Preparing for the Hunt

Arizona Hunting License

You will need to go online to the Arizona Game and Fish Website

You need to buy your hunting license,  you will be unable to hunt if you do not have a license,  you also need to have completed a Hunters Education Course as hunters are not allowed to take game without this course, be sure to bring your Hunters Safety Card with you.

Upon getting your license, you will purchase your Over the Counter Archery mule deer tag, the cost for this generally around $300, but do change from year to year.

If you encounter any difficulties or have any questions regarding the process, please feel free to call JP Vicente at 928-925-9395 or email us at Admin@OTCMuleDeerHunts.com , we can provide information and help you to walk you through the process.

 

Preparing for a Successful Hunt

At Big Chino Guide Service, we have been chasing monster mule deer in the lands of Arizona for 30 years.

We can guide you to the deer, but ultimately the success of the hunt will be your ability physically to spot, stalk and shoot!

We tell our hunters to be prepared for the stalk, we will be walking long distances in stalking the deer, so be sure you have prepared yourself physically for this. We will as a team with the hunter guide and develop a strategy for the hunt, ie stalk, sit etc, but ultimately hunters will need to be able to hunt, stalk, sit. You can expect to make a minimum of one stalk a day as the strategy of stalking mule deer is locating them and making a move on them when they bed or cut them off as they move. We also have deer patterned to water, movement areas etc and generally have ground blinds setup for hunter wishing to sit.

Prepare yourself not only mentally but also physically for the hunt, make sure you bring appropriate walking shoes and gear.

Once we locate the deer, this is when the heart starts pumping!  This is the moment that hunters wait for all of their life!

Be prepared to be able to shoot at minimum 40 to 50 yards out with accuracy.

Make sure you have practiced and tuned your bows before arriving.

We look forward to hunting with you in Arizona!
Please contact our team with any questions you may have for preparing for this hunt.

Recommended Gear List

Lightweight for Early Season

Camo Patterns and Recommended Gear

Weapon:
Archery Bow – 2 Dozen Arrows – 6 practice Arrows – Hard Case – Soft Case – Bow Harness
Muzzle Loader – 50 Sabots or Bullets- Powder or Pellets- Primers – Hard Case – Soft Case – Blackpowder Cleaning Kit
Rifle – 3 Boxes Shells – Sling- Hard Case- Soft Case – Cleaning Kit

Optics:
Binos 15’s  Recommended 12’s or 10’s minimum power
Spotting Scope 20 x 60
Outdoorsman Trip Pod System with Pistol Grip and Panning Attachment
Range Finder
Bino Bivy

Packs
Sitka Bivy 30
Sitka Flash 20
Sitka Acent 12
Badlands Sacrafice
Badlands 2200

Camo Lightweight

Sitka Subalpine Pattern
Core Lightweight Crew Short Sleeve and Long Sleeve
Ascent Shitt Longsleeve
Core Hoody
Flash Pullover
Ascent Pant
Timberline Pant
Bino Bivy
Ascent Glove
Ascent Cap
Core Neck Gaiter
Ascent Gaiter
Mountain Vest

KUIU Verde or Vias Pattern
Teton Short Sleeve or Long Sleeve
Peloton Short Sleeve or Long Sleeve
Ultra Merino Wool 125 Short Sleeve or Long Sleeve
Ultra Merino Wool 210 Hoody
Peloton 240 Full Zip
Guide DCS Vest
Guide DCS Jacket
Teton Soft Shell Jacket
Tiburon Pant
Teton Stretch Pant
Alpine Pant

Footwear
Consider Lightweight GTX Style with Supported Arch 3/4 high
Camp Shoes or Tennis Shoes

Sleeping bag Lightweight 30 degree bag for early season and a light weight pad

Personal Gear
2 sets Sub layers
4 pairs Merino Wool Socks “Darn Tough” Recommended
Camp Clothes
Medications
Toiletries
Personal snacks
Adult Beverages can be purchased upon arrival ” BCO” does not provided any alcoholic beverages for hunters. If hunters would like any special request or beverages upon arrival a stop can be made while en route to camp.