Arizona late archery unit 23

[klejeski]

Have drawn a late season archery tag for Arizona unit 23 was hoping to get in a few scouting trips to look over the unit but life got in the way and was unable to make that happen have been going over google earth and maps Wondering if anyone that has some knowledge of the unit might be willing to share some info I will have the full season to hunt and a few days before to scout around

Thanks in advance

 

[Hunterdad04]

23 late is tough. I live in this unit and late hunt it every year. I have it again this year with my brother in law and my buddy. Shoot me a pm and we can get together on the phone. Its really about what you are looking for and how hard you wanna hunt. Lots of road hunters, we tend to get back into areas that are 3-5 miles in. But there are other places just with more people and traffic. PM and we can chat. Willing to help you out

 

[klejeski]

PM sent to Hunterdad04

 

[fiskeri1]

Brian, congrats on getting it done on this hunt!

Unfortunately I cannot say the same for myself but it's not for lack of trying.

Unit 23 in Arizona is next-level tough for archery hunting elk spot and stalk. Getting to the animals in a timely manner quietly enough is borderline impossible, though I did give it my best and got close a few times, including on this bull.

It was great meeting you and thanks again for your generosity.

Richard

 

[AZElk]

23 late is tough. I live in this unit and late hunt it every year. I have it again this year with my brother in law and my buddy. Shoot me a pm and we can get together on the phone. Its really about what you are looking for and how hard you wanna hunt. Lots of road hunters, we tend to get back into areas that are 3-5 miles in. But there are other places just with more people and traffic. PM and we can chat. Willing to help you out

That is the way to do it

 

[klejeski]

Rich you definitely put in 125% I don’t think you cold have tried any harder definitely got to learn a lot about the unit it is big and tough Lots of good country and I only looked at a very small portion. It is extremely tough to spot and stalk The terrain is so noisy I was fortunate to meet some very good and generous fellow hunters willing to work together and share information
I was fortunate enough to fill my tag on a decent 6x6.
Thanks again Hunterdad04 and congrats on your father in laws bull

 

[jr8fish]

Hey guys I drew the 23 late archery tag this year. Hunt starts in a few weeks. I have been down and otc archery hunted the unit for deer the past two seasons to serve as scouting purposes once I drew the elk tag. Ive been down in January to deer hunt but this hunt is a couple months before that obviously. I would love to chat with any of you who have been down and hunted the unit during November and can share some information. Please shoot me a pm or a text message at 801-712-4208.

I am willing to work hard and go the extra 10 miles to get into an area to get it done. I was able to harvest OTC 5 and 6 point bulls in IDaho and Utah this year, all backcountry, backpack style hunts, public land diy, so I am no stranger to hard work.

Thank you.

 

[bigharge]

I was in there with my son back in the first of October for the youth hunt and found bulls all over the place. No idea if they are still around the areas we were in but if you are hunting in the NE area of the unit I can point you to where they were a month ago, lol

Good luck, was my first time in that unit and would love to one day pull a bull tag out of there

 

[jr8fish]

This hunt opened up my eyes to the meaning of thick country. Even the burns have over grown and are thick. It was a very difficult year with the drought and I held out for a good bull the entire hunt. The last couple of days, I lessened my standard and was willing to shoot anything branch antlered and I thought I made that determination too late. But, in the last minutes of day light on the very last day of the season (having hunted the entire hunt) I killed a small raghorn bull. For which I am very proud given the effort I put into this hunt.

I talked to the game warden toward the end of the hunt and he said he was aware of only 5 bulls being killed, and all were small bulls.

- - - Updated - - -

 

[fiskeri1]

This hunt opened up my eyes to the meaning of thick country. Even the burns have over grown and are thick. It was a very difficult year with the drought and I held out for a good bull the entire hunt. The last couple of days, I lessened my standard and was willing to shoot anything branch antlered and I thought I made that determination too late. But, in the last minutes of day light on the very last day of the season (having hunted the entire hunt) I killed a small raghorn bull. For which I am very proud given the effort I put into this hunt.

I talked to the game warden toward the end of the hunt and he said he was aware of only 5 bulls being killed, and all were small bulls.

- - - Updated - - -

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Congrats on getting it done! Filling that tag is no small feat, especially spot & stalk.

Did the F&G guy say how many of those five were shot over water? Last year the only bulls we were aware of were taken by sitting on tanks.

