Arizona Elk

[FGB]

I was lucky enough to draw an early archery tag with zero points (unit that gives the most tags, not going put the number and make it searchable). I had a few general questions, as ill be coming from Virginia and have only been on two OTC CO elk hunts (shot a cow this last year). Overall I'd still call myself a relatively experienced hunter, have been shooting public land whitetail for over a decade from mountains to coastal swamps. While I'm a new guy here, id really appreciate some input on some general questions. For context, i'll likely be going solo (and was solo on my OTC hunts):

1. Hunt dates: With season from the 12th-25th, I was planning to head out on the evening of the 11th, be hunting by the 14th, be starting the drive back by the 24th/25th. If you were to take two weeks off plus a day would these be the dates you chose? Theorectially i could leave the week prior, scout 4 days, and hunt the 7/8 days up to the 18th, but being around for the potential rut activity at the end of the season is very inticing.
2. Access/Roads: I've read that roads can be rough here. I'll be coming out in an 06 tacoma with a 2 inch lift and 33 inch AT tires, should i be fine on at least the main roads (don't have an ATV)? I also have a compressor so can air down as needed to try to prevent punctures.
3. Bike/ebike: Would bringing an ebike or normal mountain bike be useful? Seems like it might be helpful for night/pre light bugling or making it down the last bit of rough road before i get to an area where ill hunt. I used an ebike in CO last year and it was nice to save a few miles on the legs where i could. I'm almost leaning toward mountain bike since it should be ok to take down non-motorized trails?
4. How selective should i be? Having not killed a bull before, I'd be shooting the first legal one i saw if hunting in CO, but a part of me would be a bit disappointed to go out and shoot a rag on the first day or two of this season, given how long it should have taken to pull this tag and the fact that i think i could kill a bull in the place i've been hunting in CO. If I'm hunting hard and away from roads should I have a decent chance of an opportunity at a somewhat mature bull? Just don't want to cut my experience short! But of course if i run into an opportunity at a mature bull in my first few days I'm shooting no doubt.

If you have any other advice im all years! I'm incredibly lucky to have this tag and plan to put a ton of effort into prep and e-scouting to give myself the best chance i can. I likely won't be able to hunt this unit again for a very long time, so i'll be happy to report back on my experience and share some knowledge after the hunt in PMs.

 

[Steve O]

1. Stay as late as possible. Both September tags I’ve had things started to really heat up 9/20. I’d rather have the last 5 days than the first 10 if I had the choice.

2. You have a great truck you will be fine.

3. Certainly wouldn’t hurt to have options.

4. You are not going to be seeing 400” bulls every day in any AZ unit..especially not one that gives out the most tags. Don’t be too picky.

 

[CMF]

1. give your self hunt days before scout days
2. don't know the area specifically, but you didn't say if you have 4x4, but most of the states and areas I've been to out west have been fine with any 4x4 and most ok with a 2x4 truck
3. haven't used one for elk yet and haven't seen many places where I thought I would
4. That's a tough one. Not sure on your specific unit, but My first elk hunt was in a premium NM unit and ended up with a 5x5 on the 6th day of the 10 day season. Looking back, I wish I would have held out for a 6x6, but you have to be content going home empty handed as well. The benefit to holding out is the increased encounters that you may get.

 

[Beendare]

Boots on the ground bro....get there a week in advance, drive the roads and get out in the woods to see where the elk are traveling, using. I know, nobody wants to do that...instead they want to do it on the computer or have someone give them a spot-

Hunting pressure will be the main issue to plan around. Ask yourself; What are those elk going to do when it goes from 3 vehicles a day to 200?

 

[FGB]

Boots on the ground bro....get there a week in advance, drive the roads and get out in the woods to see where the elk are traveling, using. I know, nobody wants to do that...instead they want to do it on the computer or have someone give them a spot-

Hunting pressure will be the main issue to plan around. Ask yourself; What are those elk going to do when it goes from 3 vehicles a day to 200?

Yeah if I could take the whole month off and scout before I would, but with a 30 hour drive get there and only having two weeks off I have no shame in asking these generic questions lol

 

[7Bartman]

Fly out instead, rent a truck and then use the extra time to hunt. Good luck!

 

[JUSTPASSINTHRU]

Pretty sure I know what unit. I had that tag 2 years ago. I used an outfitter. Seen a lot of elk. One herd bull, 340ish with a lot of cows and several satellite bulls. Big boy was too far for a an ethical shot.
Killed a 320ish bull the next morning.

Yes it is darn rough country, go early, stay late. Lot of driving in the dark.

 

[LFC911]

Yeah if I could take the whole month off and scout before I would, but with a 30 hour drive get there and only having two weeks off I have no shame in asking these generic questions lol

Can you work remotely for a week? Last year in ID I found a reasonable AirBnB and worked remotely the last week of August. When I was done working at ~3:30 MST I still had 4ish hours every night to scout. Once the season started I was rested up, acclimated and had a good idea of where to go/not go hunting. Just a thought.

 

[FGB]

Can you work remotely for a week? Last year in ID I found a reasonable AirBnB and worked remotely the last week of August. When I was done working at ~3:30 MST I still had 4ish hours every night to scout. Once the season started I was rested up, acclimated and had a good idea of where to go/not go hunting. Just a thought.

Actually i do work remotely - that's a great idea. I was initially worried about it being super expensive but seems like I should be able to keep it around or under $400 for a week.

 

[mikeafeagin22]

Can you work remotely for a week? Last year in ID I found a reasonable AirBnB and worked remotely the last week of August. When I was done working at ~3:30 MST I still had 4ish hours every night to scout. Once the season started I was rested up, acclimated and had a good idea of where to go/not go hunting. Just a thought.

That’s a great idea. Let you recover a couple days from the trip too. Hopping out of the truck and going straight into the woods is rough after a 2,000 mile drive

 

[satchamo]

I hunted late rifle last year in northern AZ and the roads caught me off guard how rough they were. But it sounds like you’re good in that regard. If I was doing it again I’d take my damn running boards off as idk how many times I hit those. Just tons of boulder filled roads. A set of skid plates would be very much worth it even with a lift.

Good luck! That’s a sweet tag to have

 

[mikeafeagin22]

I hunted late rifle last year in northern AZ and the roads caught me off guard how rough they were. But it sounds like you’re good in that regard. If I was doing it again I’d take my damn running boards off as idk how many times I hit those. Just tons of boulder filled roads. A set of skid plates would be very much worth it even with a lift.

Good luck! That’s a sweet tag to have

No kidding! It’s amazing what the locals will take a side by side through. “Roads” that are hard to hike down and they are ripping through it on a Polaris

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

I had a late archery tag few seasons ago in northern AZ, the roads were rough no doubt. I was in my 2015 taco same setup 2in lift with 33’s I had zero issue. I brought a tire patch kit just in case.
If you do fly out you’d be a leg up. I got there 2 days before it opened and drove all over the unit checking every water source and getting a lay of the land. My advantage was I was going to stay all the way to the end, so time was on my side.
Start finding some places that “look” good now, so when you finally get there you can make sure things are or are not what they seem.
It will make you so much more efficient to find some critters early and know how to get around.
Good luck it’s fun place to hunt. I’ll be back.