Arizona in January ... need some help

[elkken]

I will be in Buckeye AZ for the month of January and would like to know if there are any good spots to view elk, javies and mule deer. I do not plan on hunting just wildlife viewing and picture taking. I'll have my 4x4 truck and mountain bike. Any thing a within a days drive would be of interest.

Any info would be appreciated.

Best to ya, Ken

[COOCH]

Alpine is about 6.5 7 hours east enery time I'm down there I see lots of big elk.I havn't been down there since the fires so I'm not sure what you'll find.It is beautiful country though.

what the heck your retired and have nothing but time on your hands anyway  

[Michael Pfander]

You can drive down to Tucson and camp with us every weekend that month.  We will be chasing Javis and deer the whole time.
MAP

[centaur]

I spend a couple of months in Queen Valley in the winter; we are surrounded by state and federal land, and there are javelina and  mule deer where I am, and the scenery is great. I will be shooting at (notice I didn't say hitting) some Gambel's quail in the surrounding desert; lots of them around. If you go out by Saguaro Lake, near Tortilla Flat, there is a great herd of desert bighorn sheep there. The Superstition mts are great for hiking and photos, and wildlife is there, but I don't see nearly as many animals there as I do at home. Roosevelt Lake has lots of javelina, and the Tonto Cliff Dwellings is where I have seen Coues deer pretty regularly. Escape the Phoenix mega mess, especially to the east, and there is some great country to be explored and enjoyed. If you don't like snakes, January is a good time to be in the desert. By March, they are very active. In all my hiking trips in the desert, I have seen lots of rattlers but only one gila monster.

[elkken]

Thanks for the tips guys I'll have to get my AZ map out ... MAP, I promised the bride I would not hunt in January but many thanks for the invite, I have been at it since Sept and wildlife viewing will be it.

Cooch ... good to hear from you, I keep watching for the thread that reveals your new elk hot spot        being a retired guy I have time to go down and scout it out too !

Best to you all, Ken