AZ elk draw changes

[Zbearclaw]

Game and Fish Commission sets schedule for first-ever elk, antelope winter draw

PHOENIX – Big game hunters are about to see a big change to the timing of the draw for two of the most popular hunting seasons in Arizona. This will be the first year that the Arizona Game and Fish Department holds a winter draw, or lottery, for elk and antelope tags.

Today, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission conducted a special meeting to set the application schedule for the new winter draw. The idea of the switch is to let hunters know early enough whether they have been drawn for these two popular big game animals, prior to their applying for fall deer, turkey, javelina, bear and buffalo hunts during the traditional application process in the spring.

The application deadline for elk and antelope is Feb. 13. Hunt permit-tags and refund warrants will be mailed out by April 27.

In a related matter, the commission reinstated the online application process during its Oct. 24 meeting in Phoenix, which means applicants for the winter draw will be able to apply online if they so choose.

“The commission will actually set the permit numbers for the elk and antelope hunting seasons during its meeting on Dec. 9 in Phoenix, but we wanted to have the application schedule set now so potential applicants can better plan ahead,” said Assistant Director Richard Rico, special services division.

The department will begin accepting applications through the online process or via manual applications for elk and antelope as soon as the regulations are posted on the department’s Web site at azgfd.gov. That posting should occur by the end of December. The printed regulations should be available at hunting license dealers by Jan. 12.

The grace period for the winter draw will end at 5 p.m. on Jan. 19. During the grace period, if a paper hunt-permit tag application that is manually submitted contains an error, then the department will make three attempts within a 24-hour period to notify the applicant by telephone (if a phone number is provided).



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The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes that they have been discriminated against in any of the AGFD’s programs or activities, including employment practices, they may file a complaint with the Deputy Director, 2221 W. Greenway Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85023, (602) 942-3000, or with the Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr. Ste. 130, Arlington, VA 22203. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation or this document in an alternative format by contacting the Deputy Director as listed above

 

[One Track]

As a non-res you could put in for twelve years and never draw an elk tag in AZ. Bummer. And, now, you have to purchase a license just to apply for a tag that you have no chance of drawing in this decade.

 

[Zbearclaw]

Yep, their rifle deer tags for the strip are that hard to draw, but I heard of this guy that got one pretty early in his application tenure and dropped a monster muley, what was his name again.

I have debated with starting with all these western states or just learning to find areas in OTC states that I can hunt every year, might not get a Eastmans's cover story, but that I could always hunt, maybe some wilderness in CO or possibly Oregon or something.

 

[jlostrander]

What will the elk tag cost for NR? Is it 589 or 689?

Logan

 

[brut]

I'm glad to see the earlier drawing makes it better if you actually get drawn. I have 7 points for elk now and it kills me to hear the stories of people getting the tag first time ever. One day

 

[BOHNTR]

If you bowhunt and research the stats (hunting low density zones) your chances of drawing a tag increase dramatically. If you scout those areas hard, you can be rewarded as well. I've been drawn 3 times for archery bull since 1993 and arrowed bulls each hunt.

The earlier draw will definately help folks plan for other hunts now. Good luck to all of those who play the draw game.

 

[DAWG]

I wish they would all be done earlier. Waiting until late August to know sucks. They say the late application period is to account for population surveys, but other states seem to get it done quicker. I guess AZ elk and antelope herds are stable enough to not make that necessary. Of course, you really do know your AZ results before you apply.........

 

[jlostrander]

I read the proposed changes, they were $1800 non-res elk A and $587.50 non-res. elk B. I do not know if these were accepted as is?

I think they may have decided to just go with one type of tag for all zones at 587.50.

Anyone who actually knows, please chime in.

Logan

 

[DAWG]

The premuim price was dropped. The Spring 2007 supplement has the new prices. For nonresidents, $151.25 for the license and $595 for all elk tags. One thing to keep in mind, now 20% of the tags for each hunt go to the top points pool in the first draw round. There is also a 10% nonresident cap. This cap will likely fill or come close to filling in the top points pool round in the really tough to draw hunts, like early rifle bull elk and late Kiabab/strip deer hunts. You almost have to go for either archery or late rifle bull as a nonresident not in the top points pool to have any chance of getting a tag, at least for your second choice.

 

[Huntnup]

I was lucky enought to get a Strip Tag in my first few years trying. And Yep I droped a big one. With that said I can't seem to get drawn again for the last 5 or six years for anything!

Huntnup

 

[Coues]

AZ has changed their formula for the draw.
They used to reserve 10% of the tags for the highest bonus point holders. They now reserve 20%. Doesn't like it would effect many, but it does.

NR are resticted to 10% of the tags for each hunt. Yet, 20% of the tags are reserved for for the bonus point drawing. Most of the high bonus point holders are NR's. That means that there is a very high chance that the 10% cap for NR will be met in the bonus point drawing, shutting out all the NR in the general draw.

If you just starting out, and hope to draw an archery tag or ealy ML'er or rifle tag in unit 1, 27, 8,9,10 tag, you are facing a long wait and very long odds.

Also, it's now easier to draw a rifle tag than an archery tag in many of the units. Most of the truley large bulls are killed in the archery season. By the time the early rifle and ML'er seasonscome around, alot of the bigger bulls are busted up. People used to put in fro archery tags just for the better odds, but that advantage is mostly gone now.

The rifle tags are in November and require a lot of scouting to kill a really big bull. Those biggun just don't move much in November unless a big storm comes through and they are usually in some nasty canyon or thick juniper jungle by then.

BTW, the odds in the back of the regulations are mostly BS, just because they do not account for BP's and they lump NR, Resident, and 1st and 2nd choice hunts all together when calculating those stats.