Couse deer hunting AZ

[Jwhuntingboy]

I’m think about going to Arizona for couse deer next January. What is a must have to take down there?

 

[ericF]

Never have been personally, but my brother in law lives down there in Sierra Vista. Talking to him, it sounded like glass on a tripod, and that is where 15x binos excel.

 

[Shastaman78]

15x on a tripod are the way to go. A good hunting buddy and radios are a major advantage while making stalks. Get a javelina tag if you can.

 

[PNWGATOR]

A javalina tag so that when you have the opportunity you can take it.

 

[BigGamer]

I've only been once and it was awesome! You definitely need some quality glass. I really liked using my 15s. I rarely used a spotting scope. Wear out the seat of your pants before the sole of your boot. Oh and definitely have at least a glassing pad to sit on....

Definitely second having a buddy go with you. Pretty amazing how difficult it can be to stalk in on a buck from 1,000 yards without a little guidance.

 

[wildwilderness]

A bow, and a pair of tweezers to get all the cactus out of your legs

 

[Upstate SC]

I went last year. Didn’t bring one home but had a blast. It was my first western hunt, and I’ll for sure go back.

Good binos (I was happy with my 10x Vipers), a tripod, and a pad to sit on (thermarest z seat)

The further you get from the road, the better your chances are of bringing one home.

 

[Wapiti1]

Have your water situation figured out. The northern units aren't so bad. The southern units are pretty dry.

Jeremy

 

[Packin_packout]

I will second a couple of things :
1. Tweezers/leatherman for dealing with the jumping jack cactus...nasty things.
2. Tape for pulling those little furry spines out. You will itching for weeks!
3 . Water is a big deal. Jerry cans locked in the vehicle. A pack of water bottles on the hood...I'd rather the guys sneaking across take the bottle vs break in my truck to get something to drink. Breakin happened to a group I met on the refuge.

A few things I always bring for out here
1. Shovel/Tracks some of the roads out there can get bad.
2. sidearm...depending on where you are the amount of smuggling both drug / human can get pretty ugly. It is not uncommon to find backpacks / black water jugs / clothing all over the place. I have spotted groups twice in last 5 years when glassing and had one group go right through the creek bed next to where I was camping one night. Sitting in the dark, dinner cooked already, no fire, no headlamp just eating and I hear them coming up the draw. So it can be an issue. They've never bothered me but something to be aware of.
3. Radio...cell service is pretty spotty...figure out how to reach out to CBP.
4. You will sometimes you will see them in plainclothes walking around checking vehicles / camps...gets interesting when you see someone walking around checking your vehicle out when you are on a ridge glassing.
5. foam pad over inflatable pad ( or both ) everything out here is meant to stick or prick you and loves to destroy sleeping pads.

Bring a 22 / shotgun for bunnies and quail.

The game wardens that I have dealt with out there are great. Depending on how close to the border you are will get why I am bringing up the last section. The lady who works the unit I normally hunt in is walking around, AR mags properly oriented on her belt and carrying an AR pretty much anytime I meet her. She looks like she's getting ready to go to a 3-gun match for a reason. Further north is a lot more laid back but within 60 miles it can get kind of interesting.

If you are on a visa / permanent resident have a copy of visa paperwork or PR card. Had a girl in my car one time down there that I worked with that did not have her visa paperwork and we were down south of the checkpoints. Was able to get it settled because we could show she was working at our company and had her approvals once we got online but they thought she was hispanic and I was bringing her up. (She's indian)