zslayer

This exactly! Could you imagine if say unit 1 was open even the entire August season! The quota system definitely not working closing on Wednesdays. For it to remotely work it would have to be a 24hr notice of closure. Even if unit 1 had a quota of 1 and continued to close on Wednesdays it would make zero difference as of now. But like stated above I’ve been thinking about this a lot as I watched units get shut down quickly, could you imagine if there was no quota and still unlimited OTC tags on how many deer would be taken out of some of these units. Truly is alarming!

But even if you went draw for non resident they would have to make it unit specific otherwise we have the same issue as the quota system. Also if residents get OTC and non residents draw I still see the same issue with quotas. I still think they are gonna have to eliminate the whole quota period! That’s gonna mean draw, gonna have to separate mule deer and coues just like rife I just wonder how they will structure it? I also fear they will give a ton of tags for coues deer since the harvest rates are so low and it’s gonna create a lot more pressure and attention on coues because their will probably be leftovers to begin with so people will pick them up just so they can go hunting.

I agree and the mule deer really pay for it. I’m there there are a lot of people that see their unit closing Wednesday, panic and shoot the next legal buck they see. This whole mandatory harvest report is very interesting though, seeing how fast some units close and just to think in the past it would still be open. Should have been mandatory reporting years ago and rifle should be the same!

If/when they go to draw do you think they will split into 3 separate seasons? A January, August, and December season? Just like we have now to where we can hunt all three on the same tag but in the future you will have to choose?

So looks like coyotes got to it?

He was probably watching you while you were at the carcass! I once found a fresh lion kill and ran back to my house to grab a trail cam to place on it. When I went back the next day the kill was moved about 30 yards and re buried. I got home and checked the camera and that lion was on that deer moving it 20 minutes after I set the camera, probably watching me the whole time! They will eat off them for a few days from what I’ve seen or till coyotes demolish it.

Has anyone received their spring tags in the mail yet?

I think you’re correct. Listening and communication are two different things. I think it’s advanced “listening devices” like the Walkers Game Ear type devices. We will see though.

How does that compare to last year?

I was hoping today….we will see

Who’s gonna be the first one to ask what happened to those pending change!!?🤣

Probably a second wave this evening.

Is resident deer charge $45 or $50?

Should hopefully get last chance to update cards email on Monday

Wow! This is crazy but doesn’t surprise me.

Does anyone know what the 2024 coues deer rifle season dates will be this year off the top of their head?

Yup, got it! I looked them up. Thanks!

Anyone heard of any possible field day classes planned for central/northern AZ coming up anytime soon? I’ve been trying to get my 9yo into a class and check every Tuesday at 9am and there has not been one class offered yet for central or northern AZ, everything has been in the southern part of the state.

247 is correct, the ethics course is for adults only. You could have your kid take another states test and get certified but would not be able to take the AZ ethics course and receive their bonus point till they are 18.

I was under the impression that by law kids under a certain age (14) or so had to be seen shooting live rounds and safe gun handling in order to receive a hunters safety certificate?

Well that’s too late now. Using the “locate hunters ed field day” they never even showed this class. Probably because it was a in person full class and she’s already done the online portion? I would have still done this class more than likely to get it taken care of.

My last daughter I had take the field day took me 14 months to get her in! I had to call and complain and they got her into a class because she was a non resident and resident kids were priority even though once we attended the class there were several adults attending getting their bonus points.

Great deal! Someone should jump on this one.

It was a very tough year with the exception of October it sounds like. I’ve heard multiple reports from people on the October hunt talking about how great the movement was. I also think we are low on the typical 3yo deer from the 2020 drought year. I remember noticing a very low fawn population in 2020 and saying to myself we are gonna notice this in a few years! What also hurts with low numbers of your branch antler deer is it seems a lot of spikes were shot this year and that’s not gonna help for the future. so I would say I don’t think the population is dwindling but I do think there is a gap in age class. I also believe these deer are masters at survival and maybe with the dry year and lack of water they held up more to conserve and not have to frequent water as much where they were more vulnerable. But that’s just some of my thoughts 🤷🏼‍♂️

Do not have to be 10 by range day anymore if that was the case. You can take hunters safety at 9 and compete at 9 (range day). Only requirement is to turn 10 prior to start of hunt you’re applying for.