When I hunted with the Kings this past fall, the weather was overcast, cold and drizzly, making for difficult hunting conditions. The deer simply were not moving, but we still managed to find a good 90-class buck after a three-mile hike, spotting and stalking through the desert mountains. Monica King was able to put me within about 60 yards of this buck.
The Kings' hunting areas are anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour from their home, where they house and feed their hunters. They are able to hunt thousands of acres around Tuscon, right down to the Mexican border. Much of the land is open to public hunters, but that was not a problem, as there was always plenty of room to maneuver around, plus Monica seemed to know how to use other hunters' mistakes to our advantage. In fact, the buck she put me on was shooed our way by other hunters.
The topography here is typical southwestern desert with lots of jumping cactus, ocotillo, saguaros and prickly pear. Some areas are very open and flat, yielding to rocky knobs that serve as vantage points to spot from. The desert mountains themselves range from easy slopes with lots of loose rock, to steep climbs requiring a good walking stick. Elevations can range from 3,200 to 6,500 feet.
The Kings drive clients out to the hunt area before sunrise and........(continued)
