Arizona Late Rut Hunt
Contributors to this thread:Mule Deer
From: NorCalVineyards
09-Dec-19
Headed to northern AZ to chase Muley's with the bow on the OTC hunt. Snow was on the ground over the weekend. Bucks should be getting after it!
From: Treeline
09-Dec-19
Good luck!
From: drycreek
09-Dec-19
Good luck ! 73* here, doesn’t feel much like hunting weather....
From: NorCalVineyards
09-Dec-19
Thanks fellas! First hunt day is Friday. Full moon this week.
From: bohuntr
09-Dec-19
I always wanted to do this hunt. Looking forward to following along on your adventure. Good luck!
From: NorCalVineyards
10-Dec-19
I’ll keep the action feed running daily with cell service at camp and a phone skope near by.
From: NorCalVineyards
12-Dec-19
No, it’s not Halloween , $42.00 in supplies (not counting the lululemon ball cap) and a donation to my cousin for her craft skillz. Laugh it up fellas if it helps I’m in. Game on in the am.
From: ki-ke
12-Dec-19
Good luck Tony!!
From: NorCalVineyards
12-Dec-19
Thanks!
From: Shug
12-Dec-19
Good luck
From: NorCalVineyards
12-Dec-19
Much appreciated Shug! Lots of hospitality coming from the Jersey fellas!
This will be my fourth attempt in the desert - big buck kill’n ain’t easy!
From: t-roy
12-Dec-19
Good luck on your hunt, Tony! An archery mule deer rut hunt is definitely on my radar. Looking forward to following along.
From: Trial153
12-Dec-19
I will be there last two weeks of next month. Good luck
From: NorCalVineyards
12-Dec-19
Good luck to you in January Trial153, I typically hunt middle of January but this year I’m further north where it’s on right now.
Thanks T-Roy! It’s a fun hunt!
From: Paul@thefort
12-Dec-19
Good luck Tony. A year ago I hunted Coues deer in AZ for the 9 th time but next year. 2021, will try Mule deer to change up my game. Will be following along for sure and I hope the best for you. Just in case you forgot what a mule deer buck looks like, pictured. my best, Paul
From: Heat
12-Dec-19
Good Luck! These hunts are tough. Overall I don't think the OTC deer hunts have ever gone over 10% success. Just takes one to slip up though. Your timing should be pretty good!
From: BOHNTR
12-Dec-19
Have fun......saw a few does today without bucks......but I did see a nice 4x4 cruising alone yesterday.....won’t be too long
From: Scar Finga
12-Dec-19
Yep the AZ rut hunt for desert Mule deer and Couse is a tough hunt! But man it is so much fun! Plan on spending most of your time behind binos or a spotting scope. Unless you on a water hole, hunting from a tree-stand or have a specific travel route picked out... You have to find them before you can kill them! remember that the terrain is very noisy, slow and slower is the key! You can also call in the Couse bucks by rattling and calling... Bleats and grunts and I also think light raking of the ground and shrubs helps.
Good Luck!!!!!
From: Empty Freezer
12-Dec-19
I will be their the 2nd week of January. Last year they were in full rut then so hope i am on it again. Good luck everybody. We should have a secret flag for bowsiters so we can stop and say hey...
From: SBH
12-Dec-19
I’m gonna miss it this year. Can only do so much! I’ll be living thru you guys vicariously. Good luck and keep us posted! That hunt is sure a good time.
From: Bowboy
12-Dec-19
Good luck and post pictures and a story even if no tag punched.
From: NorCalVineyards
12-Dec-19
Appreciate the support!!!Punched tag or not I’ll post up my experience. 2 hours until dad and I land at camp.
From: NorCalVineyards
12-Dec-19
Paul that’s what I’m talking about!
From: NorCalVineyards
12-Dec-19
Camp for the night and this day is cooked.
From: NorCalVineyards
13-Dec-19
Opening morning, coffee, then hitting the road.
From: BGbasbhat
13-Dec-19
Good luck! Be safe and get after it!
From: akbow
13-Dec-19
Save some for me. I'll be in S. AZ on the 4th. I'm hoping some rut action left!
From: Treeline
13-Dec-19
Arizona is still one of the premier Bowhunts in NA. Good luck!
