Arizona Guided Hunts Outfitters and Guides: General Info

Glassing with big binoculars on a tripod is the key to locating most game species.

Arizona Guided Hunts is a licensed and insured outfit offering hunting trips Statewide in Arizona, as well as on some lands in New Mexico. The outfitter is USDA Forest Service Permitted to operate on the Apache-Sitgreaves, Coconino, Coronado, Kaibab, Prescott and Tonto National Forests of Arizona and the Gila National Forest in New Mexico. Other hunting areas include Private and State Trust Land.

The owner and operator, Pat Feldt, is a very experienced hunter of all Western species. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology from the University of Arizona, which adds to his credibility as a full-time outfitter. This is not a part-time job for Pat. The majority of his time is spent in the field scouting for wildlife or guiding hunters. He and his guides are very knowledgeable and experienced in all species hunted in the West. With 24 years of big game hunting experience, this outfitter's expertise has allowed hunters to take many trophy-class animals while enjoying a well organized operation. Hunter opportunity is very high with AGH. This is not only due to it being a full-time operation that spends extended hours in the field, but they have developed advanced hunting techniques, have experienced guides, and excellent areas. Hunters looking for an Arizona or New Mexico outfitter guide service will find these hunts very professional, exciting and rewarding. Hunters have a great chance at taking home a trophy of a lifetime with Arizona Guided Hunts!

Each of our guides is legally licensed to guide hunters in the State of Arizona and a couple in New Mexico. They have passed exams and background checks. Each is also First Aid Certified. They are experienced in hunting the species you are after, which means they have taken that species themselves or guided other hunters for it. Each guide also has experience with all weapon types, including archery, rifle, handgun, or muzzleloader. Additionally, they are all over 30 years of age and have been hunting big game for a minimum of 15 years. They are all very personable and a pleasure to be around in the field and at camp. The following are the guides for Arizona Guided Hunts:

Accommodations for big game hunts are usually in deluxe tent camps. Camps are used because we stay in remote areas and do not return to the city until the hunters are finished. The deluxe tent camps consist of either large outfitter Wall tents or Alaknak tents; both with heat during the colder months. The size of tents are 9-feet high and either a spacious 16x28, 14x16, or 12x12, depending upon the number of hunters in camp. Sleeping is on cots. Warmer months may be spent in roomy family-type vinyl tents for better ventilation and to keep the bugs out. For those that own a camping trailer and would like to bring it to camp to stay in are more than welcome to do so, but we cannot discount the hunt any. It must be small and high enough for ground clearance on rough dirt roads.

Meals and beverages are provided on fully-guided/outfitted hunts. Quick breakfasts with coffee, packed lunches, and cooked, hot dinners are the norm. Snacks/goodies for your daypack are not provided, neither are alcoholic beverages. Due to the liability, we cannot provide alcoholic beverages. If you drink, please bring your alcohol with you. Your own alcohol can only be consumed off our time after the sun goes down.

Hunters are expected to meet in the morning the day prior to any big game hunt, unless specified otherwise. The optional courtesy Airport pickup, whether booking for New Mexico or Arizona, will be at the Tucson International Airport or the Tucson Airport Hotels. We will only make one courtesy trip to pickup all hunters. If you are coming on a trip for Elk, Bear, Sheep, or Turkey, it is recommended that you get a flight into Tucson two evenings prior to hunting and get an airport hotel room. We will pickup the next morning (the day prior to the hunt) and drive 2 to 4 hours to camp. Some hunters chance it and fly in the morning prior to the hunt. But if your flight is delayed or canceled, which is becoming a common occurrence, we cannot wait around. Unfortunately, if you miss your courtesy pickup due to a delayed flight, you will be required to rent a vehicle and meet us in camp. Flying hunters should get a flight that departs the day following the hunt. Hunters driving their own vehicles or renting one will be given directions to our camp or an arranged meeting area.

