Digging deeper into the current situation in
Arizona's Unit 23 unearthed a very interesting picture of a public-land hunting unit in transition. Subscriber Stu Mauney clearly had a great hunt last fall. However his observations about elk numbers and trophy quality also raised some concerns about the future of what has been considered a prime public land elk opportunity.
Examining the numbers, we find Mauney's claim that the
White Mountain Tribe has increased management hunts is absolutely correct. The tribe hunts about 1.6 million acres, and tags offered for the west end of the reservation could affect Unit 23. For 2011, the White Mountain Tribe offered 152 guided bull elk hunts to non-members and 457 self-guided cow/calf/spike and raghorn permits.....
