Az draw/unit ?'s

LongRanger · May 8, 2004

I have never applied to Az before, always NM, but I have a few questions? It looks like Az does not have a true preference point system like Colorado, and I hear talk of 6-10 preference points before you draw a good unit. Has anybody ever heard of anyone getting drawn in a good unit without that many points, after all, it is luck of the draw isn't it? Also, wouldn't any unit in Az be good that is a limited draw? If you look back on this forum, there are good things to be said of all the units, just pick one and you will be ok if you get drawn in. Maybe I am way out of line with my thinking, but someone will correct me.

AZBuckSnort · May 8, 2004

LAST EDITED ON May-08-04 AT 06:29PM (MST)[p] You can draw with no BP's. You would be a lucky puppy, but hey, it happens every year. Naturally some units are "better" than others, but your assumption that most, if not all, of AZ's elk units are good is accurate. Pick the type of terrain you're familiar with or enjoy hunting in and apply for those units that feature those habitat types. If you get lucky in the draw, post up again and someone with experience in that unit will likely email you off site and give you some advise.
Good Luck!

Zim · May 8, 2004

We drew AZ unit 1 archery elk with 5 bp's. But everyone else we met on the trip had 10 or more.

Zim from NW Indiana

Anaconda · May 8, 2004

In the Az regulations, there are some units listed as "limited opportunity", these are just that, not many elk there. All the rest of the units range from good to great. Look in the back of the book, or on the web site for drawing odds, the longer the odds, the better the unit.
Every year, some people draw the best units with few or no points, it's like a lottery, and more points just means more lottery tickets, better chances, but it's still a just a chance.

LongRanger · May 8, 2004

I've read the regs again and it looks like Nonresidents only get 10% of the bull tags. It also looks like you need to send in the money for a license before you can apply, or at least send it in at the same time. Anyway, low chances, never won a lottery either.

ElmerFudd · May 9, 2004

Each point gives you one additional draw number. It only takes one number to draw. If lots of applications have no points, somebody with none will draw. Plus, with lots of points, you can only get one tag, but a bunch of applications with no points can take more than one tag. With the internet application, you just need to give the charge card #, they charge you the application fee up front, and the tag fee if you draw. Do not do points only, they charge the whole tag fee. If you do not want to draw as a nonresident, use the 10% deal instead, apply as a party of two for an elk unit with 10 tags, or apply for a sheep tag with just one tag (no more than 50% NR per unit sheep).

Zim · May 9, 2004

LongRanger,

There are quite a few of us on MM that play the points game. No question if you really want to get some slammer tags, you must apply in as many quality states as possible, and buy points whenever possible.

Funny how things even out though. This year, I drew a UT once-in-a-lifetime permit with one tag quota for 284 applicants. The next morning I drove down to my favorite F&W area for leftover turkey spots. There were 7 guys that showed up for 6 openings. Guess who was the only one not to draw?!

I got my bird the next day though!

Zim from NW Indiana

LongRanger · May 9, 2004

>If you do not want
>to draw as a nonresident,
>use the 10% deal instead,
>apply as a party of
>two for an elk unit
>with 10 tags, or apply
>for a sheep tag with
>just one tag (no more
>than 50% NR per unit
>sheep).

Elmerfudd, I am not quite sure what you mean, I am a Nonresident, so how else could I apply? I think what you are saying is that if I apply for a unit that has a few tags, my chances are slim to none and therefore if I buy a license, I get a point.
I live in Okla and have been putting in for the Okla elk hunt for 32 years and have never drawn. They started preference points (like AZ) 10 years ago and I have 10 points. THis is a once in a lifetime hunt. The only thing I have ever won was a chicken in grade school about 40 years ago. Based on my history, my chances are none to never drawing.

Zim · May 9, 2004

Longranger,

Geez had you been applying out of state you would have been on countless world class elk hunts in those 32 years! And none are once in a lifetime that I know of other than Valle Vidal in NM. Bulls much bigger than the Oklahoma units. Trophy elk tags are some of the easiest to draw nowadays due to the supply/demand as compared to mulie or sheep. This is the heyday of elk. I bet you would have had 5 or 6 330+ bulls on your wall by now. I have 2 in 9 years (UT & AZ) and should have had 2 others (NM). Try NM, AZ, UT, WY for starters.

Zim from NW Indiana

LongRanger · May 9, 2004

Zim,
The 32 years have been in OKla. I hunted elk years ago and then different interests came up and I gave it up for several years.(stupid). I started hunting elk again about 8 years ago and have been 99% successful. If I would have kept on hunting elk and putting in the different states, results I am sure would have been different. I am already racking up preference points for my son who will be 15 in a couple of days. He has already harvested 3 bull elk in Colorado. So, I am starting again late in life, but better late than never. Not nearly as spry as some of you young guys, but my health is good and my horse is healthier!

Outdoordan · May 9, 2004

I drew with 1 preference/bonus point in '99. I told my hunting partner to put in to that unit the next year and he drew with no points. It is a good unit. He is very lucky this year he drew a bookcliffs (UT) tag, the only NR one alotted with one pref. point.