A Hotel room is required if departing on a plane the day after your hunt. We usually transport guided hunters to hotels near the Tucson Airport in the afternoon or early evening of the last day. The hotel stay is not included in our packages. Rates are $70.00 to $150.00 per night, depending upon your hotel choice. The best approach is to book a room through the hotel's Internet site before you arrive. Pick one near the Tucson Airport. A few to look at are: Best Western Airport, Country Inn Airport, Embassy Suites Airport, Amerisuites Airport, Quality Inn Airport, and Hampton Inn Airport. The Airport hotels provide a free shuttle to/from the airport. If your flight departs on the last evening of the hunt, you need not worry about the hotel, but it is nice to have a hot shower before getting onto an airplane.

Successful fully-guided hunters will have their game animal skinned and caped for the taxidermist and/or quartered for the meat processor. It is much less of a hassle to leave your trophy cape or hide with us for taxidermy. If you decide to use our taxidermist, we take your cape to www.wellerswildlifestudio.com after the hunt. You can also take your trophy cape and horns home in a cooler as extra baggage on the plane (except for large elk antlers). There are also two options for the game meat: one is to leave it with us for transport to our butcher. It will be sent to you via next day air in approximately two weeks after the hunt. Note that next day air could be very costly. The second option (most popular) is to take some or all of the quartered game meat on the airplane as extra baggage in a cooler with dry ice. You can also donate some of the meat to our guides. Please decide what you are going to do with the trophy or game meat before you arrive and let us know beforehand.

Potential hunters should be informed that all hunts are physically demanding due to the rugged Arizona and New Mexico terrain. Sometimes being successful depends upon the physical abilities of the hunter. We do not use horses or pack animals for hunting since it is not feasible to do so. Most of the areas we hunt are designated as "foot-access only." The wild and native animals rarely live in easy to access areas. These hunts sometimes require hiking of 5 miles per day in remote, rocky and steep areas. Sometimes a typical day involves hiking to the hunting area and not returning to the base camp until the sun goes down. We highly recommend conditioning yourself for the hunt so you can enjoy it to the fullest. There is nothing worse than getting sick from over-exertion or being sore for the duration of the hunt. Getting in-shape for the big game hunts entails hiking a few miles several times a week, aerobics, mountain biking, and/or using a stair climber. Hiking does not mean walking on flat ground, but rather on an incline. If there are large hills or bleachers near your hometown, use them to your advantage and hike. The conditioning should start a few months ahead of time. Also, please break in your boots before you arrive. Hiking with new boots often causes blisters. These can be painful with every step and a bloody mess. Wear your boots when you do your conditioning for the hunt.

For Our RIFLE Hunts: Arizona and New Mexico are known for big canyon hunting. Almost all big game species we hunt live in the mountainous terrain or open country. The canyons in this type of habitat may be large and wide open with little cover. This sometimes makes it hard to get a close-in stalk. Animals may be spotted at vast distances and stalked upon to cross-canyon shots. In this type of country, it may be hard to get closer without being detected or without the animal leaving the canyon before you get over to his side. It’s hard to explain to an Eastern flat-lander that hasn't hunted this type of country, but sometimes you just CAN’T get any closer. Sometimes it is a must to take rifle shots from where you are if you want that trophy of a lifetime.

Most of our rifle shots are averaging 250 yards, but shooting at distances of 400 yards or more may be encountered while on your rifle hunt for black bear, elk, sheep, pronghorn, Coues, or desert mule deer. {Javelina hunts are different in that the shots range from 50 yards to 250 yards.} Therefore, practicing at distances up to 400 yards will get you ready and build confidence for the "shot" you have been waiting for. If your range does not have 400 yards, try to get 5-shot groups from a prone position of 1" to 1.5" at 100 yards. We also recommend shooting from all possible positions (sitting, kneeling, prone, standing). The most successful hunters are the ones that can adapt to the shot that is presented. If you don’t feel your gun setup is adequate, we can lend you the highest quality setup at no charge. We actually prefer you to use our weapons since it increases success rates. You will still need to practice trigger control with your own before arriving.

