Unit 10 Early rifle

I am looking to cash in my elk points (finally!). I know there has been a lot of negative talk about the management practices in regards to Unit 10. I am looking to do the hunt DIY and I'm curious what the people that have hunted Unit 10 in the last few years think about the hunt. Also have there been any issues with hunting on the Boquillas Ranch? Any info about this hunt would be appreciated.

Thanks, Mitch

I will pm you a few thoughts tomorrow. I drew this hunt three years ago and had fun.

How many bonus points do you have?

As you know the 10% cap is in place this year, so a max of 10 NR's will be drawn.

My staff and I guided there last year, on a couple of elk hunts, and absolutely had no issues, perhaps cause I follow ALL the rules!

Do I like all the rules? Heck no (no blinds--no sitting at waterholes--no UTV use) But if you want to hunt there then those area the rules!

Anyway, good luck and let me know where you are at in bonus points and maybe I can help on where you stand.

I fully understand you are a DIY guy, no obligation of course, just trying to be helpful.

Don Martin
Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

Thanks Don, I have 20 bonus points. My friend and I have the same # of points and we want to put in together so 10 seems like the logical choice but I'm open to suggestions.

Mitch:

If you are both NR's with 20 points, here is where you are at in the bonus point pool.

20 points 25 resident and 45 non-residents
21 points 15 resident and 15 non-residents
22 points 3 resident and 3 non-residents
23 points 0 resident and 1 non-resident
24 points 1 resident and 0 non-residents
25 points 0 resident and 1 non-resident

Assuming you are applying for Unit 10 with 100 tags, and with the 10% cap in place, that means that up to 10 of those early bull tags COULD go to non-residents.

There are 65 sportsmen that have the same or more points than you and your friend.

Not knowing what others in these pools are applying for (and some are still doing bonus points only) kinda hard to predict what will happen.

But I got to believe that you and your friend have a good chance to draw those Unit 10 tags this year.

I have hunted on the Boquillas Ranch for a lot of years and if you follow the ranch rules, you won't have any issues.

The Big Bo is surely NOT the place we loved 5-10 years ago, but still a wonderful place to hunt.

Big bulls still there, but you're gonna have to work for them.


Not a bad Unit 10 archery bull even with all the broken points!

Good luck and good hunting!

Don Martin
Arizona Wildlife Outfitters

Thanks Don! I'm hoping we get lucky and then go give it our all.