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arizona mule deer, guides, outfitters, mule deer, arizona mule, deer, hunts, Kaibab, Arizona deer guides, Tucson deer hunting, Tucson deer hunts ARIZONA MULE DEER GUIDES AND OUTFITTERS Kaibab and Desert Mule Deer Hunts
We offer two sub-species of mule deer to hunt in Arizona, the Kaibab Mule Deer and the Desert Mule Deer. Kaibab Mule Deer - The most popular herd of mule deer contained in Arizona is the Kaibab Mule Deer. Many magazine articles have been written about this infamous herd that lives on the Kaibab National Forest north of the Grand Canyon. The genetics of the herd is hard to beat, with many specimens being entered into the record books. The late season tag for the Kaibab mule deer is very hard to draw compared to our desert mule deer tags. But, if one draws this tag, the potential for tagging a "once-in-a-lifetime" mule deer buck is very good. If you are after a large, record-class mule deer and have the patience to apply for many years until receiving a tag, then this is the hunt for you. If you would just like the opportunity to hunt mule deer and do not have a high concern about record book racks, then we recommend the desert mule deer hunt below.
The densities of desert mule deer are not high, as one can imagine from such an arid ecosystem, but our guides have mastered the techniques so that our hunters see a significant number of deer. On a typical 4-day hunt, hunters may see over 60 deer with 5 to 15 of them being bucks. Our hunting style is the spot and stalk method. We hike to a good vantage point where a couple square miles can be seen at one time. Most of our mule deer hunting is done with our eyes through tripod-mounted 15X binoculars and 15-45X spotting scopes. Only after a good mule deer buck is spotted, do we make a move from our vantage point for the final stalk. There may be a great deal of hiking involved, so hunters are encouraged to condition themselves before arriving. Our archery desert mule deer season is during December through January (during the peak of the rut). Since we hunt open terrain, expect archery shots to average 40 yards. The further you can shoot accurately, the higher your chances for success. Archery hunts are 5 days and can be combined with javelina, provided you draw a javelina tag.
Rifle tags are by a Lottery Draw System in May through June. The application process is by mail only. Archery deer tags are over the counter. AZ Tag fee (NonRes): $232.75 and hunting license fee: $151.25. If you are interested in a hunt, contact us as soon as possible since spaces fill fast. Archery season dates: December 21-31, 2008 and Jan.1-31, 2008 for Archery Desert Mule Deer Rifle season dates (tentative): October 31-Nov. 3, 2008 & November 14-17, 2008 for Rifle Desert Mule Deer Nov. 28-Dec. 2, 2008 for Rifle Kaibab Mule Deer.
$ 2008 RATES $
Description of Mule Deer Packages Fully-Guided Rifle Mule Deer Hunts: Includes accommodations (tent camps), meals, airport transfer, camp transportation, a guide, and many extras. Choose from 1 on 1 or 2 on 1 packages. 1 on 1 means one hunter per guide and 2 on 1 means two hunters per guide. If choosing 2 on 1, you must bring the other hunter to share the guide with. Archery Mule Deer/Javelina Combo: This hunt allows hunters to have an added bonus of hunting javelina while archery hunting mule deer. The javelina tag is by draw in September and is optional with the archery deer hunt. Includes accommodations (tent camps), meals, airport transfer, camp transportation, a guide, and many extras. Each hunter has one guide and hunts 4 days.
Additional Information Booking Info: The first step for a rifle desert mule deer hunt is to reserve your spot. Once you sign and return a "hunt contract" with a $500 nonrefundable deposit, you will be booked. The next step is applying for rifle tags and licenses. Odds for drawing October and November rifle tags are relatively high. If for some reason you do not draw, your deposit will be transferred to the next year or until you draw. Another payment equaling 50% of the hunt cost is required after rifle tags are drawn. All monies paid are nonrefundable. We recommend cancellation insurance for all of our guests. Visit our general info page for more details. Since Archery deer tags are over the counter, a minimum 50% non-refundable deposit is due upon signing for an archery hunt. For those that own a camping trailer/pop-up and would like to bring it to camp to sleep in are more than welcome to do so, but we will not discount the hunt any. It must be small and high enough to be pulled on rough dirt roads. We accommodate up to 6 hunters per camp. If the hunter has not tagged by the scheduled end of hunt, there is an option of paying at a daily rate thereafter. Licenses and tags nor the possible hotel stay before/after the hunt are not included in price. * Hunters arrive in camp one day prior. Typically hunt Friday morning through Monday with hunters arriving on Thursday.
Be sure you visit our general info page.
Some Latest Mule Deer Photos
Jim Webber from Michigan took this buck with a rifle on our Southern Arizona Desert Mule Deer hunt.
Anthony Ransom from California and Outfitter/Guide Pat Feldt with an Arizona Desert Mule Deer. It was taken during the January rut season using a bow.
Twelve year-old Bryce Hurd with his first deer. He used his Remington Youth Model 7 in .243 caliber to take this desert mule deer with one shot at 150 yards.
Greg Jackson of Annapolis, Maryland with a good 4 X 4 desert mule deer buck He shot it with his .300 Ultra Magnum.
Thomas Ostrum with a 4 x 3 desert mule deer. He shot this deer at 320 yards with the outfitter's .300 Magnum.
John Thompson with a Southern Arizona desert mule deer. He used a .30-06 to take this buck at 150 yards.
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Home | Other Hunts | General Info | Rates | Contact Us | Stories | Links | References |What to Bring This website last updated: April 30, 2008 Copyright © 1999-2008 Arizona Guided Hunts. All Rights Reserved. "Arizona Guided Hunts" is a Registered Trade Name. |
Desert
Mule Deer - We also offer hunting packages for the desert sub-species of Mule Deer.
These desert deer live in the foothills of Southern
Arizona's mountain ranges. We conduct many of our desert deer hunts on State Trust Land. Some of the mature bucks we have harvested have
racks sporting 20-25 inch spreads and sport 3 to 4 points per side. They are
really not
known for their record book potential, but these desert dwellers of Southern Arizona
can offer the novice mule deer hunter a unique hunt and can sometimes make a fine wall mount. 
Accommodations
for our fully-guided/outfitted deer hunts are usually in deluxe tents with
heat during the colder months. The size of our tents are spacious; either
16x28, 14x16, 10x18, or 12x12, depending upon the number of hunters in camp. Hunters sleep on cots.
Arrival to and from camp is done in 4x4 trucks and s.u.v.'s. For those
that own a camping trailer/pop-up and would like to bring it to camp to sleep in are
more than welcome to do so, but we cannot discount the hunt any. Hunting for
desert mule deer is done mostly on foot
since it is usually not feasible to use horses or pack animals. This is a fairly physically demanding hunt,
therefore hunters
should be in good shape. 