From: Brotsky
13-Dec-19
Good luck boys! This is one I will do sometime down the road. I have too much vacation time scheduled for August through November these days to make a January hunt work! Looking forward to following along!
From: creed
13-Dec-19
I feel bad for you guys that have never hunted Arizona during the rut. Beautiful weather and rutting bucks is hard to beat
From: SD BuckBuster
13-Dec-19
Looks like fun! Good luck!
From: Jeff Holchin
13-Dec-19
I did this hunt over a decade ago on the border with Mexico and put on some fun stalks for rutting Coues and mule deer, but the illegals were pretty bad. Had several interesting encounters, including one with border patrol in which they thought I was a coyote waiting to pick up a load. I had a pistol on me (illegal at the time) and for a little while I thought I was going to jail.
Thinking of going again soon, it still was a fun hunt, has the illegal situation changed much?
From: NorCalVineyards
13-Dec-19
75 yards from the bedded beast right now ??
From: Outdoordan
13-Dec-19
Good luck Tony!
From: NorCalVineyards
13-Dec-19
Waiting for this tweaker doe to clear and then crawl in the last 25 yards
From: Empty Freezer
13-Dec-19
U Can do It....
From: Treeline
13-Dec-19
And....????
From: NorCalVineyards
13-Dec-19
No dice but close all day. Eventually a doe picked us off 60 yards as we were on our final approach
From: Jaquomo
13-Dec-19
Tony, great hunt already! You're onto it. It will happen!
From: Empty Freezer
13-Dec-19
This is so great. I'm on your hunt before my hunt. Bowsite is awesome
From: NorCalVineyards
13-Dec-19
Buck has a giant back end and wraps parallel on the front forks! Shooter.... mass for days and tank of a body, old deer
From: Heat
13-Dec-19
Strong start, keep that up and he's taking a ride home with you.
From: NorCalVineyards
13-Dec-19
Can’t beat those Arizona sunsets
From: Ambush
14-Dec-19
That's a gorgeous buck!! Is there a good chance you'll be able to keep tabs on him till he slips up? Good luck!
From: t-roy
14-Dec-19
Wow! That buck is a tank!
I’ve got a question. What is a “tweaker” doe?! Is meth that big of a problem out there, that even the deer are using it? How many days do you have to hunt?
From: The last savage
14-Dec-19
Dang nice buck!! Hoping you'll let one fly on another bruiser like that,,great start...
From: sitO
14-Dec-19
Thanks for taking us along, good luck fellas!
From: Treeline
14-Dec-19
Thinking that buck may be in trouble today...
Good luck!
From: Heat
14-Dec-19
TD's hood can compete with AZ sunsets.
From: NorCalVineyards
14-Dec-19
Day 2 here we go
From: Trial153
14-Dec-19
Good luck!
From: Paul@thefort
14-Dec-19
Filling in my day nicely, Keep going strong.
From: Shuteye
14-Dec-19
Yep, that is a fine looking buck. Hope you get a good shot. Been raining here every day and I have been staying home. But if I want to hunt white tails, I just walk out my back door.
From: NorCalVineyards
14-Dec-19
Been windy all day, toxic for a mule deer hunter. Haven’t had one opportunity today so far but not over. Snow tonight and tomorrow.
From: Paul@thefort
14-Dec-19
Tony, not Christmas yet, so you got to wait. I have killed most of my AZ Coues deer bucks around the 10 of January but not sure when MD rut is, most likely similar or later. But then a buck does not have to be rutting to kill it.
From: AZ~Rich
14-Dec-19
Mulie rut is Late Nov into early Dec for Northern AZ, Late Dec into Jan for Southern AZ.
From: Matt
14-Dec-19
And earlier than coues where they overlap.
From: Jaquomo
14-Dec-19
True and interesting, since the whitetail rut is about a week earlier than muleys where they overlap.
From: NorCalVineyards
14-Dec-19
Coyotes (one dead), Javalinas and some cull bucks. One about 27” wide with a 7” drop but weak forks all around.
From: dirtclod Az.
14-Dec-19
Did you pick up a leftover Pig tag?I always draw pig and go OTC Deer.
From: Treeline
14-Dec-19
Good luck tomorrow!
From: dirtclod Az.
