Hey all, CA resident hunter here and usually hunt my surrounding states such as AZ, UTAH, CO as well as obviously here in CA both bow and rifle. AZ has been my favorite with a bow next to CA as I live in So Cal.
I am in a pickle as I can't decide if I should stay a bit more local in a General D unit (4.5hr Drive) or head to a central AZ unit (6.5hr Drive) for a mule deer. The drive I dont mind at all really, Just the deer quantity and quality lol. I obviously want a bigger deer and the chance at just being able to see more deer, absolutely love hunting the OTC in dec/Jan in Arizona but I hunted a unit last year on the NM border thats now not a August Otc unit. I am the type of hunter to hunt in a few miles from roads and usually back to the truck by late night or stay our for a night here and there if its necessary.
I picked a unit in Az I'd want to hunt now here in a few days as it opens up near prescott/ Mayer. But with not having time to have scouted the unit on foot luckily I have done a ton of research e-scouting and marking tanks and water holes(Hopefully some have water) although some rain also shows in a few days tstorms.
Question is!
Do I head there or just fall back on my CA unit I have hunted a few times and not seen a ton of deer in(would have to grind into deep canyons at both spots, az a bit less id assume as more road hunt) ?
I do have a UTV I can take also and probably will be taking with me to either spot I decide on, AZ just a bit more appealing but also will be solo and haven't rode the roads I've marked online.
Just part of me feels like Arizona in general is amazing for deer especially next to CA when not considering X zones. Just never had much experience in hotter weather in Az when it comes to August.
All these factors above and then some are why I guess Im second guessing myself or Id say or doubting things, I know I just have to pick one and get out there but maybe anybody with some central AZ Velvet mule deer experience anything would help as we are all learning daily.
Cheers and good luck to all Bowhunters this week!
I am in a pickle as I can't decide if I should stay a bit more local in a General D unit (4.5hr Drive) or head to a central AZ unit (6.5hr Drive) for a mule deer. The drive I dont mind at all really, Just the deer quantity and quality lol. I obviously want a bigger deer and the chance at just being able to see more deer, absolutely love hunting the OTC in dec/Jan in Arizona but I hunted a unit last year on the NM border thats now not a August Otc unit. I am the type of hunter to hunt in a few miles from roads and usually back to the truck by late night or stay our for a night here and there if its necessary.
I picked a unit in Az I'd want to hunt now here in a few days as it opens up near prescott/ Mayer. But with not having time to have scouted the unit on foot luckily I have done a ton of research e-scouting and marking tanks and water holes(Hopefully some have water) although some rain also shows in a few days tstorms.
Question is!
Do I head there or just fall back on my CA unit I have hunted a few times and not seen a ton of deer in(would have to grind into deep canyons at both spots, az a bit less id assume as more road hunt) ?
I do have a UTV I can take also and probably will be taking with me to either spot I decide on, AZ just a bit more appealing but also will be solo and haven't rode the roads I've marked online.
Just part of me feels like Arizona in general is amazing for deer especially next to CA when not considering X zones. Just never had much experience in hotter weather in Az when it comes to August.
All these factors above and then some are why I guess Im second guessing myself or Id say or doubting things, I know I just have to pick one and get out there but maybe anybody with some central AZ Velvet mule deer experience anything would help as we are all learning daily.
Cheers and good luck to all Bowhunters this week!
