Category: Archery Mule Deer Hunts

2023 Arizona’s Best Mule Deer Hunts

Arizona’s Best Late Season Mule Deer Units-Hunts

Arizona has some great top tier mule deer units & here are the best Arizona Rifle Mule Deer Rut Hunts for the 2023 season:

Unit 13B (Arizona Strip) Dates: 11/10-19  *Best mule deer genetics in the state of Arizona. Most serious hunters will hunt for 190+ bucks with a handful of bucks being taken over 210″.  Moisture for the winter & spring has been above average, so scores could really jump up this year. There are 65 tags being given (-15 from 2021 & -5 from 2022) & the dates will allow for the pre-rut but the rut could be on during a wet year like 2023.

Unit 13A (Arizona Strip) Dates: 11/17-11/26  *Great genetics but not as much deer habitat as you would think for a unit of it’s size. Most serious hunters will hunt for 190+ bucks with a few bucks being taken over 200″. Moisture for the winter & spring has been above average, so scores could really jump up this year. The dates are in a great spot to hit the rut in full swing & there are only 35 tags this season (-15 from 2021 & -5 from 2022).

Unit 12AW (Kaibab) Dates: 11/24-12/4  *Great genetics & age has bumped up just a touch when compared to last season. You will see a lot of deer on this hunt & it’s a full blown rut mule deer hunt. Very fun hunt with 50 tags (+10 from 2022) that can yield bucks well over 200″ but most serious hunters will be foolish to not shoot a buck in the 190’s. Moisture for the winter & spring has been above average, so scores could really jump up this year.

200+ Mule Deer
Arizona Strip Mule Deer Hunt guided by Lee Murphy.

Unit 12BW Dates: 11/24-12/4  *Good genetics in this area which is less popular when compared to the above units. 180+ mule deer is a solid expectation for the more serious hunters but 190+ may be possible. Moisture for the winter & spring has been above average, so scores could really jump up this year. Last season a major storm pushed deer out of Utah into 12BW & some big bucks hit the dirt.  There are 55 tags this season & the hunt dates put this hunt in the middle of the rut, so older bucks will be more vulnerable.

Unit 10 Dates: 12/15-12/31 *Solid genetics & age class can make this hunt good with only 15 tags. Mule Deer SOUTH of the Grand Canyon rut later than the deer North of it, so the December dates are right during the middle of the rut! 180″ bucks will be great for this hunt with the possiblity of a few 190+ bucks.  The biggest issue with this hunt is the OTC archery deer hunt can add pressure if it is still open.  Also, don’t expect to see a lot of deer as the numbers are extremely low.

Unit 3A & 3C Dates: 12/15-12/31 *Solid genetics in this unit & some good bucks have been taken in the past. Mule Deer SOUTH of the Grand Canyon rut later than the deer North of it, so the December dates are right during the middle of the rut! HEAVY snow can be an issue with these dates & unit. 180+ is a solid buck on this hunt with only 10 tags being offered.  Also, don’t expect to see a lot of deer as the numbers are low.

Honorable Mention:

Unit 12AE Dates: 11/24-12/3
Unit 12B Dates: 11/24-12/3
Unit 27 Dates: 12/15-12/31

Antler Growth in the Desert

Arizona has received better than average precipitation from December ’22 thru April in 2023.  Currently (May), we are experience a low pressure system which is producing isolated showers across much of that state which is EXTREMELY rare for Arizona.  The desert in years like this can really produce some big mule deer because they simply get vegetation/nutrition they don’t often get to consume.  We have seen bucks put on 40 inches or more during years like this!

Things to consider if you have under 10 bonus points & you will be satisfied with a chance to hunt bucks in the 160-180″ range.

  • Are you ever going to catch MAX points to get one of the best tags?
  • Would you rather hunt the desert multiple times or wait for that one special tag?
  • Are you familiar with units south of the Grand Canyon?
  • Do you have a quality Muzzleloader?

A couple SLEEPER hunts south of the Grand Canyon in Arizona for desert mule deer:

Units 35A & 35B Muzzleloader Hunt Dates:  12/15-12/31

Units 39, 40A, 40B, 41 & 42 Muzzleloader Hunt Dates: 12/15-12/31

 

 

Private Land Archery Mule Deer Hunts

Hunt Private Land for Mule Deer
Private Land Archery Mule Deer

If you don’t draw a tag or if you are a bowhunter looking to hunt archery mule deer you need to contact us about our Private Land Archery Mule Deer Hunts.  These hunts are managed for quality, thus we have very limited spots each year.

