Elkaddict Report post Posted April 9, 2013 This is interesting. Looks like alot of you guys have done pretty well with the draw. Seems to me like the key to enjoying life and hunting is a balance - put in for a premium or more desirable tag as 1st choice and then put in for an easier draw for 2nd choice. I used to always put in for quality bull hunts, not anymore. I want to hunt and enjoy time in the woods with my family...... That's exactly what I am seeing. Seems that the people that want to hunt, be it cow or bull, are doing just that. The ones that prefer just trophy premium hunts are collecting bonus points. To each his own. I have never put in for a cow hunt but I think I will be adding cow hunts to my app next year. Shot enough bulls, nothing big, but just want a tag. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BMart Report post Posted April 9, 2013 I've never applied for premium hunts, I would rather go hunting than collect points. I've been drawn 3 of the 4 years I've applied for Elk. With the hunts I will apply for in the future, I'm expecting a tag every 2-3 years. But I'll never be in a unit where I would expect to see a 380"+ Bull. 2010- Not drawn 2011- 7E Early Archery Cow 2012- 4B Early Archery Cow 2013- 7E Early Archery Bull Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viper Report post Posted April 9, 2013 I don't recall all the specific years, besides the more recent. Early 90's: Two rifle cow, both successful 1995: Sept. archery bull, 5B-S, not successful (didn't know what I was doing) 2001: Sept. archery bull, 5B-S, successful (learned a bunch from camera hunts) 2002 - 2010: four archery cow tags, three successful (was putting in for 1st choice bull, 2nd/3rd choice cow) 2011: Sept. archery bull, 4B, not successful...got picky hunting a couple big bulls and passed on smaller ones (higher draw odds than 5B-S. First time my partner and I put in on seperate apps, and I got drawn) 2013: Nov. archery bull, 22-S, 2nd choice (first archery tag out of the rut. Played the draw odds and got a tag...tough hunt...we'll see how it goes) If you want to hold out for good bull tags, you won't draw often. Even cow tags are getting hard to get. For a while I put in for 1st choice bull, 2nd/3rd choice cow and got cow tags. I then decided I only wanted a bull tag and drew once in an unfamiliar area. This year I decided I just want a tag, so I put in for 1st choice bull 5B-S, 2nd choice Nov bull 22-S...got it. At least I got a tag. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Old Buck Report post Posted April 9, 2013 I started applying for elk in 1967 in AZ and have draw 11 late bull or either sex rifle and 8 archery early bull or either sex tags. Seems like lots of tags, but that is over 45 years. In the past 20 years I have also drawn 2 bull and 14 cow tags between NM and CO. At first I turned up my nose at going out of state to hunt cow elk. But the question is do you want to hunt or just talk about it? Cows are fun to hunt and how many elk racks does one need? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowhunter81 Report post Posted April 9, 2013 Since 2002 2002-archery bull elk 2002-archery antelope 2003-late cow 2005-archery bull 2006-archery bull 2008-archery antelope 2009-archery bull 2012-early rifle bull Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jdubbs07 Report post Posted April 9, 2013 I started applying at the age of 16 in 2005... 2005 - Early Archery Cow 4A - Successfull 2007 - Early Archery Cow 4A - Never recovered her 2008 & 2009 - Spent 2 years outside the country did not get to put in. 2010 - Late Archery Bull 4A - Not Successful 2011 - Early Archery Bull 4A - Successful 2012 - Early Archery Bull 4A - Successful Its pretty obvious that I don't put in for premier units but that's allowed me to go hunting more than the norm. For me just being able to spend time in the woods with family and chasing elk making memories with my brother is the biggest trophy in my eyes. Whether we go home with meat or empty handed every trip for us is a success. I have been really fortunate to have been drawn 5 times out of 7 years that i have applied. Once again it all depends where you wanna hunt too, 4A is no premier unit with trophy bulls running around but it sure allows me to hunt every few years or even get lucky back to back years. Happy hunting to everyone who got drawn this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hallagan Report post Posted April 9, 2013 2003 - November Coues. Nice 3pt. 2004 - December Coues. No joy. 2005 - Late Rifle Bull 7W. No joy due to drought. 2008 - Late Rifle Bull 10. Shot 421 opening morning. 2010 - Late Rifle Bull 10. Missed my shot, my fault 2011 - Antelope rifle 19A. Took an 80 0/8. Yes, I did draw both tags in 2011, only 6 Antelope points 2011 - Late Rifle Bull 10. Took a 350+ 2012 - No joy, so went October Bear hunting and got a nice boar. 2013 - No joy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
palivs2hnt Report post Posted April 9, 2013 Since 1996: 2 rifle cow tags (6A and 1) both filled 4 late rifle 22N bull tags all four tags filled no antelope tags, but hopefully getting close Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
singleshot Report post Posted April 10, 2013 First applied in 1989 1991 unit 1 archery bull tag 1994 unit 1 archery bull tag 2003 unit 1 archery bull tag 2010 unit 1 archery bull tag.... sponged off my brothers points and we had 26 between us 22 antelope bonus points.... never been drawn I have never missed a year applying. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
123456 Report post Posted April 10, 2013 Since 1998, 2- Unit 7 late rifle bull 1- 4a archery rut Bull 1-7w archery rut bull 1-7e archery rut bull 2-19a archery antelope tags since 2002 Since 1998 1- 24a dec. rifle WT hunt 1- 12aw late rifle deer hunt. Hmmm seems deer tags are harder to get than elk and antelope tags. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BowNut Report post Posted April 11, 2013 Years ago I would put Bull first choice and all cow after that. Drew probably 6 cow tags in a row. Have buddies that still do it every year and get tags. Stoped doing it cuz I wanted a bull tag and it took me 6 years to draw (2010). Didn't shoot a bull that year so I went all bull again and drew this year. These guys can hunt almost every year if they want but it's all in the tags they are putting in for. I know some guys that would be up set!! If they dropped the bp system cuz they have collected a ton of them! lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
huntlines Report post Posted April 11, 2013 Been putting in since 1988. 1990 Archery any elk NM 1993 Archery Bull Az 1995 Archery cow Az 1997 Archery Bull Az 2001 Archery Bull Az 2006 Archery Bull Az 2006 Archery Bull Nm 2010 Archery Bull Az 2011 Archery Bull Az 2013 Archery Bull Az So since 1988 I've had 7 Az archery bull tags, one archery cow and two NM archery tags. Never put in for a rifle tag. So 25 years and 8 Az tags, seems like a lot but of course would rather go every year. :-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buckmaster21 Report post Posted April 12, 2013 Don't know all the dates but have had 5 cow tags in the last 10 years now I'm waiting for the bull tag Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Antmo23 Report post Posted April 12, 2013 I've been putting in for 10 years and I've drawn one tag, archery bull in 4B. In that same amount of time, I've had two buddies from Cali pull 3 archery bull tags.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flatlander Report post Posted April 12, 2013 1996 - Early Rifle Cow 5A Red Hill 1997 - Early Rifle Cow 5A Blue Ridge (First Big Game Animal) 1999 - Archery Cow 3C 2000 - Archery Cow 5A 2001 - Limited Opp. Rifle Cow East/West Sunset Mountain 2004 - Late Rifle Bull 5A Love hunting 5A but I haven't applied there since the 04 hunt. Maybe I will get back up there this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
