I NEED INFO ON OUT WEST HUNTING
 

Ok so I just got out of college in December and I have been job hunting ALOT to say the least. Through my step brother working in the CIA I was connected to a company that markets weapon systems to the pentagon. They want me to be an coordinator in their company but I would need to move from Michigan to Arizona (Pheniox).

To tell you the truth and my family thinks im nuts is that I am kinda shy in taking the job because I am afraid of the difference in deer hunting atmostphere and deer hunting style and that kind of stuff. It would be like starting over learning hunting I think?? Or is there even good deer hunting in Arizona? I just need some info on what I am up for if I move out there. It would be a HUGE change in my life and I dont want to mess it up.

The more help the better, and I could not think of asking this question anywhere else...thanks in advance to all.

RE: I NEED INFO ON OUT WEST HUNTING
 

Nah... nothing to hunt there. You better take that job at McDonalds. Priorities.

RE: I NEED INFO ON OUT WEST HUNTING
 

The elk hunting in Arizona ranks up there as one of the best states to elk hunt trophy elk. There Coues' Deer hunting is superb as well. Winters will be warm too!;)

RE: I NEED INFO ON OUT WEST HUNTING
 

First of all, with the way the economy here in Michigan is doing and unfortunately, how beneficial that particular type of job would be in this day and age of the war on terrorism, I would worry about getting the job first, then get ready for some out west hunting.

Congrats on your new job.

RE: I NEED INFO ON OUT WEST HUNTING
 

Dont get me wrong I dont like the war at all (I have friends fighting) but the pentagon needs weapons and someone has to market to them. I would like to stay in Michigan and or a close state but Arizona is booming with jobs and growth. Along with my passion for hunting/archery I do play ALOT of golf and Arizona would be a big bonus on that end too.

For deer hunting is it ground or tree stands...will I be hunting in desert? I just really have no idea at all.

RE: I NEED INFO ON OUT WEST HUNTING
 

No impact, No idea. My guess would be mostly ground hunting but places like the Sierra Nevada are beautiful places teaming with trees.

RE: I NEED INFO ON OUT WEST HUNTING
 

I think hunting deer out west would be quite different than hunting deer back east. I was born and raised in Arizona. Lived there until just recently when I moved to Utah for a job. I have never hunted deer back east, so I can't honestly tell you the difference between the two other than what I have seen on videos. There are a lot of nice mule deer and coues deer to hunt, but I wouldn't expect to do a lot of treestand hunting. Not too many farms to hunt on either. You usually have to do a lot of spot and stalk hunting. So being in shape is a must. I don't know if you have ever hunted elk with archery before, but once you do you will almost forget about deer hunting. Hunting elk in Arizona is a HUGE rush!!! You will have to get used to the heat. There is a lot of beautiful country in Arizona (mountains, forests, lakes). It isn't all desert like people think.

RE: I NEED INFO ON OUT WEST HUNTING
 

Lived there for 40 years, and still hunt there every year, Deer, elk, javelina, turkey...great duck & quail hunting along the Colorado River, there is plenty to hunt there, lots of public land, NF and BLM. It's way better than where I live now (California). I will probably be going back in the next year or so myself.

RE: I NEED INFO ON OUT WEST HUNTING
 

i think it would be like learning hunting over again to a certain degree, cause most likely you wont be hunting whitetails, youd be on the big game. or at least thats what i would do

RE: I NEED INFO ON OUT WEST HUNTING
 

Like targethogs said, there are a lot of different species of animal to hunt. But I do think it would be like learning to hunt all over again. I do think hunting in the westwould be quite different than hunting back east. It would be a challenge, but hey, isn't that what hunting is all about?