James’ Archery Mule Deer Hunt

James taking some practice shots as his father films.

James Schulz  came to Arizona to hunt trophy mule deer & his father, Kurt, eagerly joined his son on this trip. Being prepared is everything when it comes to the ultimate bowhunting challenge & James proved he was up for this test!

James & Kurt Schulz looking over some mule deer while on the first day of his archery mule deer hunt.  Watch the video below!  

On the second day of we glassed up a group of deer & finally picked out an old trophy mule deer. James & the crew made their move after the big buck & does shaded up for an afternoon nap. As they approached the last known location of the bedded deer they found themselves at less than 15 yards from some of the does. The old buck slipped through an opening, but James was already drawn back. James made a great decision to step to his right & made a solid archery shot at just over 30 yards!

James holding his RED arrow after making a great archery shot on a beautiful old trophy mule deer.
James with his 175″ over-the-counter Archery Mule Deer!
Father & Son with a true trophy archery mule deer!
Capturing the moment after taking a trophy mule deer with archery gear.
James admiring his archery mule deer, which was old, 29″ wide & over 175 inches!

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We have Archery Mule Deer Hunts available every year & you do NOT have to wait to draw a tag!

Archery Mule Deer Hunt ends with Shovel Beams

Archery Mule Deer Hunting in Arizona with Exclusive Pursuit Outfitters
Archery Mule Deer Hunting in Arizona with Exclusive Pursuit Outfitters

After several days of hard bowhunting in Arizona, Troy Seward was able to wrap his over-the-counter archery mule deer tag around an old desert buck we called Shovel Beams.  This was Troy’s biggest archery mule deer to date & 2nd archery mule deer in 2 years of archery mule deer hunting with us.

The 2016 Arizona Archery Mule Deer rut was very dull & sporadic as compared to years past.  We were able to find multiple bucks throughout the archery hunt, but most of the bigger mature mule deer were very inconsistent in courting does. One day you would find a big mature mule deer buck rutting, while the next day he was disappear & go off by himself.  This made for tougher than normal archery mule deer rut hunting conditions, but was still a very enjoyable hunt for all of our 2016 bowhunters.

Troy holding his biggest archery mule deer.
Troy holding his biggest archery mule deer.
Troy's buck had awesome Shovel Beams & was 29 inches wide!
Troy’s buck was 29 inches wide!
Archery Mule Deer Hunting in Arizona is something Troy looks forward to every year.
Archery Mule Deer Hunting in Arizona is something Troy looks forward to every year.

Lee & Troy found Shovel Beams late on the afternoon of the 4th day, but they were hunting a bigger mule deer buck.  In fact, Troy had the bigger buck within bow range for several minutes but the wind swirled before the bedded buck presented a shot.  The big desert mule deer blew out just before dark, thus a plan was formed to try & relocated the buck the next morning.

The big archery mule deer buck bedded as Troy waits for him to stand.
The big archery mule deer buck bedded as Troy waits for him to stand.

The next morning Troy & Lee glassed for their big buck, while Craig & Logan Knopp glassed for Shovel Beams.   Shovel Beams showed up while in the middle of a mule deer rutting frenzy.  Meanwhile, the big buck the other crew was searching for slipped off in some mule deer black hole.  A plan was launched for both Troy & Logan to pursue Shovel Beams as he was intensely searching for more does.

Shovel Beams was zigging & zagging for almost an hour, before Troy was able to release a single deadly arrow at 60 yards.  The big old Arizona desert mule deer buck literally fell to his death just 30 yards from Logan while he was waiting with a knocked arrow!

Check-out some live & dead video of the Shovel Beams:

 

The crew smiling after an eventful morning.
The bowhunting crew smiling after an eventful archery mule deer hunting morning.
All smiles after taking a big old Arizona Archery Mule Deer with Exclusive Pursuit Outfitters.
All smiles after taking a big old Arizona Archery Mule Deer with Exclusive Pursuit Outfitters.
Lee packing out Troy's Archery Mule Deer in the Outdoorsmans Pack.
Lee packing out Troy’s Archery Mule Deer in the Outdoorsmans Pack.

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