Arizona Elk Lottery Tags

[jlostrander]

If you draw a stip deer or a premium elk tag, taking many years to do it, you should consider a guide.

In AZ. they aren't all that expensive and well worth it. If you have a lot of time, local knowledge of the zone, and contacts, then no need. But, I think most poeple, given that awesome tag, should use a pro.

I think you need at least 10 days of scouting to get ready for this kind of hunt. If you have that time, then do it yourself.

This is just my opinion.

I appreciate all your input.

Logan

PS. JJ, I will continue to go for the premium deer tag, but I am not a max point holder. I think I am three out. If I do draw it in 2022, I'll use a pro. I think many non-res. will do the same.

 

[AZ Jim]

Average every 6 to 8 years for Bulls or so Game and Fish tells me.

AZ Jim

 

[Glass eye]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jlostrander @ Jan 10 2007, 04:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

If you draw a stip deer or a premium elk tag, taking many years to do it, you should consider a guide.



I think you need at least 10 days of scouting to get ready for this kind of hunt. If you have that time, then do it yourself.[/b]

I have friends who tell me I'm crazy if I don't hire a guide and perhaps they're right but I'll only hire a guide where required by law. I can take the time off work to scout and I feel more satisfaction having done it myself. I would like a partner with me when the time comes to keep me from pulling the trigger on a buck that I would regret shooting, I've squandered a couple of Premium tags before on spindly bucks.

 

[Coues]

I think an experienced hunter can hunt elk in AZ without a guide, for sure. If you draw a strip tag though, the value in a guide comes from knowing the units and where to start looking for the very few deer that are there. Going with a partner, in very least, I would consider mandatory, as sometimes you might be 100 dirt road miles from a gas station or cell phone reception. If you get lost, have car trouble, run out of tires, etc you could be in for a LONG wait for help.

Good luck, I hope you draw your tag(s) soon.

 

[Jimmy Jones]

Although I'm not going for a Mule deer hunt which I believe is what you hunt in the "strip hunts". Where is the "Strip"? What zones if multiple?

 

[Glass eye]

The Strip is the strip of land between the North Rim of the Colorado River (Grand Canyon) and the Utah border, however, when hunters speak of the strip they really mean 13B the NW corner of AZ.

 

[Monsterbull]

Been tryin to follow but.......my head.........is.....spinning

[attachment=37683:attachment]

 

[Brian Olson]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Glass eye @ Jan 11 2007, 08:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I have friends who tell me I'm crazy if I don't hire a guide and perhaps they're right but I'll only hire a guide where required by law. I can take the time off work to scout and I feel more satisfaction having done it myself.[/b]

Awesome to hear! Too many guys forget what hunting is all about when they draw these premium tags. A quality hunt shouldn't entail walking around behind some guy until he says "shoot." There's a big difference b/n hunting and shooting. Part of the overall experience should be finding, and hunting the animal. Unless you absolutely have to hire a guide (ie required by law), I say do it on your own

 

[7mm RM]

Good topic and info

 

[DAWG]

They will change the rules again so that nonresidents do not have to be in the top pool to draw sooner or later. The fact that the rules change so you do not know what you are buying is why I hate expensive points systems. I am not sure if this makes it worth it or not for a newcomer. It is good for me for deer now as I am in the top pool. I cashed in my elk points a couple of years ago, and am a few points off the top sheep and antelope pools. I have to stay in.
Also, a lot of people think it is worth hiring a guide or going with lots of buddies to help for 13B as it is remote, deer densities are low, and trophy potential is high. I have heard stories of guys going days without seeing deer there. I do not care, I am doing it by myself if I ever draw. The challenge of the hunt and self satisfaction of doing it on my own is more important than the outcome. Plus, even if it is sheer luck, my trophy will be all mine if I am lucky and good enough to harvest one. That will make it much more meaningful to me.

 

[Jimmy Jones]

Hawg brought up a new question. If I apply for more then one hunt (ex: Elk + Mule Deer + sheep, etc), and I don't get drawn for any of these tags. Do I accumulate points for each specie, or do I only accumulate points for one hunt.

