msgbarney Report post Posted January 4, 2008 Ok Here we go. Most of you Coues hunters already know Im new to AZ. So I have some questions about Elk. Im thinking about putting in for an elk tag, but have no clue. What is the best unit? What is the best time of season to hunt? How do you do it, camp in the woods, or stay in a motel close bye? Im way down south here, and will have to stay the entire hunt north (Saving up leave days as we speak). If someone could help out/take me under their wing, I would appreciate it. I just got here in Oct, From Ft. Riley via Iraq. Ft. Riley did have 3 large herd of elk, but was never lucky enough to get drawn for one out of the 14 years stationed there. Any info would be helpful. Thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ac guy Report post Posted January 4, 2008 Ok Here we go. Most of you Coues hunters already know Im new to AZ. So I have some questions about Elk. Im thinking about putting in for an elk tag, but have no clue. What is the best unit? What is the best time of season to hunt? How do you do it, camp in the woods, or stay in a motel close bye? Im way down south here, and will have to stay the entire hunt north (Saving up leave days as we speak). If someone could help out/take me under their wing, I would appreciate it. I just got here in Oct, From Ft. Riley via Iraq. Ft. Riley did have 3 large herd of elk, but was never lucky enough to get drawn for one out of the 14 years stationed there. Any info would be helpful. Thanks We have an extra slot on our elk tag if you want to put in with us. If not, check trhe regs, they have the draw succes rates in them. But remember, if it's easy to get drawn, it's for a reason. I camp when I hunt, but there are units where you can stay in motels if you wish. There are plenty of nights when I wish I had. What's your MOS? I was a 63S stationed at Bragg for 5 years. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ac guy Report post Posted January 4, 2008 Oh, as far as best units, they are the ones with the low success rates. Some of the easier ones to get drawn for, can be just below the rim (22,23 etc) If there are tags, there are elk. Check the G&F website for some starting points: http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/hunting_units.shtml Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
msgbarney Report post Posted January 4, 2008 Ok Here we go. Most of you Coues hunters already know Im new to AZ. So I have some questions about Elk. Im thinking about putting in for an elk tag, but have no clue. What is the best unit? What is the best time of season to hunt? How do you do it, camp in the woods, or stay in a motel close bye? Im way down south here, and will have to stay the entire hunt north (Saving up leave days as we speak). If someone could help out/take me under their wing, I would appreciate it. I just got here in Oct, From Ft. Riley via Iraq. Ft. Riley did have 3 large herd of elk, but was never lucky enough to get drawn for one out of the 14 years stationed there. Any info would be helpful. Thanks We have an extra slot on our elk tag if you want to put in with us. If not, check trhe regs, they have the draw succes rates in them. But remember, if it's easy to get drawn, it's for a reason. I camp when I hunt, but there are units where you can stay in motels if you wish. There are plenty of nights when I wish I had. What's your MOS? I was a 63S stationed at Bragg for 5 years. AC im a 25W. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Rabbit Report post Posted January 4, 2008 S&R, Are you thinking of an archery or rifle hunt? Bull or cow? I like to camp close to where I hunt. During an archery hunt, it has been nice sometimes to listen to the elk bugle at night and take off straight from camp. I am assuming you have been staitioned here in AZ since Oct, and thus would be considered a resident. You can check the draw odds in the regs, but those are an average for everyone with varying bonus points. With no bonus points, your draw odds would be less. You might consider putting in for bull first choice and cow second choice. A cow will bring great tablefare and having the hide tanned makes a nice "trophy" also. If you draw an October rifle cow hunt, you may still here some bugling, and the weather will be more mild than the December hunt. Doug~RR Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
msgbarney Report post Posted January 4, 2008 S&R, Are you thinking of an archery or rifle hunt? Bull or cow? I like to camp close to where I hunt. During an archery hunt, it has been nice sometimes to listen to the elk bugle at night and take off straight from camp. I am assuming you have been staitioned here in AZ since Oct, and thus would be considered a resident. You can check the draw odds in the regs, but those are an average for everyone with varying bonus points. With no bonus points, your draw odds would be less. You might consider putting in for bull first choice and cow second choice. A cow will bring great tablefare and having the hide tanned makes a nice "trophy" also. If you draw an October rifle cow hunt, you may still here some bugling, and the weather will be more mild than the December hunt. Doug~RR Doug, I planned on doing a rifle for a bull, would would be just as happy with a cow. If drawn it will be a first for Elk, hence have no clue what to do. Thanks for the advice. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Browning'sCustomMeat Report post Posted January 4, 2008 22 & 23 are great units and have some great bulls, getting drawn is the toughy. This year may be a good year though, G&F put out a few more hunts. I was drawn four years ago for my late bull tag in December, and it was alot of fun, plus i live here in Payson so all i got to do is go a few miles out of town and start glassing. Lately i have put in for archery bull tags on the Rim and towards Heber. 4A 4B 3A&3C, the hunt is in Sept and the rut is in full swing. I tend to camp when ever i am out hunting in units away from home. Gives you the opportunity to listen at night and in early morning before daylight and get a direction on which way to go. I hope you draw some tags and have successful hunts in 2008. -J- Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ac guy Report post Posted January 4, 2008 22 & 23 are great units and have some great bulls, getting drawn is the toughy. -J- It is for bull. Being his first hunt, I was in a cow frame of mind. I think there was like a 70% draw for cow last year in 22N. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ac guy Report post Posted January 4, 2008 Oops, 45% for 22n, 78% for 22s. late bull had a 36% draw which is pretty good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Browning'sCustomMeat Report post Posted January 4, 2008 Oops, 45% for 22n, 78% for 22s. late bull had a 36% draw which is pretty good. Lots of cow in both units and draw odds are good. I was just giving my opinion on bulls. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ac guy Report post Posted January 4, 2008 Bull can be tough. I've wanted a 22 ML tag, but draw odds are like 10%. I know a guy who drew that tag the last 2 years. Must be nice Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
justinspe25 Report post Posted January 4, 2008 What is everybody's opinion on 6A? I was thinking about putting in for 6A and 5B-S this year. This is my the first time putting in for Elk. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jonscaife Report post Posted January 4, 2008 if your looking for a 375inch trophy bull you can start putting in for unit 9 early hun now and you MIGHT draw a tag before you are no longer able to see. otherwise any cow tag would be a good option. anywhere they give tags there are elk, some units more than others, but regardless do some scouting to locate a couple diffrent groups. for bull i like 8, same genetics as 9 and 10 but better draw odds. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
msgbarney Report post Posted January 5, 2008 I would like to thank everyone for their help, the more input I get the better I feel about putting in for the tag. The hard part is scouting, Im way down here in Hereford, so its going to be a 4 day trip or so. But again thanks to all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GameHauler Report post Posted January 5, 2008 I for one am looking real hard at moving on top of the rim. GF has 22 so screwed up that I will bet you $100.00 someone will be shot this year. They added 265 more tags after adding I think 200 the year before. In 2 years there will not be an Elk to be found. Mike Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
