17A

I listened to the voice tell me I had drawn 17A for deer and I smiled knowing I would enjoy the hunt even if I did not take an animal. It’s the hunting that counts, right.

With a very busy schedule and little time for scouting, AZOD Hunting Editor Louie Urquides, myself and Az. Wilderness Productions Rick Williams met Thursday night at a camp site I had prepared earlier that day just off Forest Service Rd 9. Louie was along for the fun, Rick was along for the filming and I had the tag. We were in a good mood and excited about getting a chance to take a nice buck on film. After a good meal we turned in early with the intent of getting an early start. Our plan was move into our selected area before dawn setting up on top ready to glass for that big muley come daylight. About 8 PM it started to rain. The weather service had predicted it and we crossed our fingers. The fragrant pine smell mixed with the patter of the rain lulled us to sleep dreaming of tomorrows adventure. At about 4 AM in the morning our alarm went off and we awoke to a downpour. There was nothing to do but reset the alarm and go back to sleep. Twice more we awoke to a scene that must have looked something like Noha saw on the first day of 40 days of rain. By 8 AM we had given up and Rick began to make a great breakfast of sausage and eggs wrapped in tortillas and washed down with coffee.

The rain continued for 36 hours. We did make a couple of half-hearted forays into the field but the rain and fog eventually drove us back to camp. On the second morning at about 8 AM the fog began to lift and we saw blue sky for the first time. We had begun to break camp early that morning and were packed by the time the sun came out. Unfortunately Ricks 4X4 truck became stuck and we lost 2 hours digging and pulling it out of the mud. Finally we were able to begin the hunt in earnest at 10 AM that morning. To make a long story short, Louie picked up a nice track and we were able to track down a nice buck but he saw us first and that was that. Louie had to get home and pack for a Kiabab hunt (Louie is up there now filming Tim Stienmetz hunt), Rick and I both had to be at work the next day. So my opening season hunt was over with barely 8 hours of hunting time in the field. It really isn’t that bad though I still have 4 days next weekend and I will be in the field again. I’ll be by myself this time. Louie will be hunting 44A and Rick will be filming in 44A also. That’s OK though I like to hunt alone as much as I like company.

There is a good side to what happened on opening day in 17A. Statistics show that a high percentage of deer are killed on the first two days of a season. This percentage will be lower this year. The yearlings will learn something is amiss and scoot off to a hideout and wait for the hunting pressure to go away. There will be better deer in the area next season because of this, so it’s not a bad thing. Besides it’s the hunting that counts, right. Good friends, good food, camping and the excitement of the hunt, although a little venison is a nice thing to have too. See ya out there later this week.

P.S. It’s suppose to rain and snow this weekend

Robert Willis

Executive Editor