2011 Arizona Strip Hunt

Well, before I get started with the details, I want to take a moment and thank the entire Arizona Strip Bucks crew. Guides Bryon Goswick and Devin Beck. Friends Tory Brock, Bill Beck, Ben Wells, Bob Dykeman, Luke Petrocelli and Dan Sullivan. Without the hardwork and dedication of each and every one of them, we simply couldn't achieve the success that we do. I also want to sincerely thank our outstanding clients from 2011. Michael, Kelley, John, Dan, Brian, and Mike. Thank you for trusting us with your priceless tags and for being such positive and great hunters through a long, tough and trying season. THANK YOU ALL!!............Matt Schimberg

Lets get to it! We enjoyed 100% success with all six of our valuable clients. We harvested four bucks grossing over 200" and two others at 199.7 and 190.4 The full moon, wind and snow made for tough conditions and it wasn't until the evening of day 6 did any bucks get harvested. But once the ice was broken, big bucks started to fall! We did experience 2 missed shots at another giant that we were after that would have grossed somewhere between 225"-230"!

The first 13B hunter below is John H. His gigantic deer turned out to be waaaay bigger than John and I ever dreamed with a gross score of 239.6" We had him estimated at 220" but when we approached and lifted his head, we about died! At almost 35" wide, each and every tine was much longer than we had guessed. With 28" beams, one G2 that was almost 22", a 17" G3, 28.4" inside, 46" of mass and long inlines, he added up quick! John made an exceptional shot at 360 yards straight down into a canyon only seconds before the buck was going to vanish. The most unreal thing about John's buck is that he reaches his enormous score as only a 5x5! His frame alone was 221" with one G4 measuring only 4.4 inches! I still can't believe it! John truly appreciates the magnitude of his accomplishment and I feel honored to have shared it with him. After a humble "thank you" to the Good Lord for our treasure, and being joined by friends Bob Dikeman and Ben Wells, we took the pictures below....

This monster was harvested by Mike M. from Colorado. Mike and I found this buck on day two of the 13A hunt. He was the only one Mike wanted to harvest. We jumped a doe in the thick trees and caught a quick flash of the buck following her getaway. We tracked the small bunch at a rapid pace for 400 yards or so and caught them crossing a small draw. Mike dove down prone and I bawled at the deer, stopping him at 165 yards. Mike hammered him through a small hole in the brush and he went down within 30 yards! We had nicknamed this buck "OneEye" due the loss of one eye from a fight I suppose. He was an old buck. His 34.4" wide 8x9 heavy antlers grossed 230" on the dot and had broken off about 3" inches. This buck lived in very thick and difficult country. Mike made good on the brief opportunity that we were given and it easily could have been the only chance we would have had! Thank you Mike!!

Brian B. from California shot the awesome buck below with guide Bryon Goswick and friend Luke Petrocelli. After a long and tough week of trying to kill a 35" wide non-typ giant, Brian decided this super wide, super cool buck would work instead. Brian's buck grossed 190.4" and just barely missed the 35" inch mark. Thank you Brian for being so patient during your hunt as we hunted thick country all week trying to make it happen.

Dan K. was hunting with AZSB guide Devin Beck in unit 13A. Devins dad Bill Beck was along to assist. They encountered the buck below early one morning and after looking him over, Dan and Devin decided that he would do. Dan made the shot count at 200 yards and the 199.7" gross buck was his. Thank you Dan! We appreciate it!

This awesome typical was harvested by very deserving hunter Michael R. of Arizona in unit 13B. Michael experienced it all on his long and very hard week of hunting with Bryon Goswick and Luke Petrocelli. They started the hunt looking for a couple of giant deer that that were in the same area. After 6 days of big wind, nasty weather and super intense pressure from other hunters, they found the velvet buck and decided he was big enough to shoot. One shot and it was over. Although it is tough to see from the pics, this buck has been scored by an official at 205.6 gross and after the velvet is stripped and the buck is dry, he will net very well in the All-Time B&C book. We can't thank Michael enough for his positive attitude and persistence in VERY tough conditions....

Last but certainly not least is Kelley M. from Oregon. Kelley was hunting with Devin in 13B. Kelley endured the very same tough week of hunting that the rest of us did and was rewarded with his buck of a lifetime. One shot again was all it took to collect the 7x8 giant non-typ that grossed 206" Kelley and his friend Jeff were a pure pleasure to hunt and have in our camp and we can't thank them enough for their business and trust. They asked to come back in future years to help other lucky tag holders and we couldn't be happier if they did!