Valley of the Spikes

We have been hiking and glassing this country big time and all we can find are a few does and spikes.  We haven't spotted a forked horn buck or bigger yet.  Each time we pull up the glass, we expect to see one, but it is just not panning out.  Today we hiked through all of this and didn't jump up anything bigger than a spike.  Oh well.  It's still awesome being out here.

AZ Unit 32 Coues

Another self-guided hunting adventure.  Chris and I are heading into the Galiuro Mountains to hunt Coues.  Gonna start off on the west side of the mountain range.  Camp is set and we are excited for tomorrow.  We are going to be shouldering our Eberlestocks to hunt this country.  Full moon tonight!  Is that good or bad?

Monica's Kaibab Deer Hunt

A perfect hunt.  Tons of deer, lots of opportunities, and a great shot on our last day.  Monica harvested her first mule deer this weekend on the Kaibab (12AW).  Our Trophy Scout Maps came in handy for this hunt.  We were in the deer every day!

A Picture Worth a Thousand Words!

Last day of my hunt was completely elkless (that's my new word).  I hunted on the north end of the unit and spent some time hiking and glassing in an old burn.  It looked awesome!  Lots of rubs from this year, but not a single elk track or elk was seen.  I scouted and hunted extremely hard for 6 days.  I had my chance with a shot at a nice bull and spent some time in an incredible part of New Mexico.  Learned some valuable lessons and can't wait for the next hunting adventure!  Thanks for following me.  For more information and resources for your self-guided hunting adventures, visit our website at www.huntscout.com

Bad Move!

Got drenched!  Everything is wet and muddy!  Last night I chased bugles in the deep dark canyons on the west side.  The bulls are there, but it is so thick and steep there is no way I could get close...  Going to try another spot for my last day.  Heading up around Monica's Cabin on the north end.  Maybe I will get lucky up there...  It's a beautiful morning!

Time for a Move

Heard a bugle this morning up on the mountain.  Got up to 400 yards from him...  5 point.  Of course he fed up over the mountain...

Headed to the other side and glassed everything, but couldn't find him.  No other elk on the mountain this morning.  A storm is brewing too.

Decided to head to the west side of the unit where I heard those bugling bulls while scouting.  Here we go...

Opening Day - End of the Day Update

Opening Day Mid Day Report

It's Game Time!!!

3 days of scouting.  I found one canyon that had a couple of bugling bulls in it, but never saw them because it was too thick.  I found another spot that has a big herd with a decent six point and 21 cows.  There are a couple of satellite bulls with them too.  I know a couple other hunters know about them so I am not sure who will be there in the morning, but I am going to throw my hat into the game....  Here is one of the satellite bulls...

Time to hit the sack...  I need to be on that mountain in the dark tomorrow morning...  wish me luck!

Found Them!!!

Spent some time up East Red Canyon today.  Incredible country (if I was looking for whitetails).  Just didn't see much elk sign.  Lots of cool scenery though...

Headed back to camp and took a nice warm shower.... thanks to the Shower Bag!

Glassed up a herd of elk behind the Shower Bag in this last pict.  Guess I better go check them out.  Tomorrow morning I am hunting!

Beautiful Morning, but No Elk Spotted

Woke up to a beautiful sunrise...

Glassed some promising looking country, but nothing spotted...

Gotta keep working the country...

East Side is Nice!

Well...  the southern end was a bust!  Drove a road I probably shouldn't have with a trailer, but ended up by Rattlesnake Tank on the east side and saw a couple of bulls...  nothing huge, but it was good seeing some antlers.  Met a couple nice guys from Wyoming.  They might be in here come opening morning.  They didn't see much on the west side.  Ended up camping right here ..  I want to glass this country more with the sun at my back.  I am going to sleep good tonight!

Well, here we go....  Unit 17, NM Muzzleloader Elk tag.  Cell service is very limited out in the mountains of New Mexico so I will try to post here as much as I can with a write up at the end hopefully with a pict of an elk.  Drove in to the unit at about 4:30pm.  Drove in from the north side by Monica's Cabin and up through Monica's Saddle down through Bear Trap Canyon.  The country was beautiful with thick forested terrain in the upper elevations.  Didn't see one elk or deer driving in.  Didn't see any rubs either.  Stopped at various spots to bugle and heard nothing.  Drove through Baney Park hoping to hear some elk there and heard nothing.  Camped by Sargent Canyon.  Headed south to check out West Red Canyon and drove up around Welty Hill.  Used the Rhino to get way back in and hiked up into some draws.  Finally heard some bugles this morning.  I have a place to hunt now in case other scouting areas don't work out.  I decided to head further south and hunt the very southern end of the mountain range where I know some people have taken some big bulls.  Not many elk, but may find a whopper.

Back in the Game!!!

I was just looking at the blog and realized that I haven't posted anything since my last elk tag in 2012.  It was an incredible hunt until my Uncle John almost died in a motorcycle wreck about half way through the hunt.  Luckily, he survived and two years later finds me heading out on another elk hunt.  I have 6 days set aside for this hunt.  Muzzleloader Bull Elk - Unit 17, NM.  3 days to scout, 3 days to hunt.  I have never been in the unit so I will be using all the resources available to me to get the job done.  Follow along as I head out on another incredible experience as a self-guided hunter.