Snapshot

Yep. Obama is the weak link in why this could happen. Our Govenor stood up to him and gave him an ear full. Dictators don't like people that stand up to them. Obama will always have a "I'll show you who's boss" attitude. He will do it, even if it is wrong.

This topic comes up every year after the draw. And now, twice a year since there are two draws. Even though I am 50/50 on a bonus point vs. preference point system. I think our current draw system should be left as is. The one thing I like about a preference point system, is that a successful applicant has to wait their turn to draw again. Luck is not part of the equation. A premium hunt would take years to build points to draw, but that is not much different than those who are unlucky in the draw, and are building bonus points anyway. A waiting period draw of say..3 years would not increase draw odds very much, but it would allow different people to draw a tag every year, and filter through the system.Maybe? The best I ever did, was drawing a unit 27 archery bull tag twice in a row. That was in the early to mid 1990's. Rut hunt popularity really seemed to take off after that and draw odds fell significantly.

Can one tell their 10 year old son that he will have to wait 23 years to hunt antelope? A preference system will not be good for recruitment or retention, imo. Does anyone want to watch their 75 year old father go to the grave without ever drawing a tag? That 75 year old guy stayed retained as a hunter in the draw for all those years, and he didn't get a tag? What is the difference between him and a ten year old not getting one? If the 10 year old only had to wait 23 years, at least he/she would be 33 when they got one! Just sayin.... Careful what you wish for. Having operated under Colorado's system my entire life, I would trade you for AZ's in a heartbeat. A person starting to build points right now would NEVER draw one of our premium elk tags in their lifetime, resident or non-resident. It is very easy to criticize draw systems when they do not produce the results we want. Fact is, the demand for premium hunting opportunities far exceeds the supply, and a subset of draw participants will always feel slighted. I believe that New Mexico and Idaho have the best points systems, and Colorado has the worst. Thats true. But Colorado has only a handful of super premium units? A person can still get a decent unit with a handful of points. (I think) I have not applied there in awhile. A person can buy a good landowner tag from one of the tag pimps

In all fairness, there will never be a draw system that everyone would be happy with. As someone stated, there is way more demand than supply. The current system is great for all the people that have enough luck on their side, to get drawn on a fairly regular basis. It's a tougher pill to swallow for those of us that don't have a lucky charm. I can't complain about not getting drawn for antelope. I got drawn for a unit 10 archery antelope permit back in 1998 with only 5 points I think. Due to unexpected business scheduling, I was unable to make the hunt. I felt bad, because that tag went unused, and I am sure somebody else would have been very happy to have it.

Can one tell their 10 year old son that he will have to wait 23 years to hunt antelope? A preference system will not be good for recruitment or retention, imo. Does anyone want to watch their 75 year old father go to the grave without ever drawing a tag? That 75 year old guy stayed retained as a hunter in the draw for all those years, and he didn't get a tag? What is the difference between him and a ten year old not getting one? If the 10 year old only had to wait 23 years, at least he/she would be 33 when they got one! Just sayin....

A waiting period system for applicants would not raise the draw odds very much. Example: If 1000 people apply for 100 permits = 10% draw odds Take 100 people out of that draw with 900 people applying for 100 permits the next year = 11.1% draw odds Variables not included.

A waiting period system for applicants would not raise the draw odds very much. Example: If 1000 people apply for 100 permits = 10% draw odds Take 100 people out of that draw with 900 people applying for 100 permits the next year = 11.1% draw odds Variables not included.

A preference point system like Colorado. When you get drawn, you have to go to the back of the line and start over.

I have 10 bonus points, but I lost my loyalty points by not applying in Arizona for the last 2 years,since I was in Montana.

You gotta love day's like that.

That is a major bummer. I did have the same problem in the New Mexico draw once. Fortunately, the second time my card was hit it went through.

I wouldn't think your computer crashing would cause the external hard drive to delete data, or re-format itself? It usually takes a command input from the user to the OS to take such an action. But then I am not a computer whiz. Is the external hard drive designation letter the same as it was before? Hopefully it is fixable for you.

Not trying to rain on the parade, but I always do paper apps, with a money order attached. If everything is filled out correctly, there will be no complications. I will triple check each application I fill out. I am freaky about it!

What the ?!?!?!?! What hunt? 22n archery bull. TJ You da man brother!

I was thinking about that also. What shape the river is in on the Forest service side also?

Welcome back to the draw....... I had a short hiatus from the draw stress.! The nice thing about being a Montana resident, I can get an Elk, Deer,Bear and bird combo license for $77.00. That sounds like a great deal there.....but is it worth the cold???? If I thought my wife could handle the cold I would pack up and be gone...... It can be a trade off. Brutal Summers down here, Brutal winters in Montana. I am considering going back for the summer. I have a good seasonal job up there. In west Yellowstone, it rarely gets above 80 degrees in the summer.

One of my favorite recipes is Cajun style blackened catfish. But that is done in a skillet. for the grill i sometimes use a jerk rub or a slathering of garlic butter sauce

Welcome back to the draw....... I had a short hiatus from the draw stress.! The nice thing about being a Montana resident, I can get an Elk, Deer,Bear and bird combo license for $77.00.

I did not put in for the draw the last 2 years. Have been in Montana for awihile, and will not be a legal Arizona resident again until late april. But I will be legit for the deer draw.

Great points Terry. I didn't even think about what it would do to the lodges.

Nice. Good times!

I figured since you and I share the same Birthday, I better send a fellow blood brother a birthday wish! It's the big 50 for me. Might just have to party like a rock star tonight!

IMO. Obama has the mindset of a Dictator. His communistic and socialistic ideals are chipping away at the cornerstone of our personal rights and freedoms. If re-elected, his next four years in office will bring an onslaught of dubious laws and change, as he tries to inflict his will and personal agenda by keeping his bootheel on the necks of all Americans.He has nothing to lose if re-elected. He will attack our guns. If he can not do so directly, he will do it collaterally. What better way to strike a blow at sportsman(Gun owners), than to transform one of the most highly coveted mule deer hunting areas in the west, into a worthless national monumnent? Another point to consider? Govenor Brewer and Obama don't like each other very much. Even if Brewer's office presented sound fact and data to oppose a national monument, what better way for Obama to be a thorn in Brewers backside? Obama plays politics and has no common sense. An intelligent and logical President would weigh the pro's and con's of signing such a deal. Obama is not an intelligent and logical President. Obama cares little for the financial stability of this country, or the mllions of dollars that are generated by hunters, to hunt north of the Grand Canyon. His schemes and actions play right into the hands of the liberals. The very type of people who are behind the actions of the Grand Canyon Trust. I vote Republican. I am not a believer in Romney. But I will always choose the lesser of two evils.

Nope - not kidding at all. Sunscreen sweating into your eyes SUX! Yep. Thats the big drawback of early season hunts. HOT weather, and bucks that bed early!

My philosophy is....if they are there in December.....they are there in October or November. December hunts are nice, but I would rather play the odds of getting drawn.Especially now that G&F lowered the tag numbers on alot of December hunts. My first time being drawn for a whitetail hunt was a December hunt. Hunted hard for a week. Found lots of does but no good bucks hanging with them. Hunted the same unit and area again on an October hunt, and took a nice 100" buck 15 minutes into the hunt. Not a monster, but a real nice buck.