Arizona or New Mexico for elk and mule deer

[azbugler]

As a lifelong resident of AZ, I'm not sure how somebody could look you straight in the face and say AZ would be the best choice for what you have listed. I love Arizona to death, but there is a very limited ability to hunt elk here more than every several years. I've studied the odds a LOT and can tell you that you might hear people say they draw every couple of years, but it's not by far the norm. If you want to archery hunt in November when the Bulls aren't bugling maybe..... But if you're after a rut hunting experience, the "mid tier" units will take you an average of 6-8 years to draw. It takes 8-10 bonus points to start making it into the max pool in these areas. That's a LONG time to wait to go elk hunting!

 

There are some other great hunts that have been mentioned such as archery deer, archery javelina, spring turkey etc. that are a lot of fun but if hunting rutting elk is your passion (as it is mine) you just won't have a ton of opportunity. That said its a beautiful state and full of opportunity. Also has a great diversity of habitat and animals to enjoy.

[cjl2010]

Couldn't a guy go to Montana or Idaho every other year or so and hunt elk to get their elk fix in? I know everybody has a budget but it's relatively cheap to buy otc tags in other states while paying lower resident license and tag fees in AZ.

[Coach]

^^Kinda what I was thinking - for trophy bulls and bucks AZ and NM have a lot to offer. I have been an almost-lifelong resident in AZ and I wouldn't trade our hunting opportunities for any other. That said, NM has tons of opportunities for AZ residents if you know what to look for. But folks I've met up in Montana and surrounding states talk about how easy it is go hunting every year. So it sounds like they've got the quantity (and really cold-azz winters) but either state you mentioned has quality - and if you are smart about the draw system, you can go hunting something big game just about every year. Trophy tags in either state are hard to come by even for residents. Best of luck in you decision.

[creed_az_88]

I say do yourself a favor and go on a coues deer hunt if you haven't already before you choose your destination. Elk hunting is a blast, especially during the rut. I've been a part of elk hunts in some of the best units in the state and possibly the entire country and as much as I loved them, I enjoy my coues deer hunts more. I can't expect you to enjoy hunting coues deer as much as me but you might. If you did end up enjoying it as much as I do, then az is definitely the state you want to choose. If you want to hunt mule deer, you can do it here for a couple months a year with a bow in az and still get a rifle tag. That means you are guaranteed to hunt in your home state every year. If you don't draw the tag you want in new Mexico, then you're gonna have to leave the state to hunt. If you like elk hunting as much as I like coues hunting then you better choose new Mexico. Like others have said, Arizona isn't the place to get elk tags every year, but I know guys who have great luck during November with their bows every two to three years. I couldn't imagine living in a state where you couldn't get otc archery deer tags so new Mexico would be tough to swallow for me. I suppose if you lived In new Mexico you could always come over to Arizona and get an otc tag. Tough decision ahead for you. Could be alot worse though.

[Saguaro]

I love both places. I wouldn't mind either one. Like someone said earlier, you can buy an over the counter tag as a non resident if archery is your thing. I think the price is fair too, $250 or so.

[tjhunt2]

As a lifelong resident of AZ, I'm not sure how somebody could look you straight in the face and say AZ would be the best choice for what you have listed. I love Arizona to death, but there is a very limited ability to hunt elk here more than every several years. I've studied the odds a LOT and can tell you that you might hear people say they draw every couple of years, but it's not by far the norm. If you want to archery hunt in November when the Bulls aren't bugling maybe..... But if you're after a rut hunting experience, the "mid tier" units will take you an average of 6-8 years to draw. It takes 8-10 bonus points to start making it into the max pool in these areas. That's a LONG time to wait to go elk hunting!

 

There are some other great hunts that have been mentioned such as archery deer, archery javelina, spring turkey etc. that are a lot of fun but if hunting rutting elk is your passion (as it is mine) you just won't have a ton of opportunity. That said its a beautiful state and full of opportunity. Also has a great diversity of habitat and animals to enjoy.

 

I have to agree with what you said about the rut hunts azbugler but Kop never mentioned anything about wanting to hunt the rut hunts. If indeed that is his intention then he should heed your advise. If he just wants a chance, like he said not being a trophy hunter, to chase 250"-300" bulls then I'm one of those who can look him straight in the face and say AZ is the best choice of doing so every year in November. November is a much harder hunt but Kop said he had the time to scout year long and that is the key to being successful. Azbugler, I agree with most of what you said but there are those, including myself, who draw every year. Just saying!

