Arizona Guided Hunts: General Info

Arizona Guided Hunts has been operating since 1997 near Tucson, built on the foundation of owner Patrick Feldt, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Renewable Natural Resources from the University of Arizona. This isn't a side hustle—Pat spends over 220 days per year in the field either scouting wildlife or guiding hunters. The operation is fully licensed to guide on Arizona State Trust Lands, with Special Use Permits for USDA Forest Service lands (primarily Coronado NF and Coconino NF), USFWS National Wildlife Refuges, and BLM lands as needed.

• •Coues Whitetail Deer (specialty)
• •Desert Mule Deer
• •Desert Bighorn Sheep
• •Black Bear
• •Rocky Mountain Elk
• •Pronghorn Antelope
• •Javelina
• •Gould's Turkey

Hunts accommodate archery, rifle, handgun, crossbow, or muzzleloader depending on season and area drawn.

Every guide is Arizona State licensed, First Aid Certified at minimum, and has passed background checks. Combined experience: 1,500+ hunters guided. Most guides have 20+ years hunting big game under their belts.

• •Accommodations: Complimentary Kodiak Canvas deluxe outfitter tents (10X10 or 10X14, 6.5 feet tall) with heaters during cold months. Cots with thick pads provided—bring your own sleeping bag. Camp is typically many miles from civilization. Trailers allowed with high ground clearance (no hunt discounts for trailers).

• •Meals: Complimentary breakfasts with coffee, mid-day lunches, and hot dinners provided. Bring your own snacks, energy bars, trail mix, and beverages (soda, alcohol). Alcohol consumed only after sundown or when done hunting per liability law.

• •Meeting & Logistics: Arrive camp around 1pm on meeting day. Arizona Guided Hunts does not provide airport/hotel transportation. Non-residents should fly into Tucson or Phoenix, rent an SUV. Meeting spot is 1–4 hours from airport depending on hunt location. Most hunts near Tucson except bighorn, elk, and antelope (northern Arizona). Roads to camp require SUV ground clearance. Brief safety meeting, weapon zero confirmation, and possible afternoon scouting on arrival day.

• •Hunt Duration: Hunts end at noon on final day (unless tag-out occurs earlier). Flying hunters should book return flights the day after hunt concludes due to up-to-several-hours travel time to airport.

• •Trophy Care: Game is skinned and caped for taxidermy. Flying hunters can transport cape/horns in cooler as checked baggage. Arizona Guided Hunts recommends Wellers Wildlife Studio (www.wellerswildlifestudio.com) for mounts near Tucson. For northern Arizona elk hunts, northern taxidermists available upon request.

• •Game Meat: Hunters must take meat if successful. Meat can be quartered for transport. For southern Arizona hunts, WPG butcher (Sweetwater Drive, Tucson) at (520) 292-2262 available. Northern processors for Flagstaff-area elk hunts provided. Flying hunters can have butchered meat shipped via next-day air (~2 weeks post-hunt) or checked as baggage with dry ice (airline permitting).

• •Conditioning Required: Arizona's rugged, mountainous terrain demands serious fitness. Start hiking uphill several times weekly months ahead of hunt. Use stair climbers, mountain biking, aerobics. Break in boots before arrival—new boots cause blisters. Consult physician before starting exercise.

Rifle Marksmanship Requirements: - Scope minimum 4.5-14X (NOT 3-9X). Most use 6.5-20X. - Practice at distances up to 400 yards. - Zero at 200 yards; create drop chart in inches or MOA (50-yard increments from 200–500). - Tape chart to stock or scope. Use scope turrets (Leupold CDS option available) rather than hold-over. - Practice prone position (most common), but also sitting, kneeling, standing. - Use Harris bipod (9"–13" or 13.5"–23") in prone for accuracy. - Rear rest (leather filled with rice/foam, NOT sand) for 3-point stability. - Standing shooting stick/hiking pole with V yoke rest for varied terrain. - Practice multiple times monthly on paper targets or 500-meter silhouette ranges.

Archery Marksmanship Requirements: - Practice multiple times per week at uphill/downhill angles. - Effective range: 35 yards average, up to 60 yards possible. - Laser rangefinder (Bushnell/Leupold angle-compensating models recommended) or learn distance judgment. - Broadhead selection: Fixed vs. mechanical debate unresolved; both work if properly tuned. Two-blade mechanicals (Rage Hypodermic Trypan, 2"+ diameter) popular for long-range accuracy and blood loss. Single-bevel 2-blade fixed (KuduPoint) excellent for bull elk even quartered. NOT recommended: 3-blade mechanicals. - Paper tune arrows if fixed blades don't fly like field points at distance. - Test broadheads before hunt (practice heads in most packages). - Lighted nocks (Lumenok, Nockturnal) beneficial for tracking.

Muzzleloader Requirements: - Modern Magnum .45/.50 caliber inlines capable of 300+ yard kills with proper loads (250–340 grain .50 cal, 2000–2100 fps). - Average elk shots 200 yards (range 60–280+ yards documented). - Scope 3-9X minimum; normal rifle scope preferred with crosshair. - Create drop chart to 300 yards; tape to stock. - MOA turrets preferred to hold-over for precision.

Patrick Feldt's personal takes include: - #8 SCI World Record black bear: 21-11/16" skull, 7'6" length, 500 lbs - Desert mountain lion: 155 lbs - Pronghorn antelope: 84" record-class - Bull elk: Several, one over 350 inches - Multiple Coues deer, javelina, Merriam's and Gould's turkeys

Guides have successfully placed hunters on numerous record-book animals across species.

• •Full-time operation (not part-time side business)
• •220+ field days annually scouting and guiding
• •Advanced hunting techniques developed over 27 years
• •Remote, well-developed hunting areas
• •Experienced guide team with 1,500+ combined hunts
• •High opportunity due to extended field hours and terrain knowledge