn for be... Prior to dark and is best to hunt after mid-October, good Luck!!!!!!!. 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