Any guidance for archery hunt in AZ?

[lamrith]

I have family that live in  Eastern AZ.  They have property out in Unit 3B.  He hunts modern antlerless elk each year and knows a couple of the units decently(3B, 1 and 27).  We have been talking and I am planning to put in for early archery down there and hunt this year during the rut.  He has recommended 1, 3a, b, c, and 27 to put in for.

The problem is he has never hunted the rut or archery so we are at a bit of a loss on where the animals might typically be in early Archery timeframe. (Sept 11-24).

App deadline is a couple weeks away and I am hoping someone might have some insight or recommendations on priority to put in for those units, and maybe any other guidance.  3B obviously the easiest as we could base out of the house, but any help would be appreciated.

[T Pearce]

What are the draw odds?
Ive hunted 5A back in '86..... doubt much has changed

I miss the rim country. Good luck to you.

[WAcoueshunter]

How many points do you have?  I have a buddy that lives and hunts in 3B.

[lamrith]

Very few points, don't know because I have not put in to hunt down there in years.

I know my draw odds are pretty low because of that, part of the challenge I am facing in regards to prioritizing vs draw odds for each hunt.  3b is by far the most convenient but the draw odds are low, though not as low as 1/2c/2b or 3a/3c.

[Bean Counter]

Hunting elk in my new home state of Arizona  is as follows:

• throw a dart in the map
• go there

Any questions?

[Skyvalhunter]

Hopefully you havent forfeited your points due to the fact you haven't applied for a few years.

[Bean Counter]

I picked these up on 3B a few years ago. Got there before they had shed for the year so these were leftovers from prior years 

[lamrith]

Bean Stop teasing!  Joking aside my Step dad said that he saw a guy pull a nice big bull out of the unit early archery in Sept so they are in there.  Step dad had a Nov bull hunt in another unit he had not been in before and saw one small bull on 1st day and then nothing for the rest of the week, which is why I am trying get a little info to base choices on.

Appreciate the info bigtime.

I have a sinking feeling my few points are gone, so likely starting from scratch, but we will see.  Sounds like I go 3B as #1 choice.

[Tbob]

AZ is a great place to hunt! I just got back last week from a javelina/deer archery hunt. Listen to Bean! He knows what's up! Oh and Bean I tried to Pm you back a few times but your in box was full. I didn't shoot anything, but saw a few critters. I used my bino's more there in 4 days than I have here in western wa the last five years combined.

[Band]

Hunting elk in my new home state of Arizona  is as follows:

• throw a dart in the map
• go there

Any questions?

Yes, one question.  Where did your dart land when you threw it at the map?

[WAcoueshunter]

Very few points, don't know because I have not put in to hunt down there in years.

I know my draw odds are pretty low because of that, part of the challenge I am facing in regards to prioritizing vs draw odds for each hunt.  3b is by far the most convenient but the draw odds are low, though not as low as 1/2b/2c or 3a/3c.

Unfortunately as a Non Resident you can't draw 1/2b/2c without being in the max point pool.  There might be a few NR tags for 3a/3c, 3b or 27 that slip into the random draw. 

Look here:  http://www.azgfd.gov/eservices/documents/bonus/5-2014/2014%20Pronghorn%20and%20Elk%20-%20Bonus%20Point%20Report%20-%20Bonus%20Pass%20by%20Hunt%20Number.pdf

1/2c/2b was hunt # 3118.    There were 17 first choice applicants with 13 points, but only 9 drew in the bonus pass round.  But yet there were applicants with 12 and 11 points that also drew in the bonus pass round.  Only way that happens is if the 10% NR cap is met at or above 13 points.  Meaning not a single NR with 12 or fewer points drew one of these tags for 2014.  That happens every year for this hunt.  Same with Units 9, 10, 23, and others.

Another thing to think about with 3b is that there are only 7 or 8 NR tags.  So again, you can imagine that those few tags could very easily get issued each year in the bonus pass round, possibly leaving zero for people without max points. 

3a/3c and 27 both issue a good number of tags (because there's a ton of elk there), and it appears that the NR cap may not get met in the bonus pass round.  So I might focus there, if for no other reason than at least you have a chance to draw. 

[Bean Counter]

Bean Stop teasing!  Joking aside my Step dad said that he saw a guy pull a nice big bull out of the unit early archery in Sept so they are in there. 

was that this guy? 

[Bean Counter]

AZ is a great place to hunt! I just got back last week from a javelina/deer archery hunt. Listen to Bean! He knows what's up! Oh and Bean I tried to Pm you back a few times but your in box was full. I didn't shoot anything, but saw a few critters. I used my bino's more there in 4 days than I have here in western wa the last five years combined.

 
 I cleared some space but good to hear back from you. I'm curious if you checked out some of those places I tipped you off to (PM if you want). Yes, in the southern desert you're going to use your glass like never before. However on my elk hunt up north last year I didn't even bother to bring my spotting scope because it was flat and forested.

[Bean Counter]

Very few points, don't know because I have not put in to hunt down there in years.

I know my draw odds are pretty low because of that, part of the challenge I am facing in regards to prioritizing vs draw odds for each hunt.  3b is by far the most convenient but the draw odds are low, though not as low as 1/2b/2c or 3a/3c.

Unfortunately as a Non Resident you can't draw 1/2b/2c without being in the max point pool.  There might be a few NR tags for 3a/3c, 3b or 27 that slip into the random draw. 

Look here:  http://www.azgfd.gov/eservices/documents/bonus/5-2014/2014%20Pronghorn%20and%20Elk%20-%20Bonus%20Point%20Report%20-%20Bonus%20Pass%20by%20Hunt%20Number.pdf

1/2c/2b was hunt # 3118.    There were 17 first choice applicants with 13 points, but only 9 drew in the bonus pass round.  But yet there were applicants with 12 and 11 points that also drew in the bonus pass round.  Only way that happens is if the 10% NR cap is met at or above 13 points.  Meaning not a single NR with 12 or fewer points drew one of these tags for 2014.  That happens every year for this hunt.  Same with Units 9, 10, 23, and others.

Another thing to think about with 3b is that there are only 7 or 8 NR tags.  So again, you can imagine that those few tags could very easily get issued each year in the bonus pass round, possibly leaving zero for people without max points. 

3a/3c and 27 both issue a good number of tags (because there's a ton of elk there), and it appears that the NR cap may not get met in the bonus pass round.  So I might focus there, if for no other reason than at least you have a chance to draw.

Just my preference but here is how I would rate those hunt choices

• 1/2a/2b
• 3A/3C
• 3B
• 27

But, opinions are like _ _ _ _ _.

[lamrith]

Bean Stop teasing!  Joking aside my Step dad said that he saw a guy pull a nice big bull out of the unit early archery in Sept so they are in there. 

was that this guy? 

No idea, he did not take a picture, I think he just ran into the hunter in town and talked to him about it briefly and was told it was taken there in 3b.  Benefit of living right in the middle of the unit right off Rt60  (a mile or two from 60/61 split) is he gets to see lots of hunters traversing in/out of the unit during the season.