Mason

Hello all and congrats to those who had a good draw. Now seems like a good time to get some input on this topic to me. I would like to know how you people feel about Arizona going to a preference point system instead of a bonus system. I actually had good luck in my family this year on the draw but I know that there are many others who did not fare so well. To me it does not seem fair that a person can draw a Bull Elk tag 3 years in a row before another guy can even get one! I would like know that once every 4 or 5 years that I could hunt rather than rely on my so called "Bonus" points to help me out. It seems to me that a Preference point system is much more fair and I believe that most people would agree. There are several different ways to structure it and I would like to have your input on this. Many other states use a preference point system and they seem to work very well. Lets toss this around and come up with a good solution, I'm sure that the Gaame and Fish Dept. would really love our input(haha). Thanks all, Mason

A lot of good responses boys. So far the 2 I like the best are the even and odd birthdays, and squaring the Bonus points. Seems like if they combined the two people with high points would have a good chance of pulling tags.

Thanks Singleshot. To clarify, yes I have a daughter that drew a unit 1 Bull tag this year without any points. This is my point exactly, is it right that she got that hunt when people with max points got skunked? The guy who talked about the fringe units has a point, but those would be the units that would not require very many points to draw on a preference system. Don't get me wrong, I am very happy that she drew the hunt, it is just I see the cracks in the system.

Why?

Very well put Bud. I think your ideas are very good, maybe a waiting period is the better solution. I also completely agree with you about the poor boys. I am VERY DISSAPPOINTED at the G&F for raising a resident tag the same percentage as a non-resident?! Where is the justice in that? We as hunters do not want to see our passion turned into a money game, and we need to make sure that we let the proper people know that. I really hope that we can come up with a good solution so that everyone can have a chance to enjoy the thrills that a quality hunt provides. We need to quit being so dang selfish and try and work together to find a solution. Lets not leave it up to the G&F, because if we do it will definately revolve around money!

Thanks for the input and I couln't agree with you more. There are definately too many holes in the "Bonus" point system. As for the guy calling his tags, something needs to be done there, like letting me put in with him! Thanks for the response, I really would like to come up with a good proposal for the G&F this coming year.

In UT a guy with no points cannot draw before a guy with points right? That seems to me the way it ought to be.

And I had the nerve to be upset of not getting drawn with my 15 bonus points!!! Congrats and make it worth the wait! Please tell me I don't have 13 years more to wait.

Lark, I started a new topic today called preference or bonus, check it out and let me know what you think.

Looks kinda like an antler to me. If it is that hard to tell at this time of year I doubt that its the kind of buck you are looking for anyway?! Good luck and have fun!

Lark what happened?

Good draw year for my family. I got Nov. 31 coues, my wife got a 22N cow tag, my 2 girls got 31 Oct. coues, and one of them drew a unit 1 Nov. Bull tag without any bonus points! She is 10 years old and shes so excited she cant wait to start shooting. It is gonna be a very busy Fall, thank goodness.

Howdy bud, another boy from Safford. I also got some hits on my cc, looks like we got 3 deer tags and 2 elk, just waiting to here which hunts.

Hello all, its been a while. Just called on my card and it looks like all my family drew our deer tags and we also pulled 2 elk tags!! Does anyone know if they have already done the antelope, I have 15 points and was kinda hopin? Can't wait to see exactly which hunts we got!!!! GOOD LUCK ALL!!!! Sorry guys I also wanted to tell everyone that I got my buck officialy scored by Kirk Kelso and he went 131&7/8!!! I am sure glad I got him last year when there was something for them to eat. Good luck guys!

Hey Scott, go get em! Bill and I went out today. We saw 16 deer, 4 of them being bucks. One was a definate shooter, just got out a little to quick for us. The rut is definately kicking in. All of the bucks we saw were chasin. It's really windy here tonight, I'm really hoping it lets up for tommorow. I'm picking up Bills son in the morning. He only has one day to hunt and he has never killed a buck before so I'm gonna look until my eyes bleed trying to find him a good un. I'm so freakin excited it's ridiculous! It's a neat oppurtunity to try and help a guy get his first buck. I wish you good luck, and I'll give you a report tommorow night. Let's cherish this hunt, if the weather doesn't start raining we're gonna be in bad trouble. Go get im buddy. MACE

Hello fellow coues deer nuts. I was talking to a buddy of mine tonight, and he told me that there was a bunch of talk about my deer on this website. I am not sure what pictures you guys have seen, I'm guessing that they must be the ones that Sam took at Hinton Taxidermy with his camera phone. They are not good photos, and do not do the buck justice. He truly is the buck of a lifetime. I am going to try and get the field photos on this site so that you can get a much better look at him. As for his score, it is 134 and change(gross). For those of you that might question that, I really don't care. If you know Max Hinton, Chris Jacobs, Or a hanndful of other people, ask them and they will confirm it. Thew buck is an absolute toad. I am going to take him to Devon Skinner tommorow and get him aged, it would be cool to know how old he is. Drop me a line. I hope this clears some of the mud thats been floating around about this deer.

Thanks for the compliments coosefan. I was hoping the pics and story would help clarify some of the questions about his size. For me he is the buck of a lifetime. Dont get me wrong though..... I'm gonna keep looking for another one! Maybe a 4-point next time, or a nontypical, or a,well you get the picture. Anyways thanks again and best of luck on your hunts. Mace

Great job guys!!! I'm glad to see that you got out to enjoy some time together in the hills. I have a 13 year old daughter and she has taken a buck each of her first 3 years. That feeling you get when you are out there with your kids is indescribable. I'm glad to see that you have been able to pass along your hunting knowledge not only to the boys, but also the girls. She took an absolutely awsome buck, and I hope that she is as proud as you must be. Congrats. Mace

Lark, this is not directed at you bud. My DaD said hello.

Thanks buddy. In fact, thank all of you guys for the positive responses. I have the story about complete, so Amanda should have it tommorow AM. You'll find the one you want, just keep putting in the time! Continued success to you and hopefully I will get to see your picture on here pretty darn soon. Mace

How's it going bro? Thanks for the complimets. You've gotta see this buck up close and in person. He's a HOG!!! Give me a call as soon as you can (520)954-6459 or (928)428-8741. Talk to you soon. Mace

I guess since people that have actually seen my deer in person are attesting to the fact that he is indeed real, that the only next logical step for you doubters is to try and create controversy as to whether or not he is a cross bred buck. Is all I can tell you is that I took the buck to 2 taxidermists and they both said that he is 100% coues! What a freakin joke! I put the buck on this site because I LOVE coues deer, and I thought you people did too. For people like you to try and place doubt in the minds of those who enjoy this website is ridiculous! Yeah he is a big bodied deer, so what?! Is Shaq not a human because he is 7'3" and 350 lbs? Thank you Danny for telling these guys the truth. If you doubters know anyone in the gila valley, call them up and ask. Like it or not, he's real!!!!! Mace

Sounds like a Great hunt guys! Glad to hear that people who get out and actually hunt on these late hunts are the ones getting the better bulls. Congratulations and continued success!

Whats up Josh? Thanks for the response. Haven't I seen an article by you in Trophy Hunter? How'd your hunts go? Mace

Arizona Griz, thanks for the comments. If you could, do you mind giving me a call? (520)954-6459 Thanks, Mace