It'd be a great trip to take and walk around the woods/sit some watering holes for a day or two as a bonus; and hope to be the luckiest hunter ever. Elk are primarily found along the Black Hills that make up the Verde Rim from I-17 to the Bloody Basin road. Remember this deer herd is extremely migratory and will remain at higher elevations until significant snowfall pushes them off. Use temperature ranges to plan and prepare for your hunt. However, for the past few years, bison have been seen near Wall Lake, as well as along Forest Service Roads 219B, 223, 270, and 610. Finally, enjoy the finest terrain, climate, and surroundings that nature has to offer, the Kaibab Plateau. Concentrate in areas dominated by this type of vegetation and look for turkey tracks in the snow, mud, dust, or around water sources. Hunters with a 12B permit (vs. 12BW permit) may hunt the Paria Plateau as well as the rest of the Unit. Sometimes the November and December hunts can be. Concentrate on areas that are more inaccessible. Come prepared for all types of weather. Create a free account to read the rest of this elk hunting note! The best hunting techniques include walking, and watching and listening while sitting with your back to a tree. Favorite Deer Units : 13 b ,12a, 12b, 10, 17a & b,18b , 21, 23, 44, 20c Favorite Antelope Units: 5a, 7, 9, 10, 7a, 18a. Areas:Any areas with concentrations of deer often have lions associated with them. During the fall hunt gas, food, and lodging can be found in Fredonia, Jacob Lake, and near DeMotte Park. The Kaibab Plateau ranges from 6,000' to 9,200'; vegetation consists of ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, and aspen. Conditions can vary from 80 degrees to below freezing, from sunny to snow, and from pleasant to down right ugly. The Kaibab uplift extends into Utah about 15 miles, so a big bull might wander to the south and spend summer up in the high country (the Kaibab runs for 60 miles above 8000 ft and down at the GC park boundary it's over 9000). Is it tough to draw, what is the hunting pressure like and elk density like. Areas: Any areas with concentrations of deer or sheep often have lions associated with them. The large canyons and rocky areas that form the edges of the Kaibab plateau, both on the east and west side of the plateau, are likely areas to locate lion sign. Its going to be HOT, if all else fails and you put in little effort, you could come away with a new pair of rattle snake boots! The early hunt is managed for hunter opportunity and usually occurs during the early part of the deer migration, thus few older-age class bucks are found during the early hunt. Essentially, it could take decades of applying to get drawn for a premier hunt for one of Arizona's world class mule deer. The fall hunt is often characterized by warm to hot daytime temperatures and afternoon rains. John is that a unit that can produce a monster bull? From the South: U.S. Hwy 89A, Wahweap Marina Campground at Lake Powell, administered by the National Park Service; Page Lake Powell Campground, 849 S. Coppermine Rd. Areas: Concentrate your efforts on the southeast side of the Plateau in sub-unit 12AE. With continued and persistent drought the woody winter browse in 12AW has been less productive for the past several years and as result concerns over the carrying capacity of this vital range are warranted. Lost Canyon Hunts. No motor vehicles are allowed in the Paria Canyon/Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area. By this time of year the deer are visiting water in the dark. Sir, Cut your losses and stay home, worst unit almost in whole state. Anyone drawing a 16A elk tag should be prepared to work hard on both scouting and hunting trips. Being prepared on this hunt is even more crucial than on the early hunt. A relatively constant output of older age-class deer has been evident, throughout the history of the plateau. Some lions have been harvested incidental to these other activities. After a snow storm a hunter will drive the roads found within the Unit 12 winter deer range early in the morning looking for tracks. The majority of elk in this unit are located on National Forest lands in the southern part of the unit. The Arizona Game and Fish Commission authorized over-the-counter (OTC) elk tags that include units 12A and 12B and others (see regulations). Having extra spare tires would also be a good idea. . Elevations vary from 3,000' to more than 9,200', with a large plateau, the Kaibab, comprising a majority of the unit. Create a free account to read the rest of this elk hunting note! Use common sense; dont take shortcuts as they often take a lot longer than the more sensible route. Overview: According to David Brown in Arizona Game Birds the Blue grouse is a native of the Kaibab Plateau and restricted locals in the White Mountains. Areas around Crystal Springs, Sourdough Well, and along the 610 rd near the National Park Boundary provide the best opportunity for finding the often secretive Blue Grouse. Likewise, hunters who want to hunt the Paria Plateau must apply for a 12B permit. The premium late season rut hunts in Unit 12A-East have the highest success rates on big mule deer, but lots of huge bucks have been taken in the early rifle and archery hunts. They were good 330-350 bulls. Areas: As stated earlier, concentrate your efforts in areas with large Ponderosa Pine trees and focus your observation skills on the forest floor. This may be a good place to introduce yourself and your site or include some credits. Create a free account to read the rest of this terrain note! From the East: State Hwy 98 I had a similar tag 10 years ago for the Kaibab proper. The Kaibab has supplied