Arizona unit 12b advice

[toddt]

After going to the mail today, I was surprised to find an envelope from Arizona. A license envelope. As I had thought I had only applied for great units, and seasons due to other obligations, I was super excited, only to find a unit 12b early rifle tag in the envelope.

I guess due to being extra busy when I applied on the last day, I either chose the wrong code, or thought I was applying for the late season. Anyway, I have a tag in pocket for a unit that at least has some of the best genetics in the country for giant mule deer.

So can anyone offer any advice? I do have a 12b tag, so is the full 12b any better than the 12bw?

Any help, advice, thoughts, ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

[dirtclod Az.]

You drew gold!That unit is full of big deer.I have only hunted 12b so can't compare the two.Good luck,take lots of pics.

 

[BOHNTR]

The early hunt on 12B can be difficult without early weather. You will mainly be hunting resident deer. While there's not a lot of them, they are there.

Here's a quote from a very reputable guide for that unit:

"12B can rival or sometimes even beat the high scoring giant non typical and typical mule deer bucks that are taken on the Arizona Strip Units 13A, unit 13B, and the Kaibab Plateau Units 12A west and 12A east. Arizona unit 12B definitely offers the trophy mule deer hunter a great chance of taking the mule deer buck of a lifetime. Arizona Unit 12B is mainly considered wintering country for the many herds of mule deer that will start to migrate into this unit during the late fall and winter months. Most of these deer are from herds that will come in from the surrounding Kaibab Plateau in Arizona. They also come from the Paunsaugunt Unit in southern Utah. There is a very, very small resident population of giant mule deer bucks that live year round in Arizona Unit 12B. The bulk of the mule deer herds that are found in this Arizona mule deer unit only uses this area temporarily throughout the late fall and winter months of the year. There is a huge difference in the mule deer numbers that you will see in this unit from the summer to winter months. Expect to see very few deer on the early season mule deer hunts in Unit 12B. Expect to see great numbers of deer in this unit during the winter months if the conditions are right."

 

[toddt]

Any advice on where to start? Because nonresidents get up to, 3 tags, each year, I doubt I will be going back anytime soon and would definitely like to make the most of it. Thanks for the input so far.

 

[BOHNTR]

If no early weather, I would look around the flats on the west side of the Buckskin Mountains. There are resident deer in there. Glass until your eyes bleed!

 

[toddt]

I certainly appreciate the advice. I was really interested in the Pariah Plateau. From what I understand, the deer numbers there are much lower than the west side. But, there are significantly fewer tags for that area, and I would like to take advantage of the much harder to draw tag. But it seems like it is almost irrelevant, because the deer numbers on the east side are so minimal.

 

[dirtclod Az.]

three tags in Az.?Must be Utah.

 

[toddt]

No, its Arizona. They only give 25 tags for the whole 12b. Up to 10 percent is either 2 or 3 tags.

 

[dirtclod Az.]

Wow thats cool.Thanks toddt.