Area 9 December tag

[fullcurl0]

Well I'm a bit surprised, as I drew my second choice for an area 9 late rifle hunt.
I have been second guessing my decision now... Any advice sure would be appreciated, I have Point Guard, so could turn it in... But, I'm not getting any younger and may never see one of the real premier tags. I'm honestly a bit concerned if a one week hunt is enough to get it done on a really good bull?
I know these late hunts are tougher, but is that because guys just aren't serious enough or are the bulls that hard to find?
Any help sure would be welcome.

 

[SouthForkguy]

wait a second, you have a unit 9 bull tag and are second guessing? hire Big Chino and harvest a great bull, might be busted up from the rut but oh well. Good luck!

 

[fullcurl0]

Been reading a fair bit of posts about the late season in there and not much positive has been said. I've heard a few outfitters operate in 9, anyone have an idea what they charge? I'm usually a do it yourself guy, but I realize this may be a different situation. Sounds like a 340 bull in December for area 9 is a good bull?

 

[fullcurl0]

No one has done an area 9 late hunt?

 

[dustin ray]

How many points did you burn? i have spent spent some time in unit 9 and id do that hunt in a hart beat DYI the trick is to get there early two our three days or more before the hunt and figure it out. weather will be the key factor on where there at and the condition of the roads to get around some roads turn to crud even with a good 4x4 it can be tough. you can camp in Tusayan or off the forest roads weather permiting most of my time spent there has been in October so id don't know about the late hunt but I'm sure its not going to be easy but when you find the Elk chances are it will be a good bull. Id recommend making a weekend trip there soon and you will get a better idea about the unit
good luck

 

[fullcurl0]

My plan would be to arrive a week early and scout, as they seem to be in different country in December? So it seems anyhow?
Are you allowed to travel all the roads and trails or are they sometimes closed? No OHV's allowed I'm guessing?
Thanks Dustin.

 

[dustin ray]

You can get maps at the Tusayan ranger station there or by mail the main forest roads gravel or matained but the can get shut down from weather unless you have a plate on your OHV there not legal on the main forest roads but they are ok on the fire roads. The lower elv has pinyon -juniper forest that are hard to glass if the elk haven't moved down hunt the park fence line the elk move into the park when pressured a good place to look is fire road 307 you can get to off hwy 64 or by grand view look out tower there is a nice valley back in there with a steep rise on the south the elk move out in to the flats. That time of the year id camp in Tusayan camper village hook ups thrills but there gas and a steak house next door if not there are nice camp spots off the forest roads 302 and 688 there marked on the maps and there free

 

[fullcurl0]

That's great info! Thank you

 

[maximus]

i sent you a pm with some info.

 

[Gr8bawana]

First of all congrats on drawing an AZ elk tag. Your post in the elk section you say you want to know that there are some 360 bulls to be had in that area. That's a pretty lofty goal so I'm wondering if you have already taken bulls of that caliber, say 340+?

 

[fullcurl0]

Yes. Like plenty of us I suspect, I sure like chasing big bulls. I realize they are hard to cross paths with, but I think area 9 has a really good chance to produce and cover some into the late season. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm also a realist who likes to dream that crossing paths with an old bull with horns that makes your heart skip a beat is still possible today.
My last two bulls were taken on 17 and 21 day hunts, and this is one of my main concerns about area 9 and the short 1 week season. I'm not quick at getting it done, but I don't leave till its over.

 

[Gr8bawana]

Ah ok, I can certainly understand your selectiveness. Good luck on your hunt should you decide to hunt the area.

 

[fullcurl0]

Thanks. So far I'm not hearing very good news unfortunately.
If you have any suggestions I sure would appreciate it.

 

[Gr8bawana]

The only experience I have in that area was a few years ago when the wife and made a weekend trip to Williams. We took the train ride to the Grand Canyon on which we saw numerous antelope. Inside the park there were a lot of bulls and several of them were giants. It was the first week of Oct. and the bulls were bugling up a storm. I have no idea where they go during the late season.
One thing about the country is that once you get out of the P&J forest up into the tall ponderosa forest you can see quite a long way even on level terrain.

 

[fullcurl0]

Looks like turning the tag back is the way to go at this stage.
A bow hunt in the early season seems to be the most common suggestion.

 

[dustin ray]

I was just there Turkey hunting and saw at lest 200 elk in one day the conditions are good this year for antler growth is the bow hunt the best hunt yes if you don't mind waiting 16 years is the late hunt tough yes. I talked to a guy that has a archery tag and he had been scouting for 3 days and had not seen much FYI

 

[swampokie]

Looks like turning the tag back is the way to go at this stage.
A bow hunt in the early season seems to be the most common suggestion.

That's a pretty crazy thing to say. I would love to have that tag. They're still there u just gotta work a little harder to find em. Ur a lucky man

 

[cmbbulldog]

I would call Steve Chappell.

 

[meathunter]

Unit 9 is a great tag, even a late one. I've hunted elk 4 or 5 times in the unit, even worked at the Grand Canyon airport for awhile. Seen some really nice bulls at all times of the year. A week long hunt you should be able to find a big bull. I would hunt the eastern half, maybe lower if there's a lot of snow towards the northern border. Good hunting!

 

[goinhuntn]

No way would I turn that tag in!! Get there early & scout find the elk & hunt hard! Thats why its called hunting! The late rifle hunt is tougher than early archery for sure, but big bulls are taken every year you just have to work harder!! I would love to have that tag!