AZ ELK

[Vince]

OK all.
Got off my duff today and looked at the 2014 elk hunts in AZ. If you're so inclined I could use a prayer or three. I'm only putting in for one hunt and hope like heck I get blessed with a tag.
Planning for a late season hunt and going for lots of snow.
Vince

 

[DrMike]

Here's pulling for you, Vince. I do trust it will be as you wish.

 

[Woodycreek]

Good luck pulling a tag!

 

[JD338]

Good luck buddy.
What unit are you looking at?

JD338

 

[Vince]

22N and praying for a lot of snow to push them off the rim.

 

[Elkman]

Vince

I sent you a pm

 

[Vince]

Vince

I sent you a pm

PM replied to.

 

[wayno945]

OK all.
Got off my duff today and looked at the 2014 elk hunts in AZ. If you're so inclined I could use a prayer or three. I'm only putting in for one hunt and hope like heck I get blessed with a tag.
Planning for a late season hunt and going for lots of snow.
Vince

If you really want to hunt elk this year, you should put in for at least two hunts for the 1-2 pass. I usually put a lower percentage first choice bull hunt, following by a higher percentage bull. (1st: 3022, 2nd: 3023) Last 3 choices would be a cow hunt. I had the 22N late hunt in 2012, it was a tough hunt. You can hunt the manzanita scrub up against the rim or chase them through the pines to the south. There will be alot of people in the woods during those weeks (475 and 400 tags). We didn't have any snow up there during that hunt, it ranged from 40-70 degrees during the day. I'm not sure you should want it anyways, those forest service roads can get really messed up after a snowfall. Good luck buddy, I can show you around up there if you get drawn. I have an archery bear tag up there this summer, so I'll be up there a lot.


Wayne

 

[Vince]

Thanks Wayne.
The problem is my work schedule. I've allocated the time off for that one hunt. If I don't get drawn I'll find something else to do. Best of luck on your bear hunt.

Vince

 

[wayno945]

They just put out a OTC Any elk hunt for 13A/B that runs during that time frame, maybe that could be an backup option. I guess they don't want those pesky elk encroaching on the kaibab muleys.

 

[Vince]

Wayne,

I did a little more looking and found a couple of other hunts during that time frame but they are antlerless. While I can't eat antlers I'd sure like to have a rack on my wall. I'm considering a cow elk hunt as a second or third option but will have to ponder it more.

Vince

 

[wayno945]

I've drawn late rifle bull tags in 22N and 10 the past two years with only 1BP, keep the faith my friend.

 

[Vince]

Wayne,

I'll go in with two Bonus Points plus this entry.
As I understand it, and I certainly could be wrong, if I select just one hunt I get three chances at drawing a tag. I looked at the 1st and 2nd Preference draw odds and they are around 50%. So if my understanding of how the draw works I could almost guarantee a tag in that unit. Am I not understanding things correctly?
I'm hesitant to use my Bonus Points for a cow elk and don't have the points for a rut or earlier hunt so I'm leaning towards somewhat tougher hunting conditions for the opportunity of filling a tag. Is there something I'm overlooking?
I really appreciate the help, thank you.

Vince

Edit to add: I was planning to hunt just under the rim if that makes any difference. I'll have my horse trailer as a Basecamp and backpack overnight for two or three days.

 

[wayno945]

The first 20% of tags issued goes to max bonus point applicants, so roughly 90 for that hunt. The rest of the tags will go in the first and second pass due to the popularity of the hunt. Because of your two BPs, the computer will draw three random numbers for your app, the lowest number is the one that gets used. If you don't mark a second choice, you would reduce your odds of drawing a tag. For example, once the computer reaches your random number (the lowest number) in the sequence, it will check your first hunt choice and if there are tags left, you will be issued it. If not, it will check the second choice for availability. There could be tags available at that time for a hunt you might want, however not putting a second choice down forfeits that opportunity. Hope that helps.

Second Pass (1st and 2nd Hunt Choices)

For all valid applications which were unsuccessful in the bonus point pass, new random numbers are generated for each application with the lowest random number being assigned to the application. The same random number process as described above is used.
The valid application file for each species is then sorted in random number sequence only.
The first valid application (with the lowest random number) is read, checking the first and then the second hunt choices for available hunt permit-tags. If there are enough hunt permit-tags available for either of the choices and for each applicant on the application, without exceeding the nonresident cap when applicable, then the hunt permit-tags are issued. The next valid application in random number sequence is then checked for available hunt permit-tags until the entire file is read.

 

[Vince]

Thanks Wayne.
It looks like I'll be putting in a second choice even if it's a cow tag.

 

[Vince]

Things are looking up.
I may have a partner for this hunt. I'll let him or her reveal themselves if they choose to.

 

[DrMike]

Makes for a more pleasant hunt, that's for sure.

 

[Elkman]

Things are looking up.
I may have a partner for this hunt. I'll let him or her reveal themselves if they choose to

Whether or not I am pleasant or not remains to be seen. But I am the partner, and am looking forward to the mountains of AZ

 

[wayno945]

Very cool, I hope you guys get drawn! If you need any help hiking out quarters, Vince has my number

 

[DrMike]

Best of luck, Bill and Vince. That should be a great hunt.