 

TJ

[azbugler]

 

 

As a lifelong resident of AZ, I'm not sure how somebody could look you straight in the face and say AZ would be the best choice for what you have listed. I love Arizona to death, but there is a very limited ability to hunt elk here more than every several years. I've studied the odds a LOT and can tell you that you might hear people say they draw every couple of years, but it's not by far the norm. If you want to archery hunt in November when the Bulls aren't bugling maybe..... But if you're after a rut hunting experience, the "mid tier" units will take you an average of 6-8 years to draw. It takes 8-10 bonus points to start making it into the max pool in these areas. That's a LONG time to wait to go elk hunting!

 

There are some other great hunts that have been mentioned such as archery deer, archery javelina, spring turkey etc. that are a lot of fun but if hunting rutting elk is your passion (as it is mine) you just won't have a ton of opportunity. That said its a beautiful state and full of opportunity. Also has a great diversity of habitat and animals to enjoy.[/

I have to agree with what you said about the rut hunts azbugler but Kop never mentioned anything about wanting to hunt the rut hunts. If indeed that is his intention then he should heed your advise. If he just wants a chance, like he said not being a trophy hunter, to chase 250"-300" bulls then I'm one of those who can look him straight in the face and say AZ is the best choice of doing so every year in November. November is a much harder hunt but Kop said he had the time to scout year long and that is the key to being successful. Azbugler, I agree with most of what you said but there are those, including myself, who draw every year. Just saying!

 

TJ

 

And more power to you! I'm not far from jumping in that ring myself. I just love calling in Bulls too much! After a 9 year wait, I get to do it this year! After that I may start putting in for cow or for some late hunts as I just can't take waiting so long to go hunting. Out of state is just not an option for me most of the time. I guess it depends on everyone's definition of "reasonably priced " lol. Realistically it's a $1500+ investment in license, tag, and gas to make an out of state hunt work and that's if you go on the cheap.

[Alpinebullwinkle]

I have elk hunted New Mexico I think 7 times and Arizona every year for +40 years straight (either with a personal tag, helping relatives, friends, or guiding for pay). From my experiences if you want elk hunting opportunity (near your residence) you pick New Mexico, and if you are more focused on quality of horns or the hunting experience you pick Arizona. I also noticed that from my New Mexico hunting experiences the farther you get away from the Arizona border the gene pool produces less quality horns, and the New Mexico record books seem to reflect that fact. I have also noticed from elk hunting New Mexico units #15 and #23 along the Arizona border that they are definitely inferior to the adjacent hunting units of #1 and #27 in Arizona. The difference really has been surprising to me on either side of the border. I have my opinion on why but won't go into that one and start any fist fights!

 

Best situation from my perspective would be to be an Arizona resident and buy a sizable ranch in New Mexico to be offered landowner tags from the State of Mexico. LOL

[tjhunt2]

I hear where you are coming from azbugler. Good luck on your hunt this year. Can't wait to hear how your hunt goes.

 

TJ

[wildwoody]

Az for me.

[CatfishKev]

I would visit AZ first. Come to Sierra Vista and check it out, it's much nicer than tucson and phoenix IMO. It's usually 10-15 degrees cooler here than those places (4500 elevation) which get hotter than the devils butt crack. You can drive to the top of Carr canyon here and it's like the Poconos MTS. in PA up there. Theres decent amounts of work here for those with a good work ethic as well. I would also check out the Camp Verde area too. Similar in climate I believe to sierra vista but closer to water and elk country. I think I will be moving to Camp Verde in the next five years or so. If you make it to SV I'd be happy to show you around.

[Zeke-BE]

You guys be quite!!!!! Let him move to New Mexico even though AZ is a better place to live. We don't want to add another resident to the draw system!

[Red Sparky]

No...NM sucks. Go to AZ. No elk here. AZ beats NM hands down completely. The economy sucks in NM also. That and all the corrupt politicians. In NM you get 84% of the tags as a resident, no BP so you draw or don't, we know when our draw comes out. So out of the last 12 years I have been elk hunting 10 times in NM, my older daughter has been drawn 4 out of 5 times. There are no elk here so hunting is possible but success is difficult unless you road hunt and drink beer. As a resident you get to hunt the WMA's (Wildlife Management Areas) and antler less tags are resident only if you only want meat.

[Flatlander]

I have had occasion to weigh this same decision not too long ago. Here is what I came up with:

 

- NM has more elk and less people. As you have seen, elk tags are much easier to come by there. NM wins hands down.

- Mule deer is basically the exact opposite. NM has the Jicarilla and surrounding area and without bonus points those tags are a pipe dream for most. Other than that, it's pretty slim pickings. AZ you can bow hunt every year and build points for a December hunt, Kaibab or the strip. Advantage AZ.

 

Good luck. And by the way, we chose to remain in AZ. But that had more to do with not wanting to live in the neck tattoo capital of the world than hunting.