1uofacat

Never hunted 3B, but am in 6A all the time. I will say that in 6A your biggest challenge is getting away from people, but that said, there's perhaps no greater concentration of elk anywhere in the state so take your pick, fewer hunters and elk or a lot more hunters and a lot more elk.

How'd this thread go from, "I see my results, YEHAW!!!" or "I can't see anything yet - CRAP!" to "I know more than you do..."? haha...fun to read I guess taking our minds off the fact that we really don't know the results yet... fun time of year if you get a tag, not so much if not. All I know for sure is they haven't posted the results as of 5 minutes ago.

At a minimum, my youngest son has a junior's tag this year. Based on the past, my kids prefer using a 7x57 with a thumbhole stock. It's taken many animals, and several bulls and cows over the years. Most importantly, they shoot it well (& often leading up to a hunt). Have fun, and be safe!

Bull or cow flatlander, you didn't specify (and it makes a difference). I'm assuming bull, but most important thing is to have her comfortable and accurate with whatever you choose (and you can do the math on how they compare). Why not let her shoot them all and choose? You can then work up a load and go from there.

DavElk, I don't recall seeing where you said you applied for an archery tag or a rifle tag. I used to hunt 1 (& 27) all the time and found an area further south in 1 (north of the black river) that may be worth a look. PM me if you want more info., but it was my all-time favorite area in unit 1. I haven't hunted in 1 for a long time as I now live in Northern AZ and hunt closer to Flagstaff and Williams, but the area I'm referring to was only partially affected by the fire and was the best all-around area we found while hunting in unit 1 for years.

The comment about one trying to check results resulting it in bumping your tag back to another is one of those that some may fall for as the more ridiculous the comment the easier it is for some to believe. In the years I don't get to hunt, either for myself or to guide my wife or one of my children, it might seem like something to believe in, but we all know the reality of the situation... provide a good card number, get drawn, and go hunt.

BTW, I didn't apply through any "application portal", nor did I have an account when I applied (it was on the "old" webpage, so no "account" was required). I created an account today, but it doesn't show any information regarding having applied at all. Obviously someone's "bright idea" to modify the system during a hunt application process wasn't the best idea they've had... oh well. We'll find out sometime!

If anyone seriously believes that the AZGFD cares about what problems some may have when results are finally posted and keep from posting on any given day so someone is available to answer our questions they need to re-evaluate their opinions on who cares about what (IMHO!). It's been my experience that they simply post them when they're ready, period. I too have in the past been able to log on and see results prior to the G&F page being updated (giving results) as they appeared to be testing the system, but I've only been able to do that once in over a dozen years, and the results actually became available within 12 hours of that happening. Like some here have posted, I was only able to see the results once, then they became "unavailable" again. As far as wanting to know, I too am very eager to know as I've had 3 CC hits for 5 tags (all elk, no goat... again... so what else is new?) for myself, wife, and 3 kids. All I can tell for sure is one is a junior's tag as $50 cleared, the other two are general hunt amounts. This is a very emotional time of year for some of us though and personally really enjoy this as it's almost like Christmas as a child (especially when you know there has been at least one CC charge).

The law doesn't say, kittens "or" spots, it says, "kittens with spots". I don't see kittens in the pics. Certainly legal IMHO. Whether or not to shoot is a different topic, & I clearly respect those in favor either way, but IMHO, not illegal to shoot as none of the cats in those photos are "kittens"... For it to be illegal to shoot it has to meet both criteria, and there isn't a judge around that would say those are kittens.

That "Spot trace" thing sounds like a great idea, but the problem is trail cams don't have a 1"x2"x2.5" area within the camera that this would fit "secretly" into... not that I've ever seen anyway. If you're worried about an expensive camera being stolen there are a few other things out there you can do. It may take a bit of work, but what's that camera worth to you? Also, not sure how you would address those that simply remove the SD card... but here are a few ideas... 1) Camo the camera... not just with a bit of paint, but hide it, or at least try to, and do it well. I've done it a few times, takes a bit of work, but mine have never been found by others. BTW, I've "put up" cameras on the ground pointed up just a bit and they work great. People generally don't look for things hidden at ground level, and it's easy to hide them within an old log or between a few large rocks and some foliage. 2) Put the camera up out of reach, perhaps 10' or more off the ground. Keep a few tree steps in the area so you can retrieve it when you visit it, Not the handiest, but keeps honest people honest even if they do see it. 3) Put up another camera pointed at your main trailcam. At least you might get a photo of the thief. That camera should be hidden at a minimum, certainly hard to get to. 4) Put this note in your camera... "To the person who just stole this camera. Rest assured that I have other cameras hidden in this area, along the trail you walked in on and will even have photos of you stealing this camera. If you don't put it back now remember one thing, I don't mind going back to prison." 5) ... I'm sure there's more ideas, perhaps much better then the ones above.