RE: I NEED INFO ON OUT WEST HUNTING
 

hunting is hunting. period. that is why hunters from atlanta can tag out in alaska and vice versa.

watch TV, hunters go to all 50 states and hunt, Bill Jordan hunts from tree stands for deer in montana, I have hunted over waterholes in blinds ( ground stands) and treestands over waterholes and tanksin Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Montana.

the biggest difference I see in hunting west vs east is there is more game in the west and the whole attitude is more hunter friendly. If you can fill your tags in the east you can sure as hell fill them in the west, there's tons more game!

and I have NEVER in 30 years of hunting out there ever knocked on a door and been told NO when I ask to hunt, some say sure, drop your landowner coupons in the jar on such and such gate, others say sure, but my neighbor has more pronghorn, let's go over and I'll introduce you...never happen back east, would it? damn right no.

harder to learn, not really, it's no different than hunting a new spot back home only difference is instead of a 45 minute ride to the new spot its a 30 hour drive. thank god for maps and google and bowsite.com and etc.

as for different species there is some learning curve but no more so than being a deer hunter back home and then taking up waterfowl, and turkey hunting...you werent BORN a deer, turkey, rabbit, bobcat, bear, or duck hutner were you? hell no, you had to learn it, same for elk, muleys and pronghorn, sheep and goats, and bison too. But with internet, BOOKS, videos, a 1,000 TV shows on about hunting 24/7, and SUPER helpful F&W people out there ( in wyoming 2 years ago i stopped to buy leftover pronghorn tags, not only did they mark my map for me but gave me three landowners names and numbers and directions to these folks looking for hunters to take game on their land---lifesize picture of THAT happening in NY, MA PA SC or VA right? LOL) learning what to do and where to go is a snap!

a saddle is a saddle in west or east, water is water, bedding is bedding and feeding areas are feeding areas. PLUS you get snow that moves game DOWN and into tighter confines in the west, in the east the damn things are either our in daylight or went nocturnal on you and went into the posted land to boot.

Much more opportunity to get tagged out in the west.

How we did it is we started out hunting something we could get easy access and a whack at, for us that was pronghorns and coyotes, people let us in no problem, told us we should go get elk tags, deer tags, or what have you, and where to go and things went on from there.

first year in any new state we buy small game tags and apply to get points for limited areas big game, we hunt small game and learn the country, some areas, get our feet under us there and then pattern some big game while hunting upland birds or small game, knock on some doors, and then the next year we buy the tags or apply for the tags in the areas we learned last year

you know you have been doing it along time and correctly when the locals will stop by the trailer to knock and say, hey you got deer tags? there is a monster in my horse pasture right now. Or there are a pile of elk in the meadow back behind my where my beaver board is.

we shot three elk in Colorado our first year there and the rancher came up with his horses and hauled them out to his own truck for us, let us plug our freezer in his barn and butcher everything right there, parked and camped in his yard that night, wouldn't take a thing, though we left him many new bottles of brown liquid of the type on his shelf, and filled his freezer with steaks and a roast.

Harder than back east? the only hard part is leaving great hunting and even greater people and heading back east.

RE: I NEED INFO ON OUT WEST HUNTING
 

Something tells me that you know a little something about hunting? You are wise, will you please send me a PM with your contact information and any contacts you might have out west because I'm thinking Pronghorn with in the next couple of years! I'm going to save your reply as a motivator also.

RE: I NEED INFO ON OUT WEST HUNTING
 

Arizona would be a great place to live and hunt. Lots of Species. I would not pass the opportunity up to move out there. I have a few friends that live out there and they Love it.

Dan

RE: I NEED INFO ON OUT WEST HUNTING
 

LOL:D

RE: I NEED INFO ON OUT WEST HUNTING
 

According to Germ the hunting in Mich. is alright if you don't mind shooting does and lesser bucks, I'd move.[8D]

RE: I NEED INFO ON OUT WEST HUNTING
 

I am also moving out west. to Nevada though. I went to there website nevada fish and wildlife and found great info. Try going to Arizona department of fish and wildlife.com I dont know about theres but nevadas had great info I am a instructor for hunter safety in NY and they sent Me all the Paperwork I need to get involved out there.. Good luck Ron