AZ Unit 1 elk...archery late season?

[Bughalli]

Somehow I managed to select the wrong archery season when applying for AZ archery. I thought I selected the Sept hunt, but I must have accidentally picked the Nov hunt, which is after archery, rifle and muzzleloader seasons. So much for all my years of points. Has anyone hunted or familiar with this area come Nov? Seems like a tough tough hunt for archery. I can only imagine they're in heavy timber after two months of hunters.

Hunt dates are 11/4 - 11/17, Units 1, 2B and 2C

 

[JEandAsGuide]

Man that sucks! How many points did you have?

 

[JimP]

You might want to check on Arizona's tag return policy and see if you can get your points back if you don't want to hunt that season.

I have found over the years that at times Arizona Game and Fish will change the hunt number so you have to verify it every application period. I have a friend down there that hunted one area for deer all the time and one year they changed the unit number and he didn't look. He ended up down on the border with the illegals

 

[Bughalli]

I called the AZ DFG and they said there's nothing I can do. I might call again, just to see if I get a different answer from a different person (often works with airlines). I read in Hunting Fool that this year they allow you to return a tag and forfeit the cost, but you get your points back....but only if you purchase "point guard" during the draw. Can't say I ever remember seeing that option.

 

[Thomas11]

I called the AZ DFG and they said there's nothing I can do. I might call again, just to see if I get a different answer from a different person (often works with airlines). I read in Hunting Fool that this year they allow you to return a tag and forfeit the cost, but you get your points back....but only if you purchase "point guard" during the draw. Can't say I ever remember seeing that option.

i don't think that option was/is available at draw deadline. There was talk of it happening but I don't think it has happened yet with being able to return tag. That's terrible to burn a lot of points on a nov archery! I feel y pain

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

That has got to be painful!. Any idea how many points you had? Are you a resident or non-resident? Non-residents are taking upwards of 14 or so points to draw and would likely never draw again in their lifetime.

We waited for a year to burn AZ points until the tag return option was implemented, apparently it was approved, but not implemented. I'm fairly certain that you are stuck with the tag.

I would still look into the hunt, it won't be an easy hunt, but I think you will still be into elk regularly. You have a 36 day gap after the last elk hunt and very minimal pressure during the late archery hunt.

As far as timing:

Archery bull: Sept 9-22 (300 tags)

Archery antlerless: Sept 9-22 (75 tags)

Muzzleloader bull: Sept 23-29 (40 tags, very minimal pressure for that unit)

Late archery bull: November 4-17 (30 tags, that is virtually no pressure for that unit)

Late rifle bull: November 25 - December 1 (325 tags)

Rifle antlerless: December 2-8 (300 tags)

Rifle antlerless: December 9-31 (200 tags)

Again, your hunt is 36 days after the last elk hunt on that unit, and with only 30 tags there is virtually no pressure. Finding elk should be no problem at all with the elk density on that unit and the burn. The challenge will be killing one in the post rut. Success rates run about half of the early archery hunt.

 

[Bughalli]

Thanks....yeah I blew 9 points (non-resident), so I had a ways to go. Ultimately I won't care if I get a nice bull, but I always wanted to save them for the screaming bugles in Sept.

I was doing some research as well and was encouraged to see the rifle hunt was after my season and there are 30 days prior to my hunt where no one hunts the elk. So hopefully they aren't buggered up and the the post-rut feedbag makes them more predictable. That should improve the odds of finding them, of course getting in close will be a challenge.

 

[timmyOtool]

See you on the mountain Bughalli. I drew the tag with my second choice. I spent a week in september 2014 with a buddy and had a blast!
Any ideas on where to start? Are you familiar with the unit?

 

[Gr8bawana]

I have hunted in area 1 and 2B with my brother on his elk hunts but they were September rifle hunts except for last year he had area 1 archery.
There were a lot of places where we found bulls but I don't know if they would be anywhere close during November. The country is anywhere from the highest mountains and black timber to the lower desert type with pinion and juniper trees.

 

[Tazhii]

that sucks. I live in the area and will help you out with idea's of where to go when the time comes. I usually have camera's out in the area and hike the area a lot. here are pic's from past years.

 

[Bughalli]

Tazhii....wow, great pics. Let me do some research first, buy maps, scour google earth and I'll reach out. I appreciate the input.