[Guest]

Any one put in this year for Mule Deer in AZ? I am in for general Unit 5A,6A,21 and 23.

 

[AZ~ThunderDan]

I applied for muzzy as my 1st choice in the desert units of 39, 40,41 and 42. Then Units 9, 5A/B, 27, and 4A/B in the general hunts. TallPaul, if you draw a unit 5 tag, I can share some honey-hole secrets. I took a dandy buck there in 2002 and normally apply - hunt units 5A/B as my first choice. Good luck.

 

[Desert Rat]

I'm hoping creed and AzT will help show me how to hunt these desert mulies....

 

[AZ~ThunderDan]

I'm just hoping to be in "bow shape" to hunt the rut this year. Desert Rat, I am still learning about the desert muleys myself. If we could both just convince Creed to retire...

 

[creed]

Retirement is certainly something I'm heavily considering right now. I have several options on the table and don't have a clue as to what to do. If my dad wants to farm another year I'll go ahead and work. If he hangs it up?????

If I retired at my young age that would mean I'd just have to hunt more or start a guide/outfitter service. I've wondered if there would be any kind of demand for archery hunts during the rut for desert muleys.

Dan, why'd you waste a choice and apply for unit 9? Everybody knows there are no deer in the unit.

 

[AZ~ThunderDan]

Dan, why'd you waste a choice and apply for unit 9? Everybody knows there are no deer in the unit.

I heard a rumor there was one buck in Unit 9. I am to find him. Either that, or tree some bobcats.

Advice: retire and start guiding. :mrgreen:

 

[Desert Rat]

Advice: retire and start guiding.

Yeah- You can practice on Dan and I. We'll act like real honest to goodness dudes.

 

[Guest]

A little advise about retirement and guiding. I retired (the first time) in 1984, took some time off and then started a gun store, one thing led to another and we started outfitting and guiding. Big mistake - you do all the work and the client has all the fun, also keep in mind that dogs and horses need to be fed year round, not just hunting seasons, leather must be maintained and tents and stuff stored properly. Insurance cost are getting higher and higher with each passing year and I believe now you are required to buy permits for guiding on federal land. Then there is the clients, what can you say. Maybe I already said enough about clients. Sold all my gear and the shop and retired - again. Got bored got another job in the electrical business, stayed with that until last Oct and then retired still again. Enjoying retirement a little more this time around.

 

[creed]

I couldn't just flat out retire. I'd go bonkers. Semi-retirement would mean working 1500-2000 hours a year. I have the opportunity to turn my farm ground over to a neighbor and work for him from Feb. through Aug as a chemical applicator. The rest of the year would be mine. It's tempting but I don't know if I'll do it.

As to guiding....I'm not a people person so that is probably out too. I already have the animals and equipment but probably wouldn't want to put up with the hassles of dealing with others. Another problem would be it would take from my own hunting time.

 

[AZ~ThunderDan]

Creed, when you do semi-retire, you could also contribute a monthly article on hunting desert mulies over on the blog side. In fact, you could do it now if you made your mind up. I'm sure Desert Rat wouldn't mind at all, plus, he's a seasoned writer and could help edit your contributions.

You're a walking encyclopedia of knowledge on desert mule deer hunting. And please, don't even try to deny it. We're not looking for your honey-holes, we just thirst for your knowledge. Whatta'ya say Creed?

P.S.: OK, I'll admit it, I do want one honey-hole... :roll:

 

[Desert Rat]

Desert Rat is dying to line up some regular contributors for the main site...

 

[Guest]

probably wouldn't want to put up with the hassles of dealing with others. Another problem would be it would take from my own hunting time.

Exactly the reason why I'm not guiding anymore. Once took a guy from back east out, he stumbled and rolled a goodly way down the mountainside. He wasn't upset about it, just one of those things. I suggested we go back to camp and check the zero on his new model 70. He said no he was sure the new leupold hadn't been jarred. Seeing how he's the boss I said ok. He missed two nice coues that day and one the following day. Several times during that time I suggested he check his zero, all to no avail. On the morning of the last day I saw him in camp holding his rifle up and looking through the barrel, bolt removed. I asked him what he was doing and could I be of some help. He replied that he was checking to see if he had bent his barrel when he fell. I didn't know if I should laugh or cry. He then said "Yup, the dang thing is bent", I looked through it and it looked perfect to me, not wanting to disappoint a paying customer I agreed with him, afterall he was the boss. I asked him if he would like to use one of the camp rifles, which he did, and during the course of the day ended up with a nice coues. I suggested, again, to him that he shoot his rifle at camp, "no need to, barrel is bent, I bought that bent barrel model 70, minus scope, for $100. That was close to 20 years ago, my son has killed many a coues and a few elk with that old bent barrel rifle. We laugh about it at times and he says, "yup you can shoot around trees with that old bent barrel."

 

[AzSlim]

I hate to tell you this Dan but there are no deer in the desert. If you want a big buck you have to go to the strip country or the pines. There is absolutely nothing worth your time south of I-40.......

 

[goinhtn63]

Im in u nit 10. There are some big ones there. Lots of elk too for those of you that got elk tags.

 

[arizwebfoot]

Since I"m new to AZ most of my huntin's been in either Oregon or Tennessee/Kentucky :? (grew up in Oregon huntin black tail & muleys), I've got Unit 7 any antlered deer.

Been scouting most of 7E from Hwy 180 east & north and some of 7W just west & south of 180. Most of what I've seen in 7W was close to 180 and moving in a northwesterly direction. I'm finding more deer in the pines/aspen then in the scrub.

I've see a ton of elk sign and I've seen where they've been sparring. The ground looks like someone took a tiller to it.

Creed is Unit 9 really dead or were you being a wee bit sarcastic?

Just my 6 cents worth (2 cents adjusted for inflation and the price of crude).