Just checked this morning AZ game/fish sight-draw results are available online.
I drew an antlerless elk tag for 5B South (Dec. 1) and a Mule deer tag for 31 (Nov. 3). My first elk tag in 3 years and first deer tag in 4 years.

Praise Jesus! Now Lord willing, we will see if I can get one or both for the freezer.

AZ Hunter,

Is it really that hard to get tags there ?? Or is it just for female tags you need to apply ??

Dimitri

Hi Dimitri,
yes it is tough to get tags. ALL big game is by draw. Last year in the elk unit I just drew, the odds of getting a tag were 33%. If i had tried to get a bull tag in this unit the odds last year were 9%.

Last year unit 6A bull, 12199 applicants listed it as their first or second pick. Only 750 permits were available (8%).

Some of the mule deer units are worse. Unit 13 A & 13 B last year had 1% (yes,one percent) draw rate. Almost 8500 applicants trying for 90 tags.

Sometimes I wish I still lived in Minnesota. My brothers just go buy a tag and in many areas they can shoot a buck or a doe, and then go buy another tag (doe only) for half price!

In 2001 I hunted with them north of Bemidji and got a 193 lb buck. That was the last venison I brought home. Hopefully this year I can bring more home.

What is it like up in your area? Do you have lots of big game to hunt and an easy time getting the permits?

Here we get our basic male deer tag for 35$ valid for the rifle season or archery. And we apply for a draw to get the anterless tag to attach on the basic tag. When we apply depending on the area you may or may not get your first choise but there is a 2nd choise you can pick which you may or maynot get it agian But unless you pick really bad areas your going to get one or the other normally.

For moose same thing buy the calf "basic" tag for 35$ and the apply for a male or female tag. You get to pick 2 in the draws so you can pick male and femal in one area and you will get what they give you if they give you one because they seem to give one year but not the next for example

The Bear tag is also 35$ Some zones you can get a extra tag for 35$ more too for a limit of 2.

Also for deer for archery you can get up to 6 more tags (each one 35$) depending on the area for both male and female for a total of 7 possible deer in a year

All tags but the aditional ones for archery deer can be bought over the counter for the most part. Since the Archery ones are limited per area when you call to get one its a computer system to take your order and will do it as a first come first serve system

The Draws for Anterless deer, and Bull or Cow Moose is free when you buy the "basic" tag

Dimitri

Wow! You have lots of big game to choose from. In a few years my wife and I hope to move to Montana and then, assuming I am still healthy, bwe able to hunt more big game and pheasants, geese etc. and have an easier time getting a tag.

Hope you have successfull & enjoyable hunts this fall.

Dimitri wrote:

AZ Hunter, Is it really that hard to get tags there ?? Or is it just for female tags you need to apply ?? Dimitri

Most of the western US states are this way now Dimitry. Initially they made small areas "Limited Access" to grow larger animals, with caps on # of hunters. To get a tag you had to enter in a public drawing... and be lucky enough to draw.

Sadly more and more of the states have increased the # of LE (ltd entry) units to the point that some states are now all LE units. In my own state we have LE areas and general season areas. You used to be able to just go buy a Gen Deer tag but deer populations are in decline across the west with human populations on the dramatic rise. Back in 1996 I think it was they made the General Season Deer tag draw only... they divided the state up into 5 regions. The "Southern" had more people than tags but the remainder of the units had tags "left over" meaning everyone who applied could get one.

The next year there were less tags "left over" in the other regions and this continued until about 2001 when my unit finally had more hunters than tags. In 2004 I failed to draw my general season deer tag and was forced to archery hunt (archery is a seperate thing here due to powerful a lobby). I shot a nice 3x4 opening morning. My wife failed to draw her 2005 Gen season deer tag and hunted archery last year, after missing a couple of big 4pts she finally nailed a 2pt.

So yea, we have to draw for almost everything now... a few exceptions exist like archery which is over the counter, but even that reached the tag cap last year.

I dont think you realize the population growth of people down here... there just isnt enough game to pursue for everyone. I have 10 "bonus pts" for moose now, you get 1 pt for every year you fail to draw. I think the max tier is 15 now... which means i'll be guarenteed a tag in about 30 years.

I'd really like to come up your way though Dimitry and hunt moose or black bear... just trying to figure out a cheaper way to do it. Guides cost soo much money now crazy. I've seen some asking 5k to shoot a black bear.


-DallanC

Populations expand and tags become scarce in Arizona. This results in some giving up on hunting altogether or taking up varmint hunting where no tag drawings are required, or hunting out of state. Gentrification occurs with high density populations, too, and along with that comes the inevitable decay of high values, increased crime and stress, and the errosion of morality which, in turn, leads to liberalism and its attendant evils. Arizona is different than it was a short few decades ago, but, it is a situation found throughout the west.

Combined, this causes many long standing Arizona residents to consider smaller towns or, even, a move to a different state. Top choices are Utah, Montana and Idaho, sometimes, Nevada. Hospitable natives with values I relate to and hunting access are reasons I bought property in Idaho several years ago and fondly look forward to building on it and starting a new business.

And, no, I didn't draw any tags again this year in Arizona.

That sucks

Maybe some of the wild life managers over here should go to the western states

Dallan,

Lots of guides are around I dont know the costs but I'll post a bunch that advertise in the hunting magazines up here. Should be cheaper then the ones you see in the US that are more commerical for American hunters

As for black bear like moose you ether need to be a imediate family member or own property in the unit your applying for if you want to hunt without a guide so its alittle restrictive here about non-residents

Dimitri