Arizona Elk

[Snakeriver]

Has anyone done an Arizona elk hunt? I am building points and started looking into units to apply for. Haven't been able to decide on one.

[WAcoueshunter]

Tons of great units there. How many points do you have?  What weapon?

Look up Jay Scott and listen to his podcast. He interviews guides and breaks down all the units in the weeks leading up to the AZ draws.

[cem3434]

Tag

[Snakeriver]

I've got 6 pts, and am willing to wait as long as it takes to draw an excellant tag. Thanks for the tip on the podcasts I'll give them a listen.

[goldenhtr]

Elk Talk podcast just did one on Arizona as well.

[blacktailhunter]

I haven't hunted AZ but hope to some day.

Like stated above there is lots of information on all of the elk units on the internet.  I would check out Travis McClendon's website(Arizona elk outfitters), he gives a pretty good breakdown on the units for the early/mid/late elk hunts to give you an idea.  Then I would join a service like toprut to see  who drew last year to get an idea what kind of points it takes to draw a top tier tag and what you are chasing.

I started applying 17yrs ago and I'm still chasing though getting a little closer.  If I was to start over I would just put in for those late hunts.

[WAcoueshunter]

I started applying 17yrs ago and I'm still chasing though getting a little closer.  If I was to start over I would just put in for those late hunts.

I'm in a similar boat, will have 21 points in the AZ draw this year.  I'll wait to draw a rut tag, but then will start applying for the late rifle and muzzy hunts.  With six points, I'd just start with the late hunts and hope to draw every five or six years. 

[Bean Counter]

  With six points your wait wont be measured in years; it will be measured in decades. 

I left WA to move to AZ and haven't looked back. In a decade I've had two September archery tags, both of which I notched on +300" bulls, and I'd take that over 100 years of Washington state OTC tags. There's just nothing like passing on screaming bulls day after day on public land until you find a big boy you can get close to. The late hunts are a different experience.

Tip: For this year, look into the units around Flag. They got a ton of snow before the late hunts last year and a lot of the hunters got snowed out and couldn't hunt. Those units probably had high mature bull survival for that reason and would be worth considering for this years season.

Did I mention that you can carry a gun without a permission slip from the state here?   

[Skyvalhunter]

Could be a snowy year again this fall around Flag

[Snakeriver]

After researching it this week. I think I'm gonna focus on the late hunts in 27, 23, 22 and 1. I don't fully understand how the draw works but I am gonna try and decipher it, and narrow down what unit to go after.

[2MANY]

You will be in the random draw not the bonus point draw so just buy your lottery ticket and play.

[gocougs]

With six points your wait wont be measured in years; it will be measured in decades. 

I left WA to move to AZ and haven't looked back. In a decade I've had two September archery tags, both of which I notched on +300" bulls, and I'd take that over 100 years of Washington state OTC tags. There's just nothing like passing on screaming bulls day after day on public land until you find a big boy you can get close to. The late hunts are a different experience.

Tip: For this year, look into the units around Flag. They got a ton of snow before the late hunts last year and a lot of the hunters got snowed out and couldn't hunt. Those units probably had high mature bull survival for that reason and would be worth considering for this years season.

Did I mention that you can carry a gun without a permission slip from the state here?   

Bean Counter i tried to send you a pm but its full.

[Bean Counter]

With six points your wait wont be measured in years; it will be measured in decades. 

I left WA to move to AZ and haven't looked back. In a decade I've had two September archery tags, both of which I notched on +300" bulls, and I'd take that over 100 years of Washington state OTC tags. There's just nothing like passing on screaming bulls day after day on public land until you find a big boy you can get close to. The late hunts are a different experience.

Tip: For this year, look into the units around Flag. They got a ton of snow before the late hunts last year and a lot of the hunters got snowed out and couldn't hunt. Those units probably had high mature bull survival for that reason and would be worth considering for this years season.

Did I mention that you can carry a gun without a permission slip from the state here?   

Bean Counter i tried to send you a pm but its full.

try again

[hunter-4-life]

Following

[cem3434]

So what advice do you have for someone who has zero points and is looking at applying for the first time this year?

[WAcoueshunter]

So what advice do you have for someone who has zero points and is looking at applying for the first time this year?

You'll be in the random draw, obviously.  They look at your first two choices.  So swing for the fences on your first choice, and put down the easiest to draw tag you'd be happy with for your second.  Lots of late rifle hunts with plenty of tags and relatively good draw odds that still have success rates in the 30-40% range. 

[2MANY]

Pick a unit, a weapon, and put in.

While random odds are steep you just never know.

Sometimes dirt guys get lucky!!!

[Bean Counter]

So what advice do you have for someone who has zero points and is looking at applying for the first time this year?

your last three choices are essentially a 'second pass' option and you might as well only put in for cow elk units, if you're willing to pay for that and hunt it (I'm not, even as a resident).

I'd go with a late rifle or archery hunt if you're desperate for a bull tag this year, realize that with elevation it could be colder here in Arizona than on a late WA hunt.

[Snakeriver]

Good information.  I really only have one unit I wanna shoot for. Will the first and second pass on the draw still function the same,

[Alaskan]

Your first two choices essentially will be the only one's that count for a decent unit.

[jae]

Any card hits?

[WAcoueshunter]

My resident cousin just got hit, so either him or his wife.  Both only applied for primo hunts, so should be something really good. 

[jae]

There is still hope! LOL.
Good luck!

[dreamingbig]

Card not hit.  Scratch that one from the list!


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[Wanderer]

brother in-law got hit, uncle got hit and wife/I got hit on our CCs.    going to be a fun elk camp !

[Snakeriver]

No love here.

[Skyvalhunter]

Perhaps your looking for love in all the wrong places

[MAVsled]

no AZ elk NR luv here either. 15 strikeouts in a row now for Sept archery bull tag.

[Alaskan]

Either 29 late rifle or 6A Archery for me!

Yahoo!

[jae]

Congratulations! Hope you enjoy the hunt.

[gaddy]

Know nothing about Arizona. What area is around Sho Low ?

[WAcoueshunter]

My resident cousin just got hit, so either him or his wife.  Both only applied for primo hunts, so should be something really good.

Just found out my cousin's tag is the 23N September archery hunt.  I'm going for sure, I need to see that in person!

[lamrith]

Apparently results are posted now, which promptly brought down the website.  haha  Usually AZ site is pretty robust and handles the load, but not today.

Know nothing about Arizona. What area is around Sho Low ?

Units 3a,3b,3c, 4a, 4b, and bunch of indian reservation land on south side.

[ridgefire]

I drew the 23N late tag awhile back and saw some monster bulls in there. Saw the biggest bull of my life in the Hells Gate Wilderness on the backside of Christopher Mountain. I had him at 181 yards and watched him for like three hours and had no way to get in on him. Will never forget that bull.