Arizona OTC Deer Hunt Strategy | Early Season vs Late Season | Differences Bowhunters Should Know

[@ReversePeople]

More great info. Thanks a ton for sharing.

[@dad3562]

Got any videos on E-Scouting tips for mule deer/whitetail/elk to apply in the field?

[@richb8303]

A question on early season glassing. Is it better to glass north facing slopes or south facing slopes?

[@armandomada633]

Awesome tips thanks for posting tim .

[@MavHntr]

and now the AZFG has made a major change to the OTC archery tag. Seasons run August, December current year then January of the FOLLOWING YEAR! Once established harvest quotas are met thru mandatory hunter success reporting, in some units only 15 bucks or less in the quota, the unit closes down. Many January seasons, opportunities will disappear, at least for mule deer buck. The last great OTC archery RUT tag/opportunity just went out the window. I'm now a resident/domicile AZ resident. But as a non-resident hunter in AZ the past 19 consecutive years, this change is a major disappointment!!

[@Nightmarehc130]

this is a good change.....our herd will be better for it,,,,,

[@MavHntr]

@@Nightmarehc130 AZFG should add 3 pt minimum buck on muleys too. While they're at it, reduce rifle tags, restrict ATV/UTV access even more. This would all help the deer herds.

[@dad3562]

I think ATV’s and SXS should illegal for hunting. I am glad they are finally regulating OTC finally.

[@MavHntr]

For example, let's look at a very popular mule deer unit-8 near Flagstaff AZ. Aug 19 - Sep 8, 2022, Dec 9 - Dec 31, 2022, Jan 1 - Jan 31, 2023. Antlered mule deer quota: 15 So, if 15 bucks are reported harvested by say Dec 12, season will immediately close the following Wednesday. Thus, no late December nor January rut opportunity. I personally know of 7 Flagstaff based archery hunters. Last year in unit 8, 4 took their bucks in early season via sitting water. 2 took bucks in early December. And not one was a buck over 160" score. Nothing wrong with meat hunting, that was their purpose. The one hunter who didn't harvest is like me. He had meat in freezer from out of state hunt and was hunting for exceptional trophy muley buck and had the discipline to do so.

[@Nightmarehc130]

would you rather over harvest?

[@MavHntr]

@@Nightmarehc130 Absolutely NOT! Rifle hunters far out harvest OTC archery hunters. AZFG uses basis of Rifle 80%> archery 20% of available harvest quotas.

[@timmywinslow]

I think the fact that there has been no mandatory enforced harvest reporting for OTC for the last 10 years-ish has really hurt the deer overall…we are in tag/quota situation that doesn’t really make sense but hopefully it will be resolved after a couple years of actual data…and mule deer populations get go back to normal.

[@MavHntr]

@@timmywinslow I agree, in full support for mandatory harvest reporting in AZ.

[@Nightmarehc130]

I sure wish AZ would go to draw for ALL tags...drought is crushing our game and are struggling.....with people trying to make money on KZbin on giving out advice on how to apply and units to hunt it is getting even harder to hunt......last year in a spot I have in the past not seen people had about 10 guys all hunting the same buck.....everyday it was a rush to find the deer and start your stalk..in the end a archer took a crappy shot I suspect because he figured it was his only chance and someone else might shoot it and he wounded the deer....we watched that deer for 2 days dragging his back leg....the deer was found a week later dead.......what a waste....