2010 The Year Of The Giants

As most Arizona hunters now know the 2010 Arizona Strip season will go down in history as one of the greatest ever recorded. From the archery hunts right thru the rifle hunts big bucks continuously hit the dirt. A phenomenal antler growth year combined with a few abnormal weather situations combined to create the ideal circumstances to harvest a crazy number of giant deer. Although I am happy for all the successes, I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit sad about the inventory wipe out that occurred. But...Granted the AZGFD doesn't increase the tag numbers, the Strip will rebound for the chosen few that draw tags. The 2011 year has started in the right direction with a couple of great storms hitting right where they need to for another good year. Keep your fingers crossed as we roll into Spring...

For us here at Arizona Strip Bucks the 2010 season was as good to us as anyone. We started the season off with a bang when John Gisi harvested a 241" inch giant with only 2 days left in his 365 day season. John hunted with us in the August heat for 13 days before ultimatley taking this velvet monster. Thanks John!

Spending all summer on the Strip helps greatly in the track record that we have been able to maintain over the years and 2010 was no exception. We had located a incredible number of giants for our rifle clientele and we were all chomping at the bit for November to arrive. We had kept tabs on a number of different big bucks and after showing Michael and Larry all of our pictures a hit list was developed. The hunt started but an unusual amount of other hunters quickly changed the habits of the bucks we were after. But we stuck to the game plan, hunted daylight till dark and on the afternoon of the 4th day both hunters struck gold. Michael killed the buck he was after while we were watching a waterhole at midday. His 30inch 7x9 grossed 224" inches and out of a dozen different 200+ bucks available this was the very one he wanted most.

Next came Larry. My partner Bryon and hunter Larry had been after a dirty heavy giant since the first day, passing a couple bucks along the way that most would kill for. The buck they were after lived in a extremely thick basin with a few does and he did not leave. Other hunters continuously hunted the fringes of the basin keeping all the deer nocturnal. Bryon and Larry stuck to the gameplan and right before dark on the eve of the 4th day the beast stepped out of the trees just long enough for Larry to make the shot. The ultra heavy giant grossed 210" as 6x4. He carries his 46 inches of measured mass all the way out to the ends and is truly one impressive deer. Congrats Larry!

With 13B coming to an end for us after the fourth day we quickly moved camp to 13A. We set about trying to locate the 2 whoppers that we hoped to kill one of. Before we knew what happened opening day was here and we were perched on all of glassing spots. Shortly after daylight, at extremely long range, we spotted the extreme giant that is posted below. After a long and tough stalk, followed by some brief but very stressful moments of a quad traveling between us and the bedded buck, Leisa made a stellar 325 yard shot to anchor this super stud on the spot. Leisa's fabulous buck grossed a touch over 230" as is and had he not broke off part of his G2 and most of his dropper he would gross well into the mid 240"s!

I just want to take a minute to thank John, Michael, Larry and Leisa for trusting us with there priceless Strip tags and for letting us participate in one of the most unbeilevable seasons in Arizona Strip history. I can't wait for June 2011. Thanks again.....