14-Dec-19
AZGF Update-Mule Deer Buck poached on the Kiabab 12A west. Poached near a wildlife water station,left to rot.They do have lead's. Hang Em' High!
From: NorCalVineyards
14-Dec-19
Day 2 is wrapped up, bbq steak dinner and one more Arizona sunset (sorry fellas I know we all want to see more mule deer and less sunsets - it’s coming, hang with me! )
From: NorCalVineyards
14-Dec-19
The rut is on big time north of I-40.
Desert January yes, but not north of 40.
From: Bowfinatic
14-Dec-19
Loving this thread! Good luck out there. I will be in southern NM first week of January chasing after them as well. Great first day stalk and buck sighted
From: NorCalVineyards
15-Dec-19
Morning of day 3 and here we go.... some elk sheds for the boys accumulated yesterday, one more to find to cover them all.
From: Treeline
15-Dec-19
Hopefully the wind will cooperate this morning and the bucks will be running around stupid:-)
From: Ambush
15-Dec-19
Today should have lots of action and pics of big bucks, but no arrows launched.
Otherwise, what will we have to look forward to tomorrow!?
From: NorCalVineyards
15-Dec-19
Here we go!!!!
From: t-roy
15-Dec-19
Go git him!
From: dirtclod Az.
15-Dec-19
Get'r Done!GL.
From: Ambush
15-Dec-19
What a sight!! Exciting stuff to be planning a stalk on a beauty like that!
From: Empty Freezer
15-Dec-19
That is so awesome.. Get some Bowhunter
From: NorCalVineyards
15-Dec-19
Perfect opportunity this morning, needed 5 more minutes but a coyote came through and got them up so I took care of it.
From: Habitat for Wildlife
15-Dec-19
Good hunt, good luck!
From: StickFlicker
15-Dec-19
Thanks for helping us with our coyote problem!
From: Treeline
15-Dec-19
Dead coyotes are always good luck!
From: Ambush
15-Dec-19
You get a bonus point and a Smiley Face for the dead dog. Well done!
From: ki-ke
15-Dec-19
Looks like you're having a great time Tony! Good deal on the yote....
From: Beav
15-Dec-19
Great job on the coyote!
From: NorCalVineyards
15-Dec-19
Great day today. Although no buck I was within 70 yards of the 30” 4x4 twice. Both times just needed something to go my way but bowhunting kicks your ass but it’s sure fun. Tonorrow is a new day and optimism is high. What a gorgeous buck
From: Rackmastr
16-Dec-19
Awesome stuff!!!
From: Mad Trapper
16-Dec-19
Good luck !! Enjoying the write-up.
From: dirtclod Az.
16-Dec-19
Sooner or later It will all come together,the right place at the right time.! I'm pullin' for ya',were all in this together.-Red Green
From: Empty Freezer
16-Dec-19
Hunt hard and send lots of pics.. I don't want to have to actually work today :)
From: Rut Nut
16-Dec-19
This is GREAT! Good luck and keep us posted!
From: Brotsky
16-Dec-19
Good luck today! Can't wait to put some mule bucks under glass this week myself!
From: Ambush
16-Dec-19
Dead Buck Walking!
I have a feeling today is going to see some heart pounding action! Get on 'em Tony!!
From: Jaquomo
16-Dec-19
Ok, sun's up, time for an update! :-)
From: elkstabber
16-Dec-19
Get after them Tony. Did you have that camper when we met in NV?
Thanks for bringing us along.
From: Ambush
16-Dec-19
From: NorCalVineyards
16-Dec-19
No wind today, 12 degrees and the ground is frozen. Suns out and the bucks should be up. Glassing and moving.
From: NorCalVineyards
16-Dec-19
Handsome young buck with big split eye guard.
From: Treeline
16-Dec-19
Go get ‘em! Hope you find a great buck to play with today!
From: StickFlicker
16-Dec-19
I hadn't spotted the second deer in your bedded buck pic until t his morning. It wouldn't due in a stalk to overlook an unseen deer like that!
From: Paul@thefort
16-Dec-19
Marvin, good eyes for sure. Paul
From: axle2axle
16-Dec-19
Very cool Tony! You're killing me hunting the AZ rut in December...I tagged out on Jan 9th...earlier this year...so have to wait until next month to hunt that state. Shouldn't be too upset, but man I wish I was out there getting after 'em too! Keep it coming, and thanks for bringing us along. Kevin
From: bohuntr
16-Dec-19
Awesome thread! Good luck!
