Arizona elk, it’s that time of year.

[nakneker]

Here’s a couple nice bulls they took last week. There’s been quite a few big ones taken on state land and reservation lands in the last week, the rut is in its peak here. Fun time of year.

 

[CaptainMal]

That all archery this early?

 

[nakneker]

That all archery this early?

Those two bulls were rifle hunts on the White Mountain Apache reservation but there has been some big bulls taken during the archery hunt, it’s on right now on state land.

 

[LCazador]

Those two bulls were rifle hunts on the White Mountain Apache reservation but there has been some big bulls taken during the archery hunt, it’s on right now on state land.

Why don't you tell everybody what one of those White Mountain Apache permits costs? Rich man's game here in Arizona!

 

[nakneker]

Why don't you tell everybody what one of those White Mountain Apache permits costs? Rich man's game here in Arizona!

Those bulls came off the White a mountain Apache Reservation. I have no idea what the permit costs but I’m guessing it’s around 25k with a waiting list of ten years or more. You’ll pay just about the same on the San Carlos Apache reservation. Expensive for sure and it’s been that way for a long time. Arizona is a rich man’s game or you can get lucky in the draw and get one of the hunts during the rut, archery, muzzloader and rifle tags can yield bulls just has impressive. There was a bull killed in 2020 in the unit we hunt the most that scored 470+ or so, much bigger than the bulls pictured and was killed on public land. If you look at the record books Arizona is represented well in the typical and non typical categories, many of those bulls are public land elk. So yes, you either have big bucks or lots of luck and draw a quality hunt. I attached pics of that 470+ bull from 2020, that bull was doomed, he was taken with the governor’s tag. If he would have slipped those guys several local guys knew about him too. I don’t get caught up in the politics of it all, I just like looking at big bulls. It’s amazing when you go up to the taxidermist shop that does most of the work around here and see these big bulls come in, on a good year there will be a few over 400 off public land and reservation land. I’ve never broke 400 myself, I’ve taken four with my bow that score between 363 and 382 but I’ve never broken the magical 400. Maybe someday.

 

[LCazador]

Nice job with the pics and info!

 

[JB10]

Im hoping that with the restrictions of trail cams the guide outfitters will not have as easy of a time watching the big ones. Its ridiculous how the outfitters work here (i know people involved in some of them) its all about whos client has the $ for the bigger bull. Hunting is stalking it yourself. I was on the san Carlos 2 years ago and was talking to one of their game and fish officers they have a big client that pays that $25k tag every year for bull elk.

 

[nakneker]

Im hoping that with the restrictions of trail cams the guide outfitters will not have as easy of a time watching the big ones. Its ridiculous how the outfitters work here (i know people involved in some of them) its all about whos client has the $ for the bigger bull. Hunting is stalking it yourself. I was on the san Carlos 2 years ago and was talking to one of their game and fish officers they have a big client that pays that $25k tag every year for bull elk.

I couldn’t agree more. We enjoyed a very productive area in remote country for decades. Guide heard about it and came down and installed two pallets of game cameras which equaled 200 cameras. Then he paid a guy to check them weekly starting in May and keeps it going until February. Imo, it really isn’t fair to the game or others who don’t have the resources to do something like that. Between the wolves and the intense pressure the last few years the quality animals has decreased substantially. I highly doubt all cameras have been pulled, especially in the back country.

 

[Clancy]

Beautiful animals!

My buddy asked me once why all my rifles are 6mm and I said well, I ain’t ever gonna have elk money haha

 

[JB10]

I couldn’t agree more. We enjoyed a very productive area in remote country for decades. Guide heard about it and came down and installed two pallets of game cameras which equaled 200 cameras. Then he paid a guy to check them weekly starting in May and keeps it going until February. Imo, it really isn’t fair to the game or others who don’t have the resources to do something like that. Between the wolves and the intense pressure the last few years the quality animals has decreased substantially. I highly doubt all cameras have been pulled, especially in the back country.

I have given coordinates to game and fish on cameras i have seen. I have a muel deer hunt end of October. Have only 1 weekend i can get away to scout for 2 days. Odds against me but will be a fun time anyways

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Those bulls sure are beautiful and make me think about fall!

 

[nakneker]

My cousin just shot her first bull, neat bull. It’s not huge but it’s a good one, it’s her first.

 

[CharlieNC]

Beautiful! Wish I was young/fit enough to go after them again.

 

[CaptainMal]

My cousin just shot her first bull, neat bull. It’s not huge but it’s a good one, it’s her first.

Not huge????

Mega times bigger than anything I ever shot or even saw.

 

[lawman29]

Not huge????

Mega times bigger than anything I ever shot or even saw.

Yeah it's only a 7 1/2 x 7 1/2

 

[nakneker]

Not huge????

Mega times bigger than anything I ever shot or even saw.

Were spoiled for big elk in Arizona but drawing a tag is another issue, especially early rifle hunts during the rut. It’s dang near impossible to get a tag, even if your a resident. We don’t have near the elk population other states have either, just makes it harder to get that tag.

 

[RegionRat]

Well, she sure set a high standard for a first bull...

Congrats to her.