 

[aapurdy]

23 late is tough. I live in this unit and late hunt it every year. I have it again this year with my brother in law and my buddy. Shoot me a pm and we can get together on the phone. Its really about what you are looking for and how hard you wanna hunt. Lots of road hunters, we tend to get back into areas that are 3-5 miles in. But there are other places just with more people and traffic. PM and we can chat. Willing to help you out

drew november archery elk tag. doing online intel. got another guy from payson with intel. planning on staying is wall tent aroung young and spiking out with side by side and on foot with packs on back. looking into initially checking out gordon canyon and marsh creek. open to any suggestions. in good shape. san carlos/or reservations worth looking into? spending full two weeks in november. got good glass and planning on using them. anything you can offer would be great and reciprocated. 8067871550

 

[Ddan33]

Drew this tag this year (2021) and will hopefully be making a trip in Late October before the middle of November season to scout. Curious how/where water is this year and where the best areas to focus on would be. Know it will be a tough hunt but want to at least give myself a chance and do whatever it takes. Any advice is welcome!

 

[MorganRR]

Hey Ddan33 curious to see how your hunt went this hunt has been on my radar for a while and looking to pick your brain about your experience

 

[fairchilddan]

Evening all, I drew a tag for unit 23 late archery Nov. New to the state but excited to give it my 110%. Been doing tons of research and e-scouting. I know this unit is tough, if anyone is willing to share some tips, id appreciate it. Cheers.

 

[LFC911]

Evening all, I drew a tag for unit 23 late archery Nov. New to the state but excited to give it my 110%. Been doing tons of research and e-scouting. I know this unit is tough, if anyone is willing to share some tips, id appreciate it. Cheers.

welcome to RS

 

[Arizona_archer73]

Good luck! I have the same tag. Late season, unit 23, bull, archery. I just posted up this evening. Hunt is 36 hours away! Can't wait!! Running starlink to keep in touch w/family. And a buddy is coming up Sat to assist. Current temps are about 25 degrees.

 

[neverquit]

I draw this pretty much every years .

Gonna be a cold windy opener . Still pretty excited

 

[Pdog63]

23 late is tough. I live in this unit and late hunt it every year. I have it again this year with my brother in law and my buddy. Shoot me a pm and we can get together on the phone. Its really about what you are looking for and how hard you wanna hunt. Lots of road hunters, we tend to get back into areas that are 3-5 miles in. But there are other places just with more people and traffic. PM and we can chat. Willing to help you out

 

[Arizona_archer73]

Nov 2024 Unit 23 follow-up. (my post is 2 above this one) I did NOT get an elk.
It was my first elk hunt ever, and I hunt with a recurve bow. So, being my first hunt ever and late season archery... well it went like you could guess. I learned a lot, covered miles of ground every day, etc...

I never actually SAW a bull elk on my 5 day hunt. (I had a bull tag.) That really sucked as I had rookie delusions of grandeur. LOL Saw a few cows, and got on very fresh sign several times. I only found fresh sign in areas 1.5 miles from road or further. Scouting in summer & fall did little to show where elk would be in November too. I wonder how much of that is due to hunting pressure of prior 2 months vs weather/climate??

Great learning experience overall. Learned a ton. Fixed some deficiencies in clothing and gear from that experience.

Oct 2025 Unit 8: got my first Elk (cow)
My 2nd elk hunt ever. Lucky to get drawn 2 years in a row. Cow tag, recurve bow again. Got the cow on 7th day of my seven day hunt. 27 yard shot. I had a 3 good looks at cows in prior days on separate occasions: got within 2 @ 50 yards, 1 @ 60 yards. I was seriously questioning my choice in recurve bow. My effective range for hunting I limit to 30 yards. Target practice I'm good to 40 yards.

2026: Future Hunting Elk Plans
I think the way to go since I enjoy hunting and have caught the bug (without flying to other states): become a proficient late season hunter. I'm 52 now and prime early season bull hunts are usually years apart to draw, unless you are lucky. Plus I would rather be hunting a late season hunt, than not hunting at all, even if skunked. -Thanks for reading if you got through all that!

Curious everyone else's thoughts on waiting for prime hunts vs doing late season hunts.

 

[LongWayAround]

@Arizona_archer73 nice job man! Killing a cow on a late season hunt with a tradbow is a solid feat!