From: NorCalVineyards
16-Dec-19
Day 4, cold and bitter wind, couldn’t find the deer today, a couple does, one dominate buck on a marathon we couldn’t catch up too and the young buck. Even days have been slow odd days been a hoot. Day 5, final day manana. It’s been fun sharing my hunt with everyone on the site. Hoping for the best tomorrow.
From: t-roy
16-Dec-19
Good luck!
From: Empty Freezer
16-Dec-19
We be rootin for ya..
From: Jaquomo
17-Dec-19
Last day luck coming!
From: Treeline
17-Dec-19
Today.
It will happen!
Good luck, Tony!
From: The last savage
17-Dec-19
Good luck brother...
From: Ghost425
17-Dec-19
Hope it happens for you today, good luck and we will be rooting for you!
From: Heat
17-Dec-19
Go for broke man! Good Luck!
From: NorCalVineyards
17-Dec-19
Found the big back fork buck from day one, let’s go!
From: Beav
17-Dec-19
Go get him!!
From: Ambush
17-Dec-19
Hurry up and go slow!!
From: Jaquomo
17-Dec-19
Last day luck! Get 'em!
From: APauls
17-Dec-19
This is fun man! Good luck!!
From: Treeline
17-Dec-19
Ambush’s advice is spot on! Pick a spot!
From: axle2axle
17-Dec-19
Well..well...sun’s been down for a while...love to hear the conclusion to day 5. Lol. Kevin
From: Treeline
17-Dec-19
Hoping for the grip & grin!
From: The last savage
17-Dec-19
Still dragging............damn cactus!
From: Ambush
17-Dec-19
My, my, what could be going on in the desert?!?
From: Ambush
18-Dec-19
Must be hung-over from celebrating??
From: Jaquomo
18-Dec-19
Ha, Ambush! Been there, done that! After I killed the wide muley buck on my last live hunt (Thanksgiving day) I had a midday Scotch celebration and then needed a two hour recovery nap before posting the results and hero photos.
From: t-roy
18-Dec-19
Maybe took a shot outside of his effective range, used an expandable, ran out of NJ?? Hopefully he just doesn’t have cell coverage right now. We’ve got our fingers crossed, NorCal!!
From: NorCalVineyards
18-Dec-19
Driving home, defeated. One word comes to mind, “F#%k!!!... I’m okay, just hard to leave when I was in the chips and I believe, I just needed a little more time. More to follow. Again, sorry for leaving you all hanging, been on a bow hunt hangover.
From: t-roy
18-Dec-19
Dang! Better luck next time. Stay safe on your trip home!
From: Ambush
18-Dec-19
That sucks Norcal, but you're not driving home defeated, you're driving home smarter, more experienced and more ready for the next round.
And writing up a story for us will make those lessons stick in your mind better :)
From: BR
18-Dec-19
You were close to some nice bucks. Some of my best seasons I did not fill my tag,
From: Empty Freezer
18-Dec-19
Norcal i just want to say thanks man, i will be there in 2 weeks and you gave me alot of motivation bein on bucks like you were. Ive made the long emptycooler ride home plenty so your not alone. Just makes the next one that much sweeter. Thanks for sharing.
From: axle2axle
19-Dec-19
No worries Tony! Better luck next time. Appreciate your bringing us along for the ride. Great photos of some bruiser bucks. I, too, will be there in a couple of weeks...thanks for the pre-game show! Kevin
From: elkmtngear
19-Dec-19
Understandably frustrating, but, an excellent adventure nonethless!
Certainly on my bucket list...thanks for sharing the hunt!
From: Rut Nut
19-Dec-19
What Ambush said! ;-)
From: NorCalVineyards
29-Dec-19
Thanks everyone! I had a great hunt and enjoyed sharing my experience. I hope to hear from others this Jan out in the great state of AZ
From: tkjwonta
29-Dec-19
Thanks for taking us along on the journey NorCal. Sounds like you put in a serious effort and just didn't quite have luck on your side this time. That's bowhunting and will make your next harvest all that much sweeter. Thanks again for the story and pics!
From: creed
29-Dec-19
You aren’t making the desert hunt this year?
