Arizona Muley Rut

[GeauxBackcountry]

For any folks who live in AZ, or hunted the rut in December/January. Would you say that for second week in January (1/8-1/15) I should be looking more at units in Southern part of state? Region V specifically. I was doing some research on unit 22, 27 and 28 but after reading few articles I was wondering if I need to look further south than 22 and 27. Thoughts?

Thanks in advance

 

[hunter325]

My son and I hunted units 34 and 36 the first week of January 2020 , we hunted for 10 days and I don't feel like the rutting activity started picking up until the last few days we were there. Not sure about other units but that's all I can tell you about where we were. Good luck with your hunt!

 

[GeauxBackcountry]

My son and I hunted units 34 and 36 the first week of January 2020 , we hunted for 10 days and I don't feel like the rutting activity started picking up until the last few days we were there. Not sure about other units but that's all I can tell you about where we were. Good luck with your hunt!

Thank you thats very helpful

 

[GeauxBackcountry]

My son and I hunted units 34 and 36 the first week of January 2020 , we hunted for 10 days and I don't feel like the rutting activity started picking up until the last few days we were there. Not sure about other units but that's all I can tell you about where we were. Good luck with your hunt!

What was the weather like for you guys hunting out there in January?

 

[hunter325]

Low 30's in the morning, but warmed to 70 and 80's in the afternoon, not great. Typical early morning late evening movement.

 

[sgibson]

The past couple years 27 has been great around that time frame. I've been out on probably those same dates the past 2 years and have gotten into pretty hard rutting bucks.

 

[S.Clancy]

Hunted 37b, 33 and 22 last year from Jan. 1st-12th. The last couple days were the best rut activity we saw by far.

 

[coueschaser]

I live right at the 27/28 split and those dates always seem to be some pretty good rut action


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[GeauxBackcountry]

I live right at the 27/28 split and those dates always seem to be some pretty good rut action


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Awesome. Weather pretty unpredictable that time of year in that area?

 

[coueschaser]

27 ranges so much in elevation the weather swings a lot I’ve seen it up into the 40s and 50s and all the way down to single digits. 28 usually stays pretty good for the most part highs in the 40s and lows in the 20s usually. If you want some more info message me


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[RAM2500CTD]

Southern units are wide open desert landscape with elevation changes allowing great glassing

22 Mix of open low land terrain and rock mountain

27 Difficult long range glassing opportunity's with plenty of wooded tree cover

 

[Aortiz99]

Hunted 37b, 33 and 22 last year from Jan. 1st-12th. The last couple days were the best rut activity we saw by far.

I'm hunting 37b this January from Jan. 15 - 19th. From what I've heard the temperature can range quite a bit but do you have any thoughts in particular on what I should be able to expect? Other than almost no chance of rain...

 

[mavinwa2]

remember all to check the AZFG updates. Lots of changes to OTC archery deer tags, seasons and NR restrictions now too!

Due to changes in 2022 OTC archery deer regulations & mandatory harvest reporting, all OTC units have a harvest quota assigned. Many units, mostly near Flagstaff area, are not open for either the December 2022 or January 2023 rut seasons. AS the harvest quota was achieved in these units during the early Aug-Sept seasons. This harvest reached quota has also closed the very popular muley units 1 and 27 as well.
AZFG considers the OTC archery deer season as Aug/Sept , December and JANUARY of the FOLLOWING YEAR.


As a unit has achieved harvest quota, the AZFG will close the season on the Wednesday AFTER quota is reached. Many south units have separate quotas for Coues or Muleys.

link to updates on OTC archery deer harvests:

AZGFD Harvest Tracking

11/27/2022 excerpt for example:

