I am starting this thread early, but am hoping to learn all I can before leaving Texas. Me and a good friend are planning on going to Arizona late August for a Mule Deer hunt. I'm the tag-a-long but I tend to be the information and data type person. I know there is a lot of diverse type hunting in Arizona, but I am a flatlander with no western US hunting experience besides west Texas. I believe we are supposed to hunt unit 8 or 10??? I was told I needed to extend my shooting distances drastically for this hunt. I am used to 25 yards being a long reach, and typically do not loose an arrow (especially with the longbow) at more then 18 yards. Something mental about past 20.. Not sure what that's about, but I like to get close anyhow. If you have hunted OTC in Arizona in August please educate me. Thanks for any and all help.

-Bones

If at all possible, get out there before the hunt and look around. There's nothing worse than arriving in the middle of the season and not knowing where you want to hunt. There is a lot of public land you can hunt on, so finding where you want to go ahead of time is key. Distances are greater and you will see deer a mile away. It's Juniper and Pinyon in the lower areas (my favorite) and conifers up high. The hotter it is the higher the deer will be. When its hot they hang out on the north slopes as long as they have access to water. Game trails are easy to spot since there are generally in dirt and fresh sign means they are being used. The country is more open than you may be used to and you will see animals at distances farther than you might be used to. I think that's where much of the 'shoot at longer distances' comes from. The fish and game suggestions for each area. Here's the link for area 8. https://www.azgfd.com/hunting/units/flagstaff/8/.

DryBones feel free to send me a PM with your number and I can talk to you a bit about AZ if you want. I am a lifelong resident.

Arizona in August, it's hot, how hot ? Damn Hot and lots of snakes (rattle snakes) the only place I've ever seen more snakes was Flordia so don't forget snake boots or chaps.

Yessir, it's going yo be a very hot hunt that early in the season. You'll be doing a lot of glassing, so you're gone need a set of good glasses and maybe a decent scope. Forget water holes, they'll be covered up with elk hunters, and they don't share!!

You're gonna need to find deer early, very early, and hopefully watch em bed. If you can't find em bedded, walk away. Don't blow them out of their beds, you'll screw yourself. Once it starts heating up, the deer will move to bed. Shots will vary from point blank to 40 yards, depends on your stalking skills. The majority of the time, it's best to locate bucks and move in on them quick, hoping the wind allows you to get in front of them to ambush them. If not, you'll need to cover ground quickly and quietly.

Arizona is a tough but fun hunt. Lots of good bucks if you're willing to work for them. I'll be there for sure, love Arizona!!!

And you only have until 9 June to get your app in. Just looked at website, knew it was early. Yes, it’s hot but up around Flagstff it’s a little cooler that time of year. Plan on it being drier than a pop corn far... So an area you pick out maybe closed to all activities. This happened last year to us.

And if you can't hit for crap past 18 yards, don't shoot farther than that. Just because someone tells you you need to shoot farther, doesn't mean you should.

Thanks for all the advice so far. I will take heed the warning on heat and snakes. George, that's part of why I came here looking for answers. I know my limitations in my own land, no sense in being reckless, and thank you all.

-Bones

Get onto a high point before o’dark:30 and settle in for hours of careful glassing, eventually you will see a deer a mile or so away..... watch it until it beds down. Then wait and keep your glasses focused on the spot for another hour or so.... 90% odds the deer will move to another bed once or twice. When the sun gets high the deer will stay there until dusk or it gets disturbed. Also during this time pay close attention to the wind..... it will change several times too.

Now’s your chance, sneaky pete your way until you are 20 yards from the snoozing buck....now the sun is HOT and you cant see the vitals and you can feel the skin on the back of your neck forming blisters... Geez I cant stay here all day or I’ll get barbequed or die of thirst ornthe wind will shift... Ah, grab that golf ball size rock digging into your knee and chuck it as far past the deer as you can. BAM Mr. Deer stands up to look around you have 5 seconds to take the shot but you hesitate a split second and he takes a couple a muley bounces a few yards farther away. Take the shot your arrow goes just under his belly.... he takes another muley bounce giving you time to lad another arrow... this one also goes right under his belly.... Another muley bounce away... another arrow under his belly... Finally he gets the idea its not healthy here so heads for the next county.

Oops, this was my hunt. Didn't bring home the meat but did bring a lifetime of memories.

So: 1) Take the very best binoculars money can buy. 10x42 Swarovski did it for me. 2) if you are used to shooting in close forest, range estimation in open country will be difficult... it really throws your senses off. It is unforgiving rocky country but you must plan to lose / break plenty of arrows - stump shoot every chance you get once in location and take preactice shots if you set up a stand.

