Arizona Elk

[tmike]

Thinking about trying for a muzzy hunt in an average unit with 17 points. We will see. Anyone else getting close to drawing?

[WAcoueshunter]

Thinking about trying for a muzzy hunt in an average unit with 17 points. We will see. Anyone else getting close to drawing?

I've got 23.  Debating what to do, stick with muzzy or go with one of the better archery tags. 

[tmike]

Tough choice, I’d rather go sooner than later but going solo doesn’t sound real great. I will if I have to since I have the time now.

[Beastmonger1987]

Playing the random game but 1 in 7 odds late rifle, I will have to go guided if I draw, but if I can "steal" an Arizona tag before year 10, I feel like I'm ahead of the game! Good luck to those in the draw!

[buckcanyonlodge]

I have a friend that drew this year 385 bull...cool story behind the hunt. I'll see if he will let me post a pic.

[blacktailhunter]

Putting in this year with 20pts early archery.  Doubt we draw with the later start of the 14th this year, I'm sure people with more points will jump in this year.

[idaho guy]

Hope you guys draw. Has anyone done the math of the total cost you have in by the time you get to 20 or more points? I probably won’t jump in at this late stage in the game. But wondering what it looks like cost wise vs just buying landowner tags in states like New Mexico

[kentrek]

Hope you guys draw. Has anyone done the math of the total cost you have in by the time you get to 20 or more points? I probably won’t jump in at this late stage in the game. But wondering what it looks like cost wise vs just buying landowner tags in states like New Mexico

Just depends on your goals... the price of those land owner tags will be rising as the non resident availability goes down...your looking around 5k-8k on average hunts and 8-15k on better tags..thats alot of years of applications

[tmike]

A lot of things have changed in most of the states I have points in. Tag numbers, point creep, cost, my age etc. looking back knowing what I know now I probably wouldn’t do it. I say just go hunt and don’t wait. I did draw unit 8 at one time and jumped back into Az.

[blacktailhunter]

Hope you guys draw. Has anyone done the math of the total cost you have in by the time you get to 20 or more points? I probably won’t jump in at this late stage in the game. But wondering what it looks like cost wise vs just buying landowner tags in states like New Mexico

Just depends on your goals... the price of those land owner tags will be rising as the non resident availability goes down...your looking around 5k-8k on average hunts and 8-15k on better tags..thats alot of years of applications

Price is definitely cheaper with apps when you compare to landowner tags even when considering 20yrs .  The problem is time.  18yrs ago when I started I was in my 20's and back then lots of the top hunts archery took 10-11pts.  Now those same hunts are 20-25pts.  So if you started now you are looking at 40-50pts unless something drastically changes in a state like AZ.  So no I wouldn't start right now unless you were like 12yrs old and are planning a hunt in your 50's and 60's.

[HUNT JR]

There are a lot of good, fun hunts out there that don't take high/max points... It isn't cheap, but by the time you gain a loyalty point, and if you pay for the hunter ed point, you can realistically go hunt AZ elk every decade or sooner. Might not be a rut hunt, but you're still hunting where giant bulls exist

[kentrek]

There are a lot of good, fun hunts out there that don't take high/max points... It isn't cheap, but by the time you gain a loyalty point, and if you pay for the hunter ed point, you can realistically go hunt AZ elk every decade or sooner. Might not be a rut hunt, but you're still hunting where giant bulls exist

And you get a 2nd choice...premium hunts 1st and then realistic hunts 2nd...the coues hunts alone are worth it

[idaho guy]

There are a lot of good, fun hunts out there that don't take high/max points... It isn't cheap, but by the time you gain a loyalty point, and if you pay for the hunter ed point, you can realistically go hunt AZ elk every decade or sooner. Might not be a rut hunt, but you're still hunting where giant bulls exist

 

I hear that a lot but I question the time and money spent when I can have a good and fun hunt at home for 30 dollars. Seems like most hunters that live in the west would be better off spending the time money in their home state? Then put money aside for landowner tag or even get the tag through a guide.

[idaho guy]

Hope you guys draw. Has anyone done the math of the total cost you have in by the time you get to 20 or more points? I probably won’t jump in at this late stage in the game. But wondering what it looks like cost wise vs just buying landowner tags in states like New Mexico

Just depends on your goals... the price of those land owner tags will be rising as the non resident availability goes down...your looking around 5k-8k on average hunts and 8-15k on better tags..thats alot of years of applications

Price is definitely cheaper with apps when you compare to landowner tags even when considering 20yrs .  The problem is time.  18yrs ago when I started I was in my 20's and back then lots of the top hunts archery took 10-11pts.  Now those same hunts are 20-25pts.  So if you started now you are looking at 40-50pts unless something drastically changes in a state like AZ.  So no I wouldn't start right now unless you were like 12yrs old and are planning a hunt in your 50's and 60's.

. 

Thanks for that perspective that’s how I am seeing the situation. Feels like a Ponzi scheme for anyone entering today 😂 the hunting industry I think broke the western draw systems by promoting western hunting too much. They can’t stop the hyper promotion since they have built huge businesses on it. 3 podcasts a week and numerous e-mails telling me why and how to enter every western draw. I think for you guys that got in 20-30 years ago it was worth it. Starting recently seems ridiculous. Thanks for all the replies I hope you long term applicants draw some great tags 👍

[idaho guy]

Hope you guys draw. Has anyone done the math of the total cost you have in by the time you get to 20 or more points? I probably won’t jump in at this late stage in the game. But wondering what it looks like cost wise vs just buying landowner tags in states like New Mexico

Just depends on your goals... the price of those land owner tags will be rising as the non resident availability goes down...your looking around 5k-8k on average hunts and 8-15k on better tags..thats alot of years of applications

 

Thanks I wasn’t sure how much top end tags cost. I was figuring about 4500 to 5000? To accumulate 20 points and then presumably draw and pay for a tag?