The one thing myself and my guides hate to hear is: “I sighted in with 3 shots on a tin can at 100 yards. I’m ready!” We know that guy just came for an expensive hiking trip and will more than likely leave empty handed! You should practice shooting a few times per month on paper targets. We recommend practicing most of your rifle shooting with a 9"-13" Harris bipod model 1A2-LM while in the prone position. Harris bipods are retractable and mount to the sling studs on the rifle stock. They fold forward when not in use. It is also recommended that you use a rest at the butt end of the rifle stock, as well as the bipod in the front, to make the gun more stable and to have 3 points of ground contact. Millet has a very efficient lightweight, portable rear rest that you can keep in your backpack. Trying to make long distance shots with the rear of the gun supported by just your shoulder could mean the difference between hitting and missing at long range. All match shooters rely upon a rear rest for 3-point stability. You wouldn't go to the rifle range with just a front rest and expect to get good groups, so why go into the field like that.

It is recommended you site-in your rifle at 200 yards. Make a chart of the bullet drop at 50-yard increments from 200 to 500 yards and tape it to your stock. The chart should be a table showing the distance versus the bullet drop. Also, if your scope has target turrets, learn how to use them. It is a far superior method than hold-over. Just find the range, look at the chart on your stock, click in the distance, and hold dead on the animal or target. It is much more precise than “hold over” or reticles with distance bars. The "bar system" (for example B&C Reticle) on some scopes can work, but I have yet to see someone use it correctly in an actual hunting situation. If you are using this system, remember to always use the same power setting, especially when shooting at the animal.

For Our ARCHERY Hunts: Arizona and New Mexico are known for big canyon hunting. Almost all big game species we hunt live in the mountainous terrain. The canyons in this type of habitat may be large and wide open with little cover. This sometimes makes it hard to get a close-in stalk. It’s hard to explain to an Eastern flat-lander that hunts the forest, but sometimes you just CAN’T get any closer. Your game animal may be stalked upon from vast distances. You might find yourself in a situation, because of topography or loss of cover, that you can only get within 30 to 60 yards. In this type of country, it may be hard to get closer without being detected. Sometimes it is a must to take shots from where you are if you want that trophy of a lifetime. Most of our archery shots are averaging 35 yards, but shooting at distances of 50 yards or more may be encountered while on your archery hunt for black bear, elk, sheep, Coues, or desert mule deer. Therefore, practicing at distances up to 60 yards will get you ready for the moment you have been waiting for. It should be noted that Javelina hunts are a different ballgame since these creatures have poor eyesight. Javelina bowhunters have taken their trophies anywhere from 5 yards to 40 yards. The most successful bowhunters are the ones that can adapt to the shot that is presented. You should practice archery shooting a few times per week. We recommend practicing most of your archery shooting from different uphill and downhill angles, since we hunt mountainous terrain. You will always aim lower at any angle, whether it is uphill or downhill. If you are not comfortable with angles, there are a couple laser rangefinders on the market that compensate for angle variations and tell you the "true gravitational distance." Bushnell and Leupold offer a couple good models. This takes all the guesswork out of it. Also, don’t always rely on a rangefinder. You usually have time to use one, but sometimes you may need to be instinctive. Learn to judge and get a feel of different distances incase you don’t have time to use one in the actual archery hunting situation. And of course, practice with the broadheads that you will be hunting with. Most broadheads will fly different than field points.

As a final Note: Each year it seems like someone goes home empty handed because he couldn’t make the shots or couldn’t hike the hills to the quality areas. He leaves the hunt kicking himself in the butt for it. By doing the things previously mentioned, you will only increase your chances of taking that trophy of a lifetime.

Please practice shooting and give some effort to prepare physically for your hunt.