You can if you take broadside close shots only. Mechanicals can fail, and many don't like them, but when used "properly" they can be devastating. I have used the type that open after penetrating as opposed to those that open on the outside first. matter of preference, but get one that shoots like darts, because they all don't IMHO. Not sure you need to though, a well placed shot w/just about any sharp broadhead will do the job... key is sharp and well placed. don't take frontal or quartering towards you type shots, best is broadside or quartering away. Rear facing shots are also a bad idea imo... you really need to punch the lungs, and if you do like I said... my 2cents anyway...

You left out cedar arrows, and gamegetter 2's but you might be to young. I actually hunted javalina w/cedar shafts and a bear bow, later with an 85# Daman Howatt and the XX75s they were big, 23-something... can't recall. My first bow was an Indian back in 1972 set up w/1816 Gamegetters and Bear broadheads... soft steal, but easy to sharpen. I didn't hunt elk w/cedar shafts wanting something a little more stout... Yes, the times sure have changed...

What ever happened to XX75s with Black Diamond Deltas? Boy, have times changed...

here is how it works.... 1) on the day of the "draw", the G&F dump all of the envelopes out on a floor, and then pick through them one at a time... open them, and them, look for all necessary data, and if all is correct they reserve your tag. They then cash the check or if a money order issue you the tag. they do this until every tag has been "filled", then they simply stick all of the application envelopes in a larger envelope and send it back to you... unopened. My daughter drew a leftover deer tag in unit 4A a few years back. What's odd is my son got his returned envelope back the following week (of the draw), but my daughter obviously didn't, and the G&F wouldn't answer questions I had because we didn't get a returned envelope. Perhaps she was selected as a "backup" for a tag, and the G&F, when they couldn't cash someone else's check, issued her one. We didn't get her tag for about 3 weeks... It's probably not 19,000 applicants, but it is likely over 18,000 applicants for those tags! Oh yea, one other thing... if the G&F gets your application a day early (in the mail), they return it unopened, or if they get it a day late, it's, well, obviously too late. They must get it on the day of the "draw".... & therefore you have to rely on the USPS to deliver it on the exact day that they need to... My personal suggestion is to... well.... hunt in Colorado this year. By all means apply, but plan on the San Juan Mtns. between Dolores and Durango.

better to be hunting that time of year than to be watching football, regardless of what's printed on the tag. Sure, it's frustrating to have bulls present multiple shots while "chasing" cows, but at least you'll hunting. Life is too short not to hunt elk once a year if at all possible. If you "require/need" a bull tag that bad go to Colorado and plop down the $600 or whatever it is nowadays and chase bulls all day long if you want. I've started applying bull/cow some time ago and generally get to hunt almost every year, and usually (once/3 years) do get that bull tag anyway w/out having to wait for 5-10 years between hunts. Besides, cows taste pretty darn good, and nobody can give you crap for not shooting a "trophy cow" opening weekend!

And just what is a $90 permit??? Pronghorn antelope oh... duh! 16 points and counting on a goat tag for moi.

And just what is a $90 permit???

When looking at the number of tags in 6A I refused to be a part of that "party"... I've hunted 6A several times with my kid's junior tags, and it's a big unit and all, but I can't imagine finding an area or a bull for that matter that's screaming at the world that doesn't have several other archers trying to sneak in on it at the same time. I guess now for many that would be awesome, but for myself I get to hunt so most is good from here, except that my two "junior" hunters went without a tag again this year. Here's one for you... I have tag No. 5, my son has tag No. 6, and my brother has tag No. 4, all for the same hunt, all applied separately. Try to tell me the odds of that... I guess the "hunting gods" wanted us all to hunt together!

Well, I know of a case where the applicant used a "valid" card, the bank screwed up and may have had a security breach so re-issued the guy's card w/out asking him. The G&F drew his number, tried to use the number, it failed, then re-issued the tag to another and wrote him a "scathing" email chastising him for not using a "valid" charge card number! Talk about insult to injury, it wasn't the guy's fault... did the G&F look into why? no... made someone else happy... but it would have made you very mad if it had happened to you I'm sure...

just wondering when it was hit/charged... Have hunted in 27 quite a bit over the years, but not since the fire. Have you hunted there before? Overall, you should be able to find bulls, but will need to change tactics somewhat given there are areas that won't "recover" in our lifetime.