I would definitely NOT throw a rock at the deer when you close the distance. They will not stand up but WILL bound up and out. Especially the big deer. You got that far, wait for him to come up on his own. Ya got till dark and he will get up. Good luck! Enjoy the whole experience! Matthew

It will be hot. To the point its not going to be much fun running around looking for deer. Glass as much as you can, then go in after them. My best advice is to find water with sign around it and set up a blind. I did mention that its going to be hot.Good luck, Frank.

Good to hear Cody, I figured as much but you never know. Enjoy.

I may edge on the side of caution without throwing the rock IF I accidentally get close enough for the stickbow. I know every location has it's own geological problems and vegetation is very different, but after getting more information, I do not see why I was told to shoot MUCH farther. Starting to sound like that advice was given from folks who do not hunt close range, but more into distance shooting? Thanks for the additional information and Heat thanks for the call. Great folks here and much appreciate the aid for a Texas guy getting his first dose of hunting west.

-Bones

EXCELLENT ADVICE George !!!! Wish all hunters felt that way !!!!!! Des

(Starting to sound like that advise was given from folks who do not hunt close range, but more into distance shooting ). Maybe that advise was given from people that have experience hunting muleys . I practice out to 50 yds, and am confident to 40 and try not to shoot any further then that . I have been close enough to tap a big buck on the antlers with my longbow but usually when you raise to shoot most of the time they explode. I have taken some bucks with longer shots, many times the terrain just isn't right to get real close . Muleys have great eye sight but I don't believe their hearing is as good as a whitetail, I look for them sleeping in the shade and hope for a little wind to cover my noisy footsteps .

Always good, no matter where you live, to learn to be accurate at 30 yards. Then you're OK when an opportunity to hunt new areas presents itself. I had no choice but to be accurate at 30 metres because we have to pass a proficiency test atthat range to be licenced to bowhunt. You still have time to at least get your 20-25 yard distance nailed down. It is good advice you received to stump shoot once you get there. When I went to Colorado I had to get used to shooting uphill.

Lot's of rattlesnakes and HOT, how can I sign up for that one, LOL.

Bowmania

Tim, I mean no disrespect to those who can and do shoot further, but it is definitely not my game and I have been fairly successful not needing a longer distance shot. Again, I have NEVER hunted Arizona, but if it's a 40 yard shot most often I can keep my butt home. I personally have no desire to shoot that far. Compound or traditional. Which was a primary reason for this thread. I need to learn all I can and what the possibilities are from folks who do and have hunted that area to see if it is something I should consider.

-Bones

Why you were given advice to learn to shoot farther? Cause sometimes things don't work out, no matter how good we think we are, and suddenly the buck of a life time stands up at 35 yards instead of 20 yards. Sometimes the terrain looks different then it did 400 yards away, and the deer are now 30 yards away, and we have a 10" hole to shoot through. Or sometimes, we blow a chip 20 yard shot and the gut shot buck stops 40 yards away, hunched up.

Hunting deer in September in Arizona is a lot different then hunting deer in December and January in Arizona. September, the shots are longer, bucks are bunched up together and stay out of the thick stuff till the horns harden and the velvet dries. Add to the fact that the soil in Arizona does not lend itself to stalking in bare feet or stockings. The granite tears up boots, and cactus is everywhere. Walking around bare foot or in soft shoes is mistake fools make only once. The terrain you talked of hunting in is not like the forests up north around flag, with big pines and lots of grass.

I start hunting deer in Arizona in September if I have a tag, which I usually do, and hunt through January every year in Arizona, in several units throughout the state. You'll learn quick that certain units in Arizona isn't made for close in, 20 yard shots.

2x what Buglmin said.

I’ve hunted both 8 and 10. In August I would be hunting the higher elevations in the ponderosa pines. There are many man made water ponds called “ tanks”. If it has been dry consider checking them out and using a blind or tree stand. It’s my subjective take on it that 8 has a bit more water spots than 10. In 10 there is a large old burned area. They like to feed in there and return to timber for bedding. A long time ago I took a very large buck off Skinner Ridge in 10. That area used to be good and may be worth checking out again. Very few snakes to worry about in the ponderosa pines. Take a large drinking water supply with you and refillable water bottle for your daypack. All the deer I shot with a bow in N. AZ have been under 25 yds away. Most under 20. Get the US Forest Service maps for the areas you want to go. They show all the roads and tanks.

Come get the big buck in my front yard! Keeps whacking the bird feeders.

I've hunted both in the jan otc season. Just a heads up 8 is almost all public and has mule deer pretty much everywhere. 10 is half private and has res land and national park coming out of the other half. Plus 10 has grassland with few if any muleys. Both have large bucks but if you have a choice mine would be 8 in kaibab.

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