2022-2023 OTC ARCHERY DEER HARVEST LIMIT AND UNIT CLOSURES
		UNITS	OPEN SEASONS	LEGAL WILDLIFE	HARVEST LIMIT	# HARVESTED	# REMAINING	SEASON STATUS	CLOSED AS OF SUNDOWN ON:
		1	Aug 19, 2022 - Sept 8, 2022	Any Antlered Deer	35	53	0	CLOSED	Wednesday, August 24, 2022
		2A, 2B, and 2C	Aug 19, 2022 - Sept 8, 2022	Any Antlered Deer	5	4	1	CLOSED	Thursday, September 8, 2022
		3B	Aug 19, 2022 - Sept 8, 2022	Any Antlered Deer	5	5	0	CLOSED	Wednesday, August 31, 2022
		4A	Aug 19, 2022 - Sept 8, 2022 and Dec 9, 2022 - Jan 31, 2023	Any Antlered Deer	5	2	3	OPEN (CHECK SEASON DATES)
		4B	Aug 19, 2022 - Sept 8, 2022 and Dec 9, 2022 - Jan 31, 2023	Any Antlered Deer	10	8	2	OPEN (CHECK SEASON DATES)
		5A and 5B	Aug 19, 2022 - Sept 8, 2022 and Dec 9, 2022 - Jan 31, 2023	Any Antlered Deer	25	34	0	CLOSED	Wednesday, September 7, 2022
		6A	Aug 19, 2022 - Sept 8, 2022 and Dec 9, 2022 - Jan 31, 2023	Antlered Mule Deer	25	34	0	CLOSED	Wednesday, August 31, 2022
		6A	Aug 19, 2022 - Sept 8, 2022 and Dec 9, 2022 - Jan 31, 2023	Antlered Whitetail Deer	20	13	7	OPEN (CHECK SEASON DATES)
		6B (excluding Camp Navajo)	Aug 19, 2022 - Sept 8, 2022 and Dec 9, 2022 - Jan 31, 2023	Antlered Mule Deer	20	24	0	CLOSED	Wednesday, August 31, 2022
		6B (excluding Camp Navajo)	Aug 19, 2022 - Sept 8, 2022 and Dec 9, 2022 - Jan 31, 2023	Antlered Whitetail Deer	5	2	3	OPEN (CHECK SEASON DATES)
		7 and 9	Aug 19, 2022 - Sept 8, 2022 and Dec 9, 2022 - Jan 31, 2023	Any Antlered Deer	65	68	0	CLOSED	Wednesday, September 7, 2022
		8	Aug 19, 2022 - Sept 8, 2022 and Dec 9, 2022 - Jan 31, 2023	Antlered Mule Deer	15	15	0	CLOSED	Wednesday, August 31, 2022
		8	Aug 19, 2022 - Sept 8, 2022 and Dec 9, 2022 - Jan 31, 2023	Antlered Whitetail Deer	5	1	4	OPEN (CHECK SEASON DATES)
		10	Aug 19, 2022 - Sept 8, 2022 and Dec 9, 2022 - Jan 31, 2023	Any Antlered Deer	25	10	15	OPEN (CHECK SEASON DATES)

 

[mavinwa2]

27	Aug 19, 2022 - Sept 8, 2022	Antlered Mule Deer	55	65	0	CLOSED	Wednesday, August 24, 2022
		27 and 28	Aug 19, 2022 - Sept 8, 2022 and Dec 9, 2022 - Jan 31, 2023	Antlered Whitetail Deer	50	34	16	OPEN (CHECK SEASON DATES)
		28	Aug 19, 2022 - Sept 8, 2022 and Dec 9, 2022 - Jan 31, 2023	Antlered Mule Deer	50	4	46	OPEN (CHECK SEASON DATES)

24A	Aug 19, 2022 - Sept 8, 2022 and Dec 9, 2022 - Jan 31, 2023	Antlered Mule Deer	5	6	0	CLOSED	Wednesday, August 31, 2022

 

[S.Clancy]

I'm hunting 37b this January from Jan. 15 - 19th. From what I've heard the temperature can range quite a bit but do you have any thoughts in particular on what I should be able to expect? Other than almost no chance of rain...

We got snow to 70 degrees down there. I would say average was lows around freezing, highs in low 60s

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Hunted 37b, 33 and 22 last year from Jan. 1st-12th. The last couple days were the best rut activity we saw by far.

same experience last few years, that first week is a bit slow unless looking for coues. Check regs, a lot of changes.
*** just realized this was an old thread, picking prime dates might be a thing of the past with quotas

 

[mavinwa2]

With the new OTC archery deer changes in AZ, much doubt whether there will ever be an opportunity to hunt late December/January rutting muley bucks again in the main units around Flagstaff and the eastern AZ border units. The AZ residents harvest the younger bucks and fill up the harvest quota fast, as evidenced in the August season this year. And future mandatory hunter reporting is around the corner for rifle hunters too. This new data will certainly change the number of buck permits for rifle seasons.
Kiss the trophy rut hunt goodbye in units 27, 1, 8, 9, 7, all of 6, 5, 4 & 3...
...now just part of the good ol' days gone by.

Perhaps AZFG will add draw permits for archery hunting those units for trophy opportunity in December & January.

 

[bowuntr]

The AZ residents harvest the younger bucks and fill up the harvest quota fast, as evidenced in the August season this year.

Where's the data to support this? Ed F

 

[bohntr]

With the new OTC archery deer changes in AZ, much doubt whether there will ever be an opportunity to hunt late December/January rutting muley bucks again in the main units around Flagstaff and the eastern AZ border units. The AZ residents harvest the younger bucks and fill up the harvest quota fast, as evidenced in the August season this year. And future mandatory hunter reporting is around the corner for rifle hunters too. This new data will certainly change the number of buck permits for rifle seasons.
Kiss the trophy rut hunt goodbye in units 27, 1, 8, 9, 7, all of 6, 5, 4 & 3...
...now just part of the good ol' days gone by.

Perhaps AZFG will add draw permits for archery hunting those units for trophy opportunity in December & January.

It shows how much you truly know about this subject, as most of the units you listed have never been offered during the rut period (Dec/Jan) for archery anyways. Nothing lost or gained in this area.