Archery OTC Future?

[zslayer]

9 minutes ago, BowHiker said:

I do like the data that the G&F now gains from the OTC quota system. It seems a bit premature to make any decisions with only 3 years of data, especially given an influx of people in the field from COVID. 

If they were to implement a draw, I think they should keep the current draw system using bonus points and implement an additional “general” draw system. This general draw would happen after the bonus point draw results are posted. 

 

General draw could be unit specific tags or a region (i.e. multiple units, say Region 1). This would give G&F a lot more insight into number of hunters vs their current, low response OTC self survey, while still keeping opportunity for hunters.

 

I think this is a good thought.

[BOWUNTR]

1) If you buy an OTC tag in January you don't get to enter the deer draw. No more 2 tags.

2) Get rid of electronic communication during a stalk and spotlight scouting. Fair Chase rules... AZGFD currently being hypocritical with preaching Fair Chase.

 

PROBLEM SOLVED.... most of the current mule deer quotas will never be met. You're welcome.... Ed F

[creed]

34 minutes ago, BOWUNTR said:

1) If you buy an OTC tag in January you don't get to enter the deer draw. No more 2 tags.

2) Get rid of electronic communication during a stalk and spotlight scouting. Fair Chase rules... AZGFD currently being hypocritical with preaching Fair Chase.

 

PROBLEM SOLVED.... most of the current mule deer quotas will never be met. You're welcome.... Ed F

I like it. Kinda like choose your weapon.

[zslayer]

1 hour ago, BOWUNTR said:

1) If you buy an OTC tag in January you don't get to enter the deer draw. No more 2 tags.

2) Get rid of electronic communication during a stalk and spotlight scouting. Fair Chase rules... AZGFD currently being hypocritical with preaching Fair Chase.

 

PROBLEM SOLVED.... most of the current mule deer quotas will never be met. You're welcome.... Ed F

I agree 💯 on one tag!   I agree 💯 on no spotlighting, I think you’re just asking for problems there too.  Radios are definitely helpful without a doubt but years like this everyone is sitting water and hammering deer especially mule deer.    And there will be more years like this in the future.    Only way I can see quotas working is if the department went 💯 across the board with e-tags and units would close within 24hrs.   E-tags update immediately unlike others taking 24-48hrs to call in and report a harvest.

[RNGRDOG]

17 hours ago, trphyhntr said:

Has there even been a coues quota met yet? They’re meaningless in these convos 

Quotas met in 6A, 6B, 8, 23, 27&28, 31. These hunts don't count in the OTC discussion? 

[trphyhntr]

1 hour ago, RNGRDOG said:

Quotas met in 6A, 6B, 8, 23, 27&28, 31. These hunts don't count in the OTC discussion? 

No, not really. the vast majority of the conversation is in regards to mule deer. But thanks for telling me, that’s why I asked. 

[bigbuckfever]

On 1/26/2025 at 1:58 PM, trphyhntr said:

On the topic, Guys killing poverty just to fill a tag. I get flamed for this but like the guy posted on here, their camp killed 2 muley spikes and forky in December. messes everything up. Something has to be done. 

Something has to be done??? C'mon Trphyhntr, I love massive antlers as much as the next guy but sounds like you want to prevent someone else from hunting if they don't do it how you prefer.  We all have our favorite style, or way, of hunting (archery, rifle, muzzy, long-range shooting, sitting water, spot and stalk etc).  One of my hunting buddies doesn't care about antlers and has given away the antlers to all the deer he has ever taken, he is strictly a meat hunter.  Sometimes I was willing to shoot the first buck I got a shot at cause I want the meat that year, and other times I have passed on the first buck to hold out for something a little bigger.  We don't all have the same goals when it comes to hunting. You do you, and don't get your panties in a bunch if somebody else isn't doing it your way.  Now, having said that, I hope you get a toad this year!

[trphyhntr]

12 minutes ago, bigbuckfever said:

Something has to be done??? C'mon Trphyhntr, I love massive antlers as much as the next guy but sounds like you want to prevent someone else from hunting if they don't do it how you prefer.  We all have our favorite style, or way, of hunting (archery, rifle, muzzy, long-range shooting, sitting water, spot and stalk etc).  One of my hunting buddies doesn't care about antlers and has given away the antlers to all the deer he has ever taken, he is strictly a meat hunter.  Sometimes I was willing to shoot the first buck I got a shot at cause I want the meat that year, and other times I have passed on the first buck to hold out for something a little bigger.  We don't all have the same goals when it comes to hunting. You do you, and don't get your panties in a bunch if somebody else isn't doing it your way.  Now, having said that, I hope you get a toad this year!

You don’t have to justify anything to me. I gave my opinion. You’re the one who sounds like his panties are in a bunch. I guess there’s some bigger ones left for next rifle season at least 

[Flatlander]

If something needs to be done it Could be really easy. Leave the archery tags and seasons as they are, but you have to draw them. So you have to choose between a rifle hunt and archery hunt. I bet it would eliminate 80% of the dudes who shoot dinks because they will apply for rifle hunts. Don't change bonus points, no special draw none of that. 

I am not convinced something needs to be done. What is the problem we are trying to solve?

[andrewmilich]

Here's a question or a thought I guess.  I wonder on the mandatory reporting numbers how many are fake.  I mean what prevents PETA type of people from buying OTC tags and then just reporting they harvested.  I think the numbers are not true because I saw units close in days.  There is no way in some of the units thats possible.  I think game and fish should do what other states do for otc to get true numbers.  Have check in stations. Like I had to with bears.  The harvest reporting numbers can easily be fake.  The process needs help for sure.  Thoughts? 

[Garryett]

Let’s just think for a bit… 500 general rifle tags in a unit vs 30 deer harvest limit for OTC archery. I think the fish and game may be a$$ backwards here. Especially the southern units, guys/ guides are hammering bucks on the general rifle tags these days. Maybe they should limit the general rifle tags… Let alone there are only 2,800 out of state folks allowed to draw OTC for the whole state. 

[zslayer]

Another reason for mandatory harvest reporting for all seasons!   Look how eye opening archery alone is.

[zslayer]

37 minutes ago, andrewmilich said:

Here's a question or a thought I guess.  I wonder on the mandatory reporting numbers how many are fake.  I mean what prevents PETA type of people from buying OTC tags and then just reporting they harvested.  I think the numbers are not true because I saw units close in days.  There is no way in some of the units thats possible.  I think game and fish should do what other states do for otc to get true numbers.  Have check in stations. Like I had to with bears.  The harvest reporting numbers can easily be fake.  The process needs help for sure.  Thoughts? 

I don’t think this is an issue but could be wrong.   If so units like 36c have had a mule deer quota of 5 the past three years.  This year it closed in December but the previous years in January.  If PITA was using tags to close down units they could close that particular unit in a heartbeat.  

[eastvalleyjerry]

Just leave it as a quota like it is now and maybe decrease the numbers the following year if a unit gets hammered way over quota. They have to be getting better data on the general hunts with the e-tags now I would think. 

[andrewmilich]

8 minutes ago, zslayer said:

I don’t think this is an issue but could be wrong.   If so units like 36c have had a mule deer quota of 5 the past three years.  This year it closed in December but the previous years in January.  If PITA was using tags to close down units they could close that particular unit in a heartbeat.  

if there was a check in system, we would know for sure.