Arizona's 5 best units for 2010, Part 1

Arizona's Unit 10

In 2008 we had listed the 5 best units in Arizona as:

• Unit 10
• Unit 5A
• Unit 18A
• Unit 19AN
• Units 4A/B

In 2009 that changed slightly by removing 19AN from the list and adding a few other options though never really committing to any of them for one reason or another. However, several of the units we added as options did end up producing giant bucks.

For 2010 we'll start this series with the first unit that comes to mind when Arizona residents think of trophy antelope.

Unit 10

We like to say that Unit 10 stands alone at the top of the heap, but I'll clarify this statement this year and tell you exactly why it's at the top because I don't want any confusion as there are definitely other units that may produce equally large antelope every year.

• It's size sets it apart from a lot of other smaller units (they're all smaller). Being able to scout from the time you draw your tag to the time opening day arrives and still never thoroughly scout the entire unit is a huge advantage. It may seem more daunting at first, and it will be if you partake in the activity all by yourself, but it allows for you to basically hunt what should be several different units with the same tag. Arizona Game & Fish could easily break the unit into 2 or 3 or more units and still have relatively decent sized areas to hunt.
• It's genetics are at or near the top on a consistent basis! The key word here is consistent. Many other top units and even some fluky units will produce at least one buck per year just as big as a buck you might take in Unit 10, but most of these units will fail to repeat the feat in future years. Unit 10 has been able to repeat this feat nearly every year we've had the chance to hunt it. For reference I'll post our entire career of Unit 10 successes:

PGS Record, Unit 10, 1990 - 2009

• You can see from the list that record book bucks seem to populate Unit 10 on a regular basis and also that giant 90 inchers seem to pop up frequently. Since 1990 we've guided to 19 bucks 83 B&C or larger with 8 of those scoring over 90 SCI.
• Publicly accessible land is in abundance. Granted, a lot of the good antelope country in the unit is a giant ranch called the Boquillas they have been kind enough over the years to allow access simply by having you sign in at the different entrances. There are some good private ranches in the unit, too, but we've never once hunted them and we've done pretty well so far without needing to gain access to them. For the hunter that wants to hunt a private place, it's another option that makes the unit as versatile as it is friendly to hunt.
• Horn diversity. This is one that isn't usually thought of, and it is only minor, but I'll list it anyway. Because the unit is so big, and many of the areas completely separated from one another, the horn characteristics are all over the map. In some areas length is the prevailing feature, in others it's mass or prongs. Some areas more frequently kick out heart shaped bucks while others may produce straighter horned antelope. This isn't a huge deal, but something that may affect your hunt if you're looking for a particular type of buck.

The buck below was taken in 2007 by Cody Priddy and scores 94 6/8 SCI with a left horn over 20 inches long! The right one had a slightly broken tip and measured just barely under 20 inches. To our knowledge this is the longest buck ever taken in Unit 10.

Freakout, 20 inches long, taken by Cody Priddy