Best Bone Growth Question

[tommygarage]

Hello Forum members, I am new today and have a 12AE late hunt tag that I have been seeking for 15 years. After reading some of the info and ordering your waterhole map and reading Duwayne Adams Book and watching his DVD I was wondering if any of you who have a lot of experience and may have disussed bone growth with wildlife biologists have any information on the best Kaibab food sources for the best bone growth ? Should a hunter concentrate in areas with a specific food source ? Probably out in left field but looking for anything else that would help a first timer maximize the only likely opportunity I will have to get my monster kaibab mulie. I am middle aged now so the next tag may be a champ permit. Thanks, TG
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John 16:33

[J. Mullins]

Congrats on drawing an amazing tag! I too have a late tag but on the West side and can't wait! I wouldn't worry about growth enhancing food sources, I would be praying for a heavy snow storm right before the hunt! I've hunted the late East hunt and have witnessed the effects of a heavy snow storm and it makes the hunt alot easier. I would pay close attention to areas with high concentrations of does, the bucks won't be far from them. Snow or not, I usually come in from the bottom near the ranch and hunt the lower end of the canyons that run off the Plateau, I usually hike 1/4 to 1/2 way up and glass all day into the shady bedding areas while keeping a close eye on the flats below as well. If it does snow heavy prior to the hunt, don't overlook the wide open country in the flats, lots of hidden canyons out there holding deer! Best of luck and make sure to post up pic's and a story for us! JIM>

[RGhan]

+1 to what J. Mullins is telling you. Snow will make a huge difference. The less snow the higher up the plateau you'll likely be -maybe all the way up in the pines (summer range - archery tag)...but if you get solid snow they'll start moving off the top through the transition zone (mid elevations - early rifle tag) and closer to if not on the flats (winter range - late tag.)

That late tag is coveted for many reasons but one is that it should fall on the rut - when bucks, big and small, get stupid looking for love. Find the does and odds are you'll find the bucks.

As for the plants, two of the deer's favorites are lupine and cliffrose, but I'm not sure if they are or will be in season during your hunt...but finding a food source, water source, less hunters, and a bunch of does should put you in business. Also, once the lead starts flyin, start thinking about those hideouts that the deer can find safety in once the hunt is on - hunting pressure is the x factor that can change everything so be flexible with your strategy.

Best of luck and keep us posted!
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Ryan Ghan
KeyToTheKaibab.com

[tommygarage]

Gentlemen, I appreciate the advice and the well wishes. I am getting pretty juiced up about now and I see there is an outside chance of snow Sunday. I hope we can get a good snowfall in the next few weeks. I will certainly post any good news I have after the hunt. I love the site, it has helped a great deal. I have spent most of my time the last several years on my perpetual second choice chasing Whitetails in the southern part of the state.
Thanks again,
Tom
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John 16:33