New Mexico / Arizona elk hunting

[BLKBEARKLR]

Has anyone ever done one of these hunts?

Is it a draw only? How many years putting in before drawn?   Do nonresidents need a guide?

Thanks
Joe

[bucklucky]

Yes they are draw only. It takes years to draw in Arizona for good units, I think I have 8 points now. My budy has 13 and hasnt drawn but there are lesser units you can put in for but more than likely may be high pressure areas and not so fun to hunt if you draw. New Mexico is draw only but there are no points. You can have better odds going through an outfitter for a drop camp, or you can get landowner tags for a halfway descent price (1500.oo ish) Sometimes those arent the greatest but will get you hunting. Now if your a resident odds go way up, bout every other year depending on the hunt choices.

[heavy hauler]

i hear that muzzle loader or bow is easier  to draw than  rifle.

[BLKBEARKLR]

thanks will have to start looking into the outfitter drop off then.

[jackelope]

Bone drew New Mexico a few years ago....he did well with the stick bow.

[DBZona]

Just moved up from AZ and I believe there is a 10% cap on Non-resident tags.  I have 6 bonus points and am hoping I can draw archery soon.  Make sure you pay attention to the timelines though.  That is what is great about Arizona, the deadline to apply is in early February i think, which means you know if you got drawn before most other draw deadlines.  they did this so you can more easily plan your fall hunts.

[jmoyer2]

I just moved to New Mexico. Like said before, no preference points. But I can point you towards some decent tags that have almost 100% success rates for drawing, and anywhere between 25-40% kill success. Or you can go for a tag that has a low draw rate, but if you draw you can almost always kill a nice bull. PM for more info. Also you can purchase land owner tags. Bull tags go for $3000+, Cow for about $500. Hope this helps.

[et1702]

Guide not necessary in either state.  AZ has points system and you will need lots of points to get drawn in popular areas.  New Mex doesn't have points.  However, 78% of tags go to residents, 12% go to individuals with guides and 10% go to non-residents, which makes it tough for us non-res types to draw.  You might also consider buying a Lottery tag for the Valles Caldera.  It is a true lottery, and tags are purchased at their web site.  http://www.vallescaldera.gov/comevisit/elk/index.aspx  If drawn, NMG&F gives you a tag!

I was drawn there in 2007, and it is ELK HEAVEN.  Best place on earth that I have ever hunted Elk!  Lots of 320 to 350 bulls all over the place, with occasional 380+++  The Valles Caldera is a 90,000 acre National Preserve.  Besides all the elk, best part about the hunt is that you have between 3000 and 6000 acres all to yourself!

New Mex also has land owner tags.  So, if you don't get drawn, you could pony up some serious dough for one of these.

Hope this helps,

ET

[boneaddict]

I drew first year in NM.  No points, no worries.   Big bull.

I've WASTED a lot of money in AZ and have given up hope there. 

[BLKBEARKLR]

thanks everyone

[ridgefire]

i drew a late hunt in az the first year i put in, it was a archery hunt in unit 23n that started on nov 7th, wish i would have brought my bugle and some cow calls heard plenty of bugling missed a nice one and watched one for about a hour and a half that i would bet was pushing 400. there is some units in az that are over the counter and some big bulls are ocassionaly taken in them but i would never hunt them as a non resident.

[DBZona]

there is some units in az that are over the counter and some big bulls are ocassionaly taken in them but i would never hunt them as a non resident.

Ya, those hunts were instituted a few years ago, but there are very few, if any elk in those units.