Arizona Unit 23 January OTC Archery

[RockyMountainThunder]

I'm headed down to unit 23 in Arizona in January for the OTC archery hunt. I have been doing some e-scouting and trying to gather as much information as possible. I have some spots picked out that seem to have potential, but I haven't been able to physically scout as it's been hard enough to get time off just to hunt. Tried calling AZ Fish and Game, but apparently they don't take phone calls and answer any questions, so i'm here to hopefully get a few general questions answered.

Curious if the mule deer are up higher in the mixed conifer stuff or down lower in the desert scrubland?
Never hunted couse either so no exactly sure what habitat types they tend to use.
Also wondering if you guys hunt burned areas down there for couse and mule deer.
Does anyone know what the water situation is down there right now? Creeks or water holes have water?
Does this area get a lot of hunting pressure and road hunters?

Any answers and any other pertinent information would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Beendare]

They just got a bunch of rain a couple weeks ago further south near Tucson- puddles everywhere. Typically that unit gets more rain than the southern units.

Heres your tip for a successful hunt; Binos on a tripod where you can see a lot of country....

 

[Patrickaz93]

I’ve had good luck emailing fish and game about information regarding units and I usually get the number of the unit game manager.

 

[ridgefire]

I drew a late archery elk tag in 23 years ago and saw some nice coues bucks but zero mule. I saw most back in the Hells Gate Wilderness back behind Christopher Mountain. Might be an area to start your research.

 

[Buckshotaz]

In January, don't worry about water holes or springs, just glass sunny hillsides in the morning. You may want to hunt the southern part of the unit, where snow should not be a big issue

 

[Full time hunts]

The unit hold solid bucks from the southern part that boarders 22 on lake all the way to the face of the rim. Message me i can give you a few starting points

 

[Bubba]

The unit hold solid bucks from the southern part that boarders 22 on lake all the way to the face of the rim. Message me i can give you a few starting points

Full Time Hunts,

Im heading down there this friday. Mind if I private message you fo some insight?

 

[RockyMountainThunder]

I just realized that I never responded to this thread last year after going down there. We found a good amount of deer, but they seemed to be very spotty. Couse were up higher in the hills and the muleys were lower in the flats. There was a lot of water when we were there so we didn't focus on that. Mainly focused on brushy slopes in the morning/afternoon and cedar slopes mid day. There were a ton of people on the roads over the weekends, mostly hunters some not. A lot of other hunters during the weekends too. Week days had a lot less pressure and made hunting better. Binos on a tripod and patience are 100% key.