Now it begins..2026 application season

[minn elk chaser]

Have any of you hunted unit 9 Late season in Arizona? Looking at this unit for 2026 season but have not hunted there before. What is a reasonable expectation for quality of bulls. I know it boarders the National Park and there are big bulls in there. Do many bulls stay in the unit after the rut or go back into the Park? I plan to get up there before the draw deadline.
Happy New Year and good luck with the draws.

 

[tim]

I will ask, any suggestions on a guided ranch elk hunt in Wyoming for 26?

 

[JimP]

I will ask, any suggestions on a guided ranch elk hunt in Wyoming for 26?

Check out Table Mountain Outfitters

 

[Hilltop]

Check out Table Mountain Outfitters

They kill a lot of animals but quite a bit of negative out there... no personal experience though.

Scott will have viable options.

Outwest Safaris in 108 is an easy hunt for a big bull if you can draw it. I know 3 guys who have done hunts with them. All passed dozens of bulls before selecting theirs to shoot.

 

[JimP]

They kill a lot of animals but quite a bit of negative out there... no personal experience though.

Scott will have viable options.

Outwest Safaris in 108 is an easy hunt for a big bull if you can draw it. I know 3 guys who have done hunts with them. All passed dozens of bulls before selecting theirs to shoot.

I was up there on a antelope hunt and talking to the deer and elk hunters didn't find one that was complaining. They do put a lot of hunters through their system with a lot of return hunters.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

My 2 hunting pards from Calif and me are going to put in for deer tags in Wyoming. I will be applying for antelope and elk here in Colorado.

 

[ScottR]

I will ask, any suggestions on a guided ranch elk hunt in Wyoming for 26?

What is your point total, between myself and the guys at The Draw we can help you find a VERY good hunt. Shoot me a message!

 

[ScottR]

Have any of you hunted unit 9 Late season in Arizona? Looking at this unit for 2026 season but have not hunted there before. What is a reasonable expectation for quality of bulls. I know it boarders the National Park and there are big bulls in there. Do many bulls stay in the unit after the rut or go back into the Park? I plan to get up there before the draw deadline.
Happy New Year and good luck with the draws.

Hey, The Draw will have some good insight on AZ. They have outfitter relationships there that I'm sure will be useful for intel.

Have you considered an outfitter?

Thanks!

 

[minn elk chaser]

Hey, The Draw will have some good insight on AZ. They have outfitter relationships there that I'm sure will be useful for intel.

Have you considered an outfitter?

Thanks!

Yes I have considered an outfitter. I have enough points to draw every unit for late season rifle except unit 1 and that unit I could possible draw. I always put in for early hunt hoping to get lucky in the random draw. My son did a late season hunt in unit 1 in 2023 and killed a 344 bull. Saw lots of bulls.

 

[Winchester]

I hunted unit 9 during the late season ( 1-7 Dec) in 2023.
This time of year is a totally different hunt than the early (archery) seasons when you can call in big bulls.
This unit is extremely thick with pinon pines and in Dec the big bulls are worn out from the rut and just hole up in that stuff.
Some big bulls also walk into the Park where you can't get at them.
I spotted 1 big bull walking through the thick stuff ... I saw him for about 1 second. That was the only one I saw.
I spent 9 points on this Unit for my Dec hunt, but I wouldn't do it again, knowing what I know now.

 

[minn elk chaser]

I hunted unit 9 during the late season ( 1-7 Dec) in 2023.
This time of year is a totally different hunt than the early (archery) seasons when you can call in big bulls.
This unit is extremely thick with pinon pines and in Dec the big bulls are worn out from the rut and just hole up in that stuff.
Some big bulls also walk into the Park where you can't get at them.
I spotted 1 big bull walking through the thick stuff ... I saw him for about 1 second. That was the only one I saw.
I spent 9 points on this Unit for my Dec hunt, but I wouldn't do it again, knowing what I know now.

Thank you for your response to my post. I know the landscape you described is the problem with the unit. I have 16 points and since it only takes less then 10 to draw i would be wasting alot of my points. Not sure where to use them. Keep hoping for early season draw but know that is a long shot. I have talked to some of the outfitters in AZ. but that is a crap shoot when it comes to what they tell you.
Getting to old to wait much longer so any other suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Winchester]

I understand, 16 points is both good and bad ... kind of stuck in the middle.
But I wouldn't spend 16 points on unit 9 during during the late season.

You could call the office at Eastmans and ask them to connect you with Andrew, our Arizona expert.

 

[dan maule]

Sorry for hijacking this thread, but my son has 12 deer pps for Wyoming, I have 10 and my daughter has 8 for an average of 10. He's in a position with his job now that he really wants to hunt in 2026. My daughter may not be able to go, if that is the case we would have 11. I have been researching all the draw odds and have think I have a plan. My Question is do any of you folks have a feel for how the Platte Valley deer herd is doing?

 

[Hilltop]

Sorry for hijacking this thread, but my son has 12 deer pps for Wyoming, I have 10 and my daughter has 8 for an average of 10. He's in a position with his job now that he really wants to hunt in 2026. My daughter may not be able to go, if that is the case we would have 11. I have been researching all the draw odds and have think I have a plan. My Question is do any of you folks have a feel for how the Platte Valley deer herd is doing?

PM sent

 

[minn elk chaser]

I understand, 16 points is both good and bad ... kind of stuck in the middle.
But I wouldn't spend 16 points on unit 9 during during the late season.

You could call the office at Eastmans and ask them to connect you with Andrew, our Arizona expert.

I will contact them. Thanks for the help