[idaho guy]

Hope you guys draw. Has anyone done the math of the total cost you have in by the time you get to 20 or more points? I probably won’t jump in at this late stage in the game. But wondering what it looks like cost wise vs just buying landowner tags in states like New Mexico

Just depends on your goals... the price of those land owner tags will be rising as the non resident availability goes down...your looking around 5k-8k on average hunts and 8-15k on better tags..thats alot of years of applications

Price is definitely cheaper with apps when you compare to landowner tags even when considering 20yrs .  The problem is time.  18yrs ago when I started I was in my 20's and back then lots of the top hunts archery took 10-11pts.  Now those same hunts are 20-25pts.  So if you started now you are looking at 40-50pts unless something drastically changes in a state like AZ.  So no I wouldn't start right now unless you were like 12yrs old and are planning a hunt in your 50's and 60's.

. 

👍 kinda what I was thinking I’m 55 so probably don’t need to start planning my ax elk hunt at 110 ha ha

[Flaming Antler Outdoors]

#27, #23 and #1.   I had the unit 27 muzz tag last year.  These 3 units are 350+ bulls. 

[kentrek]

Hope you guys draw. Has anyone done the math of the total cost you have in by the time you get to 20 or more points? I probably won’t jump in at this late stage in the game. But wondering what it looks like cost wise vs just buying landowner tags in states like New Mexico

Just depends on your goals... the price of those land owner tags will be rising as the non resident availability goes down...your looking around 5k-8k on average hunts and 8-15k on better tags..thats alot of years of applications

 

Thanks I wasn’t sure how much top end tags cost. I was figuring about 4500 to 5000? To accumulate 20 points and then presumably draw and pay for a tag?

To use arizona as an example it's 15 bucks for an elk point and 160 for the license... thats 3500 bucks for a 20 year tag...if you compare that tag to the open market it's prolly a 15-20k tag so its substantially cheaper

And you could draw any year

[HUNT JR]

There are a lot of good, fun hunts out there that don't take high/max points... It isn't cheap, but by the time you gain a loyalty point, and if you pay for the hunter ed point, you can realistically go hunt AZ elk every decade or sooner. Might not be a rut hunt, but you're still hunting where giant bulls exist

 

I hear that a lot but I question the time and money spent when I can have a good and fun hunt at home for 30 dollars. Seems like most hunters that live in the west would be better off spending the time money in their home state? Then put money aside for landowner tag or even get the tag through a guide.

Few days late responding to this, but I won't spend the time to kill spikes here - so for me that is out. I think a big part of the draw to me is getting the chance to explore new country. May not find anything that I want to kill, but the adventure part of it matters quite a bit. The fact that giant bulls exist in every unit (for the most part) in AZ helps. I would rather hunt down there once or twice a decade over the next 30 years than save my points to try and draw one of the early tags.

[jstone]

Archery hunted deer in unit 10 in December. Saw lots of elk.

[Beastmonger1987]

Results out tomorrow! Hope you updated your credit card by yesterday! Good luck to those in the draw!

[WAcoueshunter]

Card hits are happening today.  No luck here so far.

[blacktailhunter]

Same here no CC hit

[HUNT JR]

Card got hit for a buddy and I in a group app!

[Beastmonger1987]

Card got hit! I can't believe it! waiting to confirm which choice I got, not that it really matters! 

[Brushbuster]

I was paying my CC bill this morning & much to my surprise there is a charge for $650 from AZ pending! Hoping this is for real. I only had 3-4 points for elk. The hunts I applied for begin on 9/29.  Excited to see if I got a muzzy or rifle tag. Never been to AZ was mainly building points for a Coues Deer Hunt & just applied for elk/antelope since I already had the hunting license.

[tmike]

Nothing for me yet. Congrats on those who drew. I’ll be interested in seeing what everyone drew.

[Beastmonger1987]

My 1st choice was unit 23 late rifle. 2nd choice was the unit 17-20 cluster late rifle. went into the random draw with 2 points 

[WAcoueshunter]

I was paying my CC bill this morning & much to my surprise there is a charge for $650 from AZ pending! Hoping this is for real. I only had 3-4 points for elk. The hunts I applied for begin on 9/29.  Excited to see if I got a muzzy or rifle tag. Never been to AZ was mainly building points for a Coues Deer Hunt & just applied for elk/antelope since I already had the hunting license.

Well that sounds exciting!  Pretty much any hunt there that starts on 9/29 is going to be really fun.  And some are the best hunts around.  Let us know what you draw!

[Brushbuster]

The AZ portal has been updated! Somehow, I drew 15A, 15B & 18A early rifle Bull Tag! Sept 29 opener. 

[boneaddict]

Arizona didn’t even make top five,(referencing other thread) why bother. 

[2MANY]

The alien population is really doing well but I also heard the land owners are filling their tags..

[WAcoueshunter]

The AZ portal has been updated! Somehow, I drew 15A, 15B & 18A early rifle Bull Tag! Sept 29 opener. 

That will be a fantastic hunt, congratulations! 

[idaho guy]

I was paying my CC bill this morning & much to my surprise there is a charge for $650 from AZ pending! Hoping this is for real. I only had 3-4 points for elk. The hunts I applied for begin on 9/29.  Excited to see if I got a muzzy or rifle tag. Never been to AZ was mainly building points for a Coues Deer Hunt & just applied for elk/antelope since I already had the hunting license.

 


Congratulations hope you post up some pics after the hunt!

[Beastmonger1987]

Units 17a - 20c late rifle confirmed! First year applying super stoked!