Since the majority of the cost to apply is the "non resident hunting tag", then I could apply for each specie, and accumulate multiple points each year. Is this the way it works?

Thanks again,

JJ

 

[Glass eye]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jimmy Jones @ Jan 15 2007, 07:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Hawg brought up a new question. If I apply for more then one hunt (ex: Elk + Mule Deer + sheep, etc), and I don't get drawn for any of these tags. Do I accumulate points for each specie, or do I only accumulate points for one hunt.[/b]

Points are species specific. You only lose your points when you draw a tag for that animal OR go 5 years without applying.

 

[Jimmy Jones]

Alright,

I've made my decision to apply and start saving my points. I have NO knowledge of AZ, and that's discomforting to me since I usually really enjoy scouting out my properties before hunting. In the AZ case, I don't and won't have that option.

So I'm kinda dependent on you all for suggestions on where to apply. Since I know I won't have a chance to hunt this year, and the next several for that matter. What hunts/units should I focus on for each specie? Since I don't have Elk, Mule Deer, Antelope and sheep (Can Non-Residents even hunt Sheep) in Missouri. I'm going to use this as a way I will eventually get to hunt all these big game.

Anyway, I'm learning all of this, and really appreciate all the help you guys have been.

Thanks again, and if you've hunted in Az. Please let me know your thoughts.

JJ

 

[Jimmy Jones]

FYI..........

I found out that this years Max Bonus point holder for Elk is 18 Points, and there's two of them. That means these guys have applied for 18 years and have yet to be drawn for a hunt.

THATS CRAZY!!!!!

 

[Glass eye]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jimmy Jones @ Jan 16 2007, 09:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

. What hunts/units should I focus on for each specie?[/b]

Too much to go over for each specie in AZ so I will tell you in regards to elk to avoid units 5 & 6, I'm sure that there are big bulls there but most that I have seen taken from those units are raghorns or average looking mature bulls. It is like a public land elk hunt in Colorado, big turnover rate.

 

[jlostrander]

Right now, you only have elk and antelope to apply for. Just get points for each over the net.

They you can decide next year, if you want to pick an elk zone to try and get drawn.

It would take a little time to explain the detail of it all.

It will be a very long time before you draw an antelope tag.

You will need to study the proclamation to understand the situation.

Logan

 

[Glass eye]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jlostrander @ Jan 17 2007, 12:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

.

It will be a very long time before you draw an antelope tag.[/b]

Once again, it's how lucky you are. I read in Eastmans a few years back where a non-resident drew an early rifle bull tag his first time ever applying, and on his bull hunt he saw a lot of good antelope and so applied the next year and guess what ? yep he drew it first time!
On the other hand, I have a friend in AZ who has drawn several elk tags including early rifle bull and desert bighorn, and yet he still can't draw an antelope tag!

 

[Jimmy Jones]

Well, I bit the bullet and jumped into what could be a 20 year project. I applied for the Elk/Antelope hunt in AZ. I just bought the hunting license and point for Elk and antelope. Since I'm 99.9% (probably closer to 110%) sure that I can't be drawn for a hunt this year, I just went with the cheaper point for $7.50.

I wonder how many guys that have been accumulating points will miss this years earlier deadline? Maybe the odds of getting drawn will be much better this year.

JJ

 

[Glass eye]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jimmy Jones @ Jan 25 2007, 12:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

. Since I'm 99.9% (probably closer to 110%) sure that I can't be drawn for a hunt this year, I just went with the cheaper point for $7.50.[/b]

Bonus points are NOT preference points, it's possible to draw a premium tag with NO bonus points.
Also, you didn't save any money buying the bonus point only, if you had applied for a hunt it still would have only cost $7.50, unless you actually draw a tag, then they take the tag fee from your credit card.

 

[Glass eye]

The option to buy a Bonus point only is for guys who DON'T want to draw a tag but don't want to lose the opportunty to collect points.