many happy hunting experiences in the past and will hopefully continue to do so for generations to come. Elk use open grasslands and sparsely forested areas more than most people think, and since these areas usually have fewer roads it is much easier to escape hunting pressure in these areas. Elevations range from 6,500-9,000. This is my first year being drawn for elk and got a tag for all 12 and 13 units for any elk and this tag is good until April of '19. Camping is allowed in designated areas and within 30 of open roadways on Forest Service administered lands throughout the unit. If you are considering hunting mountain lions in Unit 12 for the first time, consider hiring a good houndsman/guide to increase you likelihood of success. During both the spring and fall hunts be safe and acquire positive target identification. Hunt the travel corridors up or down from water and you will improve your odds. First, on an archery hunt dont bother with pinyon/juniper areas unless it has snowed (not likely). Included in these hunts are bull only, antlerless and even 275 any-elk tags. Many hunters utilize horses and mules, snowmobiles, and other recreational vehicles to overcome these access limitations. As indicated by checkstation records, the average mature buck produced by the Kaibab is a 3-5 year old 23-25 four point. Create a free account to read the rest of this terrain note! There are no easy ways to hunt them, but the breath-taking scenery makes it a great place to try. Pronghorn are also found along the edge of the plateau in the pinyon-juniper transition zone. The current yearly limit on lions harvested in Unit 12 stands at 14. The majority of the unit is public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management, Arizona Strip District, 345 E. Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84770, phone (435) 688-3200. Well thanks everyone for all the quick responses and for mostly confirming my suspicions. Once a track is located the hounds are released and the lion is pursued until treed. Overview: The Unit 12A Mountain Lion population, based on harvest information and observed lion sign, appears to be healthy and robust. Excellent recruitment and low winter mortality for the past several years has lead to population levels similar to the early 90s. See how weather varies by elevation within a unit by selecting an elevation range. A forum community dedicated to hunting and fishing enthusiasts in the Arizona area. After a snow storm a hunter will drive the roads found within the 12A winter deer range early in the morning looking for tracks. Older age "mature" bulls are taken on a regular basis. Often roosting turkeys will respond to these calls giving a hunter a location to begin the mornings hunt. If you are fortunate enough to receive a coveted 12A deer tag you might consider purchasing a mountain lion tag before heading to the Kaibab. Areas: It may be hard to believe but the likelihood of running into an older age class buck, as near as the author can tell, is just about equal almost anywhere on the plateau. Finally, during the night, prior to a morning hunt drive the roads getting out occasionally and turkey calling. In the last couple of years, only a few elk have been spotted and harvested in the vicinity of Mile and a Half Lake south to Franks Lake, on the west side of the Kaibab Plateau. There are very few elk in this unit. The Warm Springs and Nail Canyon areas in 12AW and the Cocks Combs area in 12AE are good starting points. Page, Marble Canyon, Jacob Lake, Cliff Dwellers, Fredonia, Major Highways and Roads Leading To Cross country travel is not allowed on BLM lands. Less pressure o grow big? Also, before the hunt begins, study topo maps and enlist the aid of others who have hunted the area before. Toggle between terrain, satellite, and topographic views, 1st choice license applications and licenses drawn, Draw odds for resident and nonresident applicants, Harvest stats by hunt_code, manner, season, sex, type, Average # of days between precip or snow event, Probability of other weather events (thunder, hail, etc) by by month. The prepared hunter is often the successful hunter. While calling in a higher-pressure unit like 5A it often requires a hunter to be very mobile. Areas: During the spring turkey hunt significant winter snowfall can affect access and often dictates hunting locations. Beginning at U.S. Hwy 89A and the Kaibab Naitonal Forest boundary near mp 566; southerly and easterly along the forest boundary to Grand Canyon National Park; southerly and westerly along the park boundary to Kanab Creek; northerly along Kanab Creek to Snake Gulch; northerly, easterly and southerly around the Kaibab National Forest boundary to U.S. Hwy 89A near mp 566. We consider 5B North to have 350+ potential on early archery hunts. Use common sense; dont take shortcuts as they often take a lot longer than the more sensible route. Areas: During the spring turkey hunt significant winter snowfall can affect access and often dictates hunting locations. The Bureau of Land Management, Arizona Strip District, 345 E. Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah, 84770, phone (435) 688-3200 manages the majority of unit 12B. The health and longevity of this winter range is critical to the long term sustainability of the 12A deer herd. If you are fortunate enough to draw one of the most sought after deer tags in the United States come to the Kaibab with realistic expectations and remember, we hunt for the experience. If you end up wanting to take a camping trip and see the Grand Canyon then 12A is a great spot. The Kaibab has supplied many happy hunting experiences in the past and will hopefully continue to do so for generations to come. Bachelor herds are typically broken up by this hunt and bucks can be relatively evenly distributed throughout the plateau. Areas: Pronghorn in House Rock Valley generally tend to be located within 6 to 7 miles of the base of the Kaibab Plateau. Concentrate your efforts in areas with waterholes (not necessarily on the water), as the plateau is often dry at this time of the year. Rifle. The vegetation in this area ranges from Great Basin desert scrub and desert grassland to pinyon-juniper and pine-oak woodlands. If I was going in to there I'd focus on the Mt. Update: In 2008, the Arizona Game and Fish Department discontinued aerial flights on the Kaibab National Forest to locate bison prior to hunts because so few bison were observed in previous years. Large numbers of domestic sheep grazed on the Paria Plateau, Vermilion Cliffs, and Paria Canyon until the 1960s when the Bureau of Land Management converted all grazing permits to cattle only. This bird was first documented in 12B in Paria Canyon, but has since been regularly observed along the Kanab Creek/ Snake Gulch drainage. Hunters who. Unit 12A continues to provide the turkey hunter and/or wildlife enthusiast a unique opportunity to observe Merriams Turkeys. On the ever in demand 12A late hunt, pray (if religious) for snow. As the weather continues to cool down and the snow fall increases, Kaibab deer from the western portion of the plateau move down towards Pigeon Canyon, Toothpick Ridge and Gunsight Point, making this area best after early November. Blue Grouse, Kaibab Squirrel, Merriams Turkey, Mountain Lion, Mule Deer. Watching waterholes that have turkey sign around them provide the turkey hunter with the best opportunity to bag a bearded turkey during this often dry time of the year. I plan on going up there to scout sometime soon but was wondering if anyone has seen elk up there. There are no services on top of the Paria Plateau. That is a huge area to even begin to scout. Antlerless hunters continue to enjoy high hunt success. Areas of elk concentrations change somewhat year-to-year, depending on localized summer rainfall filling stock tanks and greening up vegetation. During the spring hunt be prepared for cold temperatures and even snow. The large canyons and rocky areas that form the edges of the Kaibab and Paria plateaus are likely areas to locate lion sign. The Vermillion Cliffs and Paria Plateau in 12BE, the western side of Buckskin Mountain, and the Gunsight peninsula including Kanab Creek and Snake Gulch have seen harvests in recent years, and are good starting points. QUICK NAV: RESIDENCY STATUS: SHOW ODDS FOR: or SHOW UNIT: Arizona - Elk. That is not a problem since the other units may not have any elk at all. Many hunters go home disappointed that they did not see big bucks on the early hunt, but every hunter should do their homework and know what they should expect on a hunt before setting high expectations. If you are considering hunting mountain lions on the Kaibab for the first time consider hiring a good houndsman/guide to increase your likelihood of success. Remember, 30 bucks are special because they are extremely, extremely rare. . This behavior includes becoming more and more nocturnal, spending more time in thick aspen and mixed conifer stands, and remaining in unroaded canyon habitats. The large canyons and rocky areas that form the edges of the Kaibab and Paria plateaus are likely areas to locate lion sign. Forage quality and snowfall will push the deer to the lower winter range. The elevation in this area ranges from 3,000' to 7,000'; vegetation ranges from riparian cottonwood-willow and salt cedar along the Gila River, to Chihuahuan Desert in the lower elevations a Elk hunting in this unit can be extremely difficult due to the terrain. The Paria Plateau to the east has the lowest number of deer. Areas: The Buckskin Mountains in the central portion of the unit contains the highest densities of deer and is best to hunt after mid-October. Take care in species identification before dropping the hammer. Got a Buffalo up there , why ont Elk ? According to Arizona Game and Fish, Hunt No. Finally, during the night, prior to a morning hunt drive the roads getting out occasionally and turkey calling. Be prepared for snow, mud, and adverse weather conditions, and bring plenty of supplies. During the early 12B hunts, deer are typically concentrated in the pinyon-juniper and along meadow edges at higher elevations in the Buckskins, southwest toward Snake Gulch. Other areas to consider are Badger Springs and Soap Spring along the Vermillion Cliffs within the wilderness area. Update: For the past few years, bison have been seen near Wall Lake, as well as along Forest Service Roads 219B, 223, 270, and 610. Unit 12A continues to provide the turkey hunter and/or wildlife enthusiast a unique opportunity to observe Merriam's Turkeys. *There are currently no Population Management Seasons for elk tags available for successfully drawn deer hunters in Units 12A East and/or West. Be patient, many long time grouse hunters often return to camp, after a long day of walking, with an empty vest. Hunt the travel corridors up or down from water and you will improve your odds. Create a free account to read the rest of this access note! Https://www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Questionnaires/. Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Areas: Any areas with concentrations of deer often have lions associated with them. After a snow storm a hunter will drive the roads found within the Unit 12 winter deer range early in the morning looking for tracks. Game and fish would rather have hunters do it legally.