Guys:
All this hoopla about the tag prices. Heck, I didn't see any complaining about the fees at Disneyworld! The man is right, PRIORITIES!
And next year, there won't be a major increase in tag/license fees in Arizona.
Yes, early rifle bull tags and deer tags north of the ditch (Grand Canyon for you non-residents) will go up some, but right now archery bull elk tags are not designated as a premium tag (that's wrong in my opinion, for more big bulls are taken on archery hunts than rifle hunts, and look at the hunt success for AZ archery hunts)
Anyway, the point that before all this Internet crap came about was you had to put money up front is right. The only difference is you didn't have to purchase a license, but anyone in their right mind who knows how the bonus point game is played knew you had to buy the license to stay in the game.
I had a guy from Alabama about 10 years ago you absolutely refused to buy a license even though he applied faithfully for permits. Now, 10 years later, he has no bonus points, has never drawn an AZ tag, and unless he gets real,real lucky, probably never will.
If he had participated in what I call the "Arizona blackmail system", (hey I didn't create it, just work through it) he would have been sittin pretty this year with 10 bonus points for elk, antleope and sheep. (deer didn't come on line until 1999 I think).
You fellas also know I'm sure, that with the draw open this year, (no caps/quotas for elk or deer tags, only cap is for sheep, and that's 15%, antelope has always been equal) that you have a chance at 100% of the tags, not just the 10-15% you were previously subjected too?
And if you look at the those who have maximum bonus points in AZ for deer and elk, you will see it is non-residents who have more than residents. That means, I believe, that NR are gonna absolutely smoke the draw this year on those two species.
Oh yes, there is more! This year you have a loyalty bonus point for that have been in the system since 2001, and there is the 20% pass plan that says those with maximum bonus points for each species (der,elk antelope)get into special draws for 20% of the tags that are offered BEFORE the regular draw!
That's the long and short of it this year fellas. Honest.
If you're a NR you got to love it. As an Arizona resident, I don't care for it, but I know next year there will be some different rules. With the new law on state's right to manage and limit NR hunters being signed by President Bush, well boys, starting in 2006 it will get harder to get an Arizona tag!
Don Martin
