THREEDFLYER Report post Posted October 14, 2015 Hello, I was referred to this forum by a good friend of mine (a non-resident) and I am finding some good information here. Will be putting our place up for sale in Washington State just after the first of the year and thinking that Prescott will be our new home. I have been hunting for over 35 years and most of that has been in Washington State, some in upper Michigan, and recently I have begun archery hunting in Idaho for elk. I have killed several deer with the bow and a few with a rifle, but this year was my first elk kill and it was with my bow. Took a very healthy cow this year at 9,300 feet elevation and a distance of 10 yards or so. What an adventure to say the least. I have been discussing the elk tag drawing system with some of my fellow hunters and it seems that some have waited a long time to finally get drawn. In fact, some have never gotten drawn after 15 or more years of trying. Then others have been drawn 3 times in 5 tries. I will continue my Idaho hunting and once I get relocated will put in for AZ. Washington State is a tax/money driven state and their tag system is over the counter for the most part, but highly restrictive when it comes to big game. Anyway, I look forward to meeting some new folks! Tom 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted October 14, 2015 Welcome to the forum! Looks like some beautiful country you have hunted in! fyi, rotate your pics before attaching to your post, then they should show up correctly. I can download and rotate them for you if you have trouble with it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
6ANut Report post Posted October 14, 2015 Welcome to an awesome site when it comes to hunting in AZ. Just being a bow hunter you will have many more opportunities to hunt than with a rifle. If you want an extra bonus point for every animal, get your hunters safety course done. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
THREEDFLYER Report post Posted October 14, 2015 Thanks guys, I appreciate the welcome. As for hunter safety, is that something a new resident would have to do in AZ if he/she has already been hunting in other states? In Idaho for example, as long as you have purchased a tag in another state you are waived taking the course. I am 51 years old and have been buying tags for 35 years....... Tom Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jim Report post Posted October 14, 2015 It's best to take it so you have the permanent bonus point. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
THREEDFLYER Report post Posted October 14, 2015 Welcome to the forum! Looks like some beautiful country you have hunted in! fyi, rotate your pics before attaching to your post, then they should show up correctly. I can download and rotate them for you if you have trouble with it. Thanks for the heads up on the photo rotation, did not catch that when uploading. Strange how it shows up correct in my photo program but was rotated when uploaded? Yes, there is some gorgeous country in Idaho, Montana and Washington, but Idaho is by far my favorite. That said, I am very much looking forward to getting out in the woods in AZ...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
THREEDFLYER Report post Posted October 14, 2015 It's best to take it so you have the permanent bonus point. Ah, now I get what you are telling me.....good plan! Will make that one of my "to do's" when I get my residency. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jim Report post Posted October 14, 2015 Just take the online class and then sch your field day. You dont need to be a res to take the class so you can get it out of the way when you get down here. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Big Browns Report post Posted October 14, 2015 I love Az, but your going to miss Washington 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
THREEDFLYER Report post Posted October 14, 2015 I love Az, but your going to miss Washington I will miss the Eastern side of Washington for sure, but since we live in the overpopulated Seattle area there will be no regrets about getting out of here. 30 years worth of rain/clouds has left a layer of moss on my back......it's time to dry out! And don't get me started on the politics! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flatlander Report post Posted October 14, 2015 AZ is a great place for opportunity if you want to get out and hunt. The challenge comes if you are set on having the best hunts for each species. Strip and Kaibab deer tags take most of a lifetime to draw, so do early rifle bull elk tags, rifle antelope and sheep, most buffalo hunts and the very best early archery bull tags. If you want to hunt archery antelope, most archery bull, December coues, or the other good mule deer tags then it's a several year wait between tags. But every single year you can hunt Spring and Fall bear, fall turkey, most mule deer and almost all non rut whitetail hunts, archery deer for all of January, 3 weeks in August/September and 2 weeks in December. As well as mountain lion and other predators. Some cow elk hunts can be drawn every year, most late rifle bull tags can be drawn every few years. Archery deer overlaps in January with archery javelina which is one of the best hunts of the year with rutting deer and stink pigs both on the hit list. I love AZ and when I lived in ID I couldn't stop thinking of ways to get back. Your first elk rut on AZ will absolutely blow your mind. It's like nothing else. Good luck and hit us up. 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Will K Report post Posted October 14, 2015 Welcome. AZ is a awesome state. You will love it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigDaddyDMD Report post Posted October 14, 2015 Welcome to AZ. As a transplant from the PNW I too joined this forum for a little help in figuring out how the draws for tags worked, areas to hunt, etc. So far, this forum has been a wealth of, information. Most folks seem to be quite willing to share their knowledge of hunting here in AZ. I have noticed that it is a completely different kind of hunting than what I grew up with in OR and have realized I am going to have to drastically change techniques to be successful here in AZ, especially for these Couse deer. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bhuntin Report post Posted October 14, 2015 Welcome to the state,site and heck! have kin in the UP....your gonna love it here! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ready2hunt Report post Posted October 14, 2015 Welcome! This site is a lot of fun and has a lot of great info that's family friendly as well. You'll love it here and just like every state- the AZ outdoors will offer you something no other state can. Having said that- The rules for hunting here are extremely simple. It is open season year round on the following: Communists, socialists, tree huggin' hippies, people who use the word dude & man in the same sentence, drug mules and ANYONE who feels the "right to bare arms" is outdated. Just make you sure are humane when dispatching..don't use 3 bullets when you can finish the whole clip. To fit in- always have a side arm and enough ammo in the closet to support a militia. I am obviously just kidding! (you should have enough ammo for an army) 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
