m77

A few years back there was a backdoor way to find the draw results. Anyone out there remember that?????

I got a hit also. Late WT on Fort Huachuca. I love hunting those hills.

So why not a federal lands tag???? Only 32% of AZ is federal land. That leaves almost 68% for resident tags. Plenty for all to share. Not only that, but it would open up opportunities to hunt states like Nevada where 76% of the states land is federal. We already have three controlling agencies that manage hunting in AZ, Game & Fish, The Native Americans, and a couple military bases. I think the federal government could provide all americans an equal chance to hunt and fish its land and water.

PackerMenges, I am being sarcastic and do enjoy the numberous comments. However, I posted a scenario more than a year ago about hunters using drones to locate big game as an enhanced form of trail cams. Everyone slashed and joked at it. Today it's a reality. Anything is possible and can change quickly when there is dollars involved. The federal government would jump at the chance to get some hunting dollars into their budget.

Hey Bojangles. There is No economics in hunting for the hunter. Economics only exists for AZG&F. The costs are too high and will continue to rise not only for the Non-resident but also the resident. Also, if your backyard is federal land the elk are not yours. Even if you own a large ranch they belong to the government.

You guys aren't open minded enough. Just think of all the hunting opportunities in other western states. Colorado, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and a couple others all have more federal land than Arizona. I am from WI. Spend 20 years active duty and working in HI. Love hunting and fishing and getting the armchair AZ hunters going on this website.

I would like to see the federal government take control of hunting and fishing on federal lands. That way the majority of residence in AZ would also have to pay more to hunt and fish on the FEDERAL LAND you all enjoy so much. After all, why should the state control hunting and fishing on federal land. And, why should residence enjoy special privileges over non-residence when what, 90 % of AZ is federal land.

I agree with Crazybuck.

The thing I don't agree with is the fact that you have to purchase a license in order to apply for a tag. If you don't get drawn your out the price of the license. I don't know about all other states, but I have hunted Colorado and there you purchase a tag. The unit I hunt in Colorado you can purchase an over the counter tag and no license on top of that. Colorado calls it's tag a license, so you purchase an elk or deer license. I believe the cost for the draw in Colorado is $3.00 non-refundable. Not $160.00, plus application fee like in AZ.

When I tried to open the regs the 2013 regs came up.

Months ago I added a ficticous post about a hunter using a drone to locate game. With all the talk of drones in the news being used for various things, how long do you think it will be before a hunter or a guide service starts using drones for locating game? Does the Game & Fish law R12-4-319 referencing the use of aircraft cover drones as well? MAYBE WE NEED ANOTHER LAW!!!! (I know some of you will enjoy that last statement).

Technology has by far exceeded fair chase. I thing I will create a drone capable of firing a big game round.

Hey Kaffer62, I live in Hawaii. If you send them to me I can beach them for you.

Thanks Forkhorn. That reply should earn you another point. We can start calling you Raghorn.

Just wondering if G&F do genetic or some kind of DNA studies on the AZ whitetail. Like the on Hoss Guide Service took on the Apache Reservation sure looks like an Eastern Whitetail. I have heard of breeding between Mule Deer and Coues also. Just wondering if what many hunters are taking as Coues might not be pure species.

The Game and Fish Action sounds like a scam to me. And the law stating G&F gets the game the day after a legal kill just feeds the scam. So if the day after a legal hunt is over and your packing an animal out you mean G&F can confiscate it and sell it at their action. In Colorado it's taken me two days to hike in and out with an elk. If that elk were taken on the last day of the season in AZ would I be violating the law?

Hi Outdoor Writer. Always glad to see you hop in on a post. I have always looked to you as the expert when it comes to Arizona outdoors information. In a previous post I did add blood sample in which I believe the individual animals overall health could be determined. With diseases such as CWD creeping toward Arizona I would think a pro-active movement toward keeping Arizona wildlife healthy would be an good thing. With all the dollars plus thousands of hours of volunteer work sportsmen put into Game and Fish every year a healthy growing herd population should be concern number 1.

Yotebuster, you are right but I think both could go hand in hand. If there was a manditory registration of all big game taken, dna and a much more accurate herd population sturdy performed the overall health of herds could be better forecasted. I believe the dna/blood sample would go a long way in studying the physical health of game taken. Other than the fact that a hunter just put a bullet or arrow into them.

The Arizona hunting community could possibly benefit from genetic studies of big game herds in the state. If (and I know that's a big IF) Game & Fish did studies on all big game harvested and used those results to improve habitat we could all see benefits.

I agree HOSS. It is all about the outdoor experience. I would like to see Game and Fish setup registration stations and do DNA sampling along with collecting information on the animals. I think research would go a long way in determining better ways to manage herds and the health of a herd.

Hey Ruffcountry. It's hard to have a post without photos of a large rack get many responses. I would love to take a tight fantail with a beautiful rack for a mount. I think they are a beautiful species. Not sure either why they were not included in the studies. Thanks for posting.

Who wouldn't shot a beautiful 7/8 curl ram like that. Those horns are almost perfect. He would make a fantastic mount. Thanks for sharing the photos.

Best hunting trips of a fathers life are those with his son (period).................May your futures be filled with millions more moments like that.

Very Nice. Great hunt guys.

When I started working at Davis Monthan my co-worker and I were discussing Coues Whitetail. I was showing him photos from this website and he could not believe the size of the deer and their antlers. He and hunted as a young man with his father and friends but hadn't hunt in AZ for many years. He talked about the Coues deer they took and how the antlers were small and tight. Also, talked about how small the size of the deer were. He mentioned several times how he could not believe the difference in the Coues whitetail compared to those of 30 years ago. Any information on how many Record Book Coues have been DNA tested. Might find some changes in the record books.