Interested big game hunters must apply for a hunting license and/or permit-tags through the Arizona Game and Fish Department or New Mexico Dept of Game and Fish, with the exception of bear and archery deer (over-the-counter or mail in AZ). We will assist all hunters interested in booking a hunt with the application process. Interested hunters will be placed on our assistance list. New Mexico hunters will be sent a State required "service contract" before they apply. The applications with instructions will be provided to interested Arizona hunters after the beginning of January for elk and antelope, in May for sheep, fall javelina, and deer, and September for spring hunts (javelina and turkey). Deadlines to apply are in early March, June and October, respectively. The New Mexico drawing deadline is early April, so the application process and contract will be provide beforehand. It is recommended that hunters wanting to book a hunt should apply for both New Mexico and Arizona. This will increase your odds of drawing a tag.

A hunting license and tag or permit-tag is required for all big game animals. Non-resident hunting licenses are $151.25 and residents are $32.25. AZ Permits and tags range in price:

Species	Resident	Non-Resident
Deer	$42.25	$232.75
Antelope	$85.00	$485.00
Elk	$121.50	$595.00
Turkey	$25.50	$77.75
Javelina	$28.75	$105.00
Bear (fall)	$22.50	$237.50
Bighorn Sheep	$272.50	$1,407.50
Buffalo (bull)	$1,095.00	$5,452.25

A minimum nonrefundable deposit and a service contract is required upon booking a hunt. The remaining balance is due with payments or upon arrival in cash or certified money. No hunt will be considered booked until the outfitter receives the deposit AND hunt contract. The deposit and/or any payments are nonrefundable. Any money paid cannot be transferred from one person to another. If the hunter submits a deposit before the lottery drawing and does not draw, the deposit will be transferred to the next season or until the hunter draws a tag. If the hunter cancels a hunt, the deposit will NOT be refunded; though, it can be applied towards any vacant hunt of equal or greater value and only if a permit or tag can be easily obtained. The balance due will be adjusted if there is a difference in hunt fees. This rescheduling can only be done one time. If the hunter chooses to apply the deposit to one of these hunts, the rescheduled hunt date must be within the same calendar year as the original hunt date, meaning before December 31. If a 2 on1 partner cancels, the remaining hunter will be required to pay the 1 on 1 rate. All hunts must be paid in full before any hunting takes place. Although the main goal is for each hunter to fill his tag or kill, it is not a guarantee. There are no refunds. The hunter acknowledges all risks involved in hunting. The outfitter or guide cannot control WHEN, WHERE, or IF the game will be found because wild game animals can be unpredictable. Sometimes animals may be found in steep or undesirable areas. Hunters must note that we have no control over weather or any unexpected events that may slow a hunt. There is no refund for unused days, such as: late arrivals, tagging early, departing early, bad weather, unexpected events, Acts of God or any event that may slow or stop a hunt. If a guide becomes injured, ill or leaves due to an emergency, the hunter might be paired with another hunter and his guide. The outfitter will do his best to replace the absent guide as soon as possible, but it may not be possible. We break camp if all hunters tag-out early, which means if all hunters tag-out by the second day, the hunt is over. A successful big game hunter that tags earlier than the other hunters has the option of departing if using his own transportation or staying until all hunters are finished. If a hunter has not filled the tag before the hunt is scheduled to end, he (she) has the option of paying at a daily rate for additional days. The fee must be paid in full before hunting the additional days. A hunter that bags the wrong animal type for his tag (i.e. doe, cow, or hen) or exceeds the bag limit, even by mistake, will need to be reported to the authorities and the hunt will end. Hunters must also understand that qualified guides other than the outfitter may guide them. It is not possible for the outfitter (Pat Feldt) to personally guide all hunters. These terms and conditions are a common practice among most outfitters.

We recommend cancellation insurance for all of our guests. If you have an unexpected circumstance which causes a cancellation of your trip, outfitters and others in the travel industry will not refund your deposit. A cancellation/travel insurance policy is the solution. You can be reimbursed for monies forfeited if unforeseeable circumstance happen to occur. It is very reasonably priced (3.5%-5% of travel costs) and well worth it. Click here for more information.

Hunters interested in booking any hunt should contact us as soon as possible because spaces are limited and are filled usually 3 months to a year in advance.