interesting hunting data

[billrquimby]

coueswhitetail.com members may be interested in some quotes I found in a booklet circa 1963-64 called “Big Game On BLM Administered Lands In Arizona” that I found today while looking for photos for my book:

 

“Estimates of state-wide deer harvests are 9,000 for 1949; 18,000 for 1953; 33,000 for 1958; and 36,000 for 1961.

 

“The 1959 estimate for the Arizona Strip District north of the Colorado River placed the harvest at 189 (mule deer on BLM public lands). In 1962, due at least partially to cooperative efforts to induce hunters and to an expanded season, some of the pressure on over-used (by deer) game ranges in the Strip was relieved by a harvest estimated at 1,500 head. Continued adequate harvests coupled with conservation and range improvement projects now underway could help improve stability and production of deer in much of the Strip.”

 

“Total estimates of big game on all BLM-administered public domain lands in Arizona in 1961: Deer 51,800; antelope 1,058; bighorn 2,020; javelina 16,400; elk 310.”

 

“Hunting and fishing are big business in Arizona. In 1960, some 183,000 persons spent over $40,000,000 to hunt and fish in the state.”

 

Bill Quimby

 

Note that from the late 1950s until 1970, when permit-only deer hunting was first imposed on us, 85,000 to 107,000 hunters bought deer tags every year. They bought those tags at sporting goods stores and hunted wherever they wanted in the season that opened statewide on the last Friday of October.

 

The number of deer they killed each year was close to the number of hunting permits that are issued today after 38 years of intensive scientific wildlife management and unequalled efforts to expand hunter access to our vast holdings of federal and state lands.

 

BQ

[PRED8R]

Interesting. I'm curious how much did a deer tag cost in the 60's? Sure wish I could go down to Ace Hardware and buy my elk tag!

P.S. when are you planning on finishing your book, I can't wait to read it.

[billrquimby]

Interesting. I'm curious how much did a deer tag cost in the 60's? Sure wish I could go down to Ace Hardware and buy my elk tag!

P.S. when are you planning on finishing your book, I can't wait to read it.

 

 

I don't remember the cost of tags in the 1960s, but I think they were $5. My first Arizona deer tag cost $1 in 1948. A general hunting license was $3 or $4. That's when a brand new Chevy or Ford pickup truck with everything including a radio cost less than $1,000, and unskilled young people in start-up jobs thought they were rich if they earned $0.40 to $0.50 hour. $100 week was big money for a construction worker.

 

Elk, antelope and bighorn tags have always been on a draw basis in Arizona. Our deer permit drawings -- the first in the West -- began in 1970, followed by javelina drawings.

 

Shipped the manuscript and photos to the publisher yesterday.

 

Bill Quimby

[.270]

so after millions of $ (heck, maybe billions, i don't know), intense management by the azgfd, and all that stuff the net result is less deer, less hunters and a new $20 million bldg for em to meet up in. whadda ya do for an encore azgfd? oh well, we do have a lotta elk, at a big expense to the deer herd, and things like condors, wolf/dogs, asiatic doves, huge predator problems, no trapping (see: huge predator problems), etc, etc. dang, i feel good about this place. oh well, i didn't like the azgfd yesterday and now i like em even less today. this is really good info bill and folks need to look at it real close. Lark.