Drought in New Mexico and Arizona

LL

Member
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58
I am wondering if I should even bother applying to Arizona this year. I am getting enough points in Arizona this year that I might have some chance of drawing but I am not sure I even want to if the drought is going to be that bad. Am I waisting my points this year? Is it too early still to say? I am wondering the same for New Mexico even though there are not bonus points to waste.
 
I don't know what holds in the future , if I'll be alive next year or what , so I'll put in AZ to draw , and deal with the drought then . AZ is gonna grow them big no matter what , even in wet years , its still tough to even see them big boys during the hunt , so I'll roll the dice....
 
LAST EDITED ON Mar-28-06 AT 08:49AM (MST)[p]Age will still get them big, Water help with mass and such but a big Elk that is old is still a big Elk.
 
I agree the antler growth will suffer from the drought, but how about this, i just spent a week at the AZ wildfire acadamy and the word is that this is the worst recorded year for fuel moisture on record even with the latest snow and rain, it just wasent enough. So say u do get drawn will the forest even be open to scout or worse, hunt. I dont know but it dosent look good.



P.S. Im not trying to rain on your parade, just a thought.
 
I always here this worry, for me, a new elk hunter with only 3 elk taken, if a bull scores 320 I AM FREAKING OUT, and could care less that he would have scored 335 had there been more rain, so could care less.

However if I had a ton of points and wanted a serious elk (knowing it would probably be the best in my lifetime) I might reconsider. You can always go OTC elsewhere and put in for a point.
 
I almost feel guilty... All the moisture Norte Ca. has received along with Northern Nv, So. Ore, Southern Id, and Co. My opinion is POINT IT in Az. In new Mexico it really doesn't matter at this point.
 
RE: Drought in New Mexico

The probability of the National Forests and state lands being closed this summer is extremely high. Get your scouting in as quick as you can, because there won't be much time to do it. I was talking with a friend of mine that kayaks alot and he told me that the Rio Grande peaked last week at 450 cfm. Just for some comparison, it peaked at 8000 cfm last year. Pray for some rain boys, and good luck with the draw. The elk will still be out there, maybe not as big as last year, but hunting is hunting! And, they don't get much dinkier than the two that I have gotten thus far, so I am pumped. Plus, I found some sweet little springs last year and thats where they will be.
 
RE: Drought in New Mexico

I'll be buying the points for AZ. If you have kids, you might want to get them the points. Cheaper for them than us. I believe the license is $25.50 for them. Started them when they were 10.
 
RE: Drought in New Mexico

The more people that "point it" the better for me....:)
I am not worried about the drought. This is the desert, and these animals have dealt with it forever. I have never had a year I havent seen Elk Id only dream about harvesting--drought or no drought....

Count me in no matter what.
 

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