Muzz before Archery Az Elk

fin little

Active Member

Messages

762

• Nov 18, 2017

• #1

Arizona has been having the Sept muzzleloader hunt before the archery hunt on a select unit the last couple of years. It looks like 7W is the chosen unit this year. Does anybody have any insight to how the switch has effected the archery hunt on the units they've done this on ? I think unit one last year and 9 the year before were the chosen units. Does anybody know how it effected draw odds for the archery hunts?

 

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huntazido

Active Member

Messages

784

• Nov 18, 2017

• #2

This past season the "switch" unit was 22. I have no knowledge of how it affected the archery hunt but I am kind of curious myself. I had an early archery hunt this year and I can tell you the area in the unit I hunted, rut did not really start until the last Monday evening of the season. I would imagine a later start hunt would be better but not always the case.

 

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mike111

Active Member

Messages

920

• Nov 18, 2017

• #3

Really interested as well, hope someone can respond who has experienced the archery after the muzz and differences they noticed? Personally I prefer the archery hunt to start first in all units every year. Maybe they're trying to see how success rates change between the two after a switch. I remember a rumor the first year they put the muzz before archery was an azgfd commisioner was due to draw the early muzz tag, and that might have been the reason the hunt would take place before the archery hunt. Now it's 7W...Maybe something good out that way...

 

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brian390

Active Member

Messages

202

• Nov 18, 2017

• #4

I haven't liked the idea of this since I first heard about it. When things are good they just need to be left alone.

 

fin little

Active Member

Messages

762

• Nov 18, 2017

• #5

I would consider 7w as a second tier unit. I wonder if people with a lot of BPs will look at the 9/21 archery start date as a good thing or bad thing. will they switch to 7w or away on their app?

 

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mike111

Active Member

Messages

920

• Nov 21, 2017

• #6

I think the 9/21 start date in 7W archery will probably have better rut activity, but some of the biggest bulls will have already been harvested from the muzzy hunters. It will be interesting to see if apps go up/down, but I think it will stay similar to years past.

 

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huntazido

Active Member

Messages

784

• Nov 22, 2017

• #7

I have a couple friends who prefer to call elk and they said they would not even consider the later dates. They actually like the earlier start dates because they can call in bigger bulls before they have gathered their harems. Personally, I like to see and experience a lot of rut action so it kind of appeals to me. Since I only have 2 points, I am mostly wishful thinking but my gut tells me draw odds will be a little tougher.

 

Hunt4more

Very Active Member

Messages

1,089

• Dec 27, 2017

• #8

I have never hunted in AZ for elk but I have hunted and killed two nice bulls in early Sept and Aug with archery gear. I would consider the 7W switch negatively, as most of the larger bulls will have been shot IMO by the smoke poles. That pre-rut is the ideal time to kill big herd bulls. Again, just my opinion and maybe someone has a different opinion.

 

Servehim

Very Active Member

Messages

1,967

• Dec 27, 2017

• #9

I wish they would leave it alone ....bow 1st, muzzy 2nd , and rifles after . Make sense as that's the order of difficulty IMO

 

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wildfin

Active Member

Messages

401

• Dec 28, 2017

• #10

I generally apply for the best hunt regardless of what weapon and the best time frame gets the best chance at the best animals. I think If you can only use a bow you can use one during any of the hunts.I am not sure if you can use a bow during a muzz hunt but I think you can.

 

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dcervantez

Member

Messages

43

• Dec 30, 2017

• #11

I don't think it will change it too much. 25 tags isn't too much pressure IMO. While some big bulls will surely be taken by the smoke poles, there will still be plenty of quality bulls out there. The later start could be ok still, especially if the rut kicks in a little late. I personally want to be in the field by mid-month, but the week later wouldn't be too bad. I think draw odds will still be about the same.