Draw question

[Fink]

I thought I had this figured out.. But, maybe I don't.

I bought my AZ license last year on 01/31/16. AZ licenses are good for a year, so mine expires this year on 01/31/17. When I go into create my application, it pulls my existing license, but in BOLD RED, it indicates that I must have a valid license on the deadline, 02/14/17.
I'm taking this to mean that I need to by a new license right now.. I must be confused, I thought originally, that you could get two elk draws out of one license? For example, I though you could buy your license in 2016, apply for the elk/lope draw, it would still be good for the deer/sheep draw obviously, and could then use it again for the 2017 draw.. But, you'd then have to buy a license in June 2017 for the deer/sheep draw..

Wapiti Bob, you around? I know you have all the answers!

 

[JimP]

Nope you must have a valid license on the last day of the application deadline.

Here is the actual wording:

An applicant must possess a license (including
lifetime, pioneer or disabled veteran’s)
that is valid on the last day of the application
deadline for that draw.

So you can't get 2 years out of one license, but other states such as Utah you can.

 

[Fink]

Thanks for the clarification Jim. Not sure where I got the two years out of 1 license deal...

 

[JimP]

You could of read it about Utah where you can get two draws out of one license and there unlike Arizona you don't need a valid license to hunt once you draw.

 

[bghunter]

I think you read it about Utah drawing where you need to have active license while you are applying. In AZ you need to have active license during drawing process.

 

[NDHunter]

I think you can get away with 2 licenses every 3 years. Buy a license on the last day of the elk draw this year. That will cover everything for 2017. In 2018, your license should be good for the elk draw. Then you'll have to buy a license for the deer draw on the last day of the app period. Then in 2019, you'll be covered for both the elk and deer drawings.

This would need to be confirmed by Bob though as well!

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

I think you can get away with 2 licenses every 3 years. Buy a license on the last day of the elk draw this year. That will cover everything for 2017. In 2018, your license should be good for the elk draw. Then you'll have to buy a license for the deer draw on the last day of the app period. Then in 2019, you'll be covered for both the elk and deer drawings.

This would need to be confirmed by Bob though as well!

I think you've got it. I don't play that game because I think you have to have a valid license to actually draw the tag, so all you can do is buy a point when applying at the end of when the license is valid. I prefer to apply for tags. WapitiBob is most up to speed on this question.

 

[Fink]

I think you can get away with 2 licenses every 3 years. Buy a license on the last day of the elk draw this year. That will cover everything for 2017. In 2018, your license should be good for the elk draw. Then you'll have to buy a license for the deer draw on the last day of the app period. Then in 2019, you'll be covered for both the elk and deer drawings.

This would need to be confirmed by Bob though as well!

This was my original thinking as well. I know it works for Utah, and have used it there for the entire time I've been applying. I thought when AZ changed over to an annual license that it would work like Utah.. But, that BOLD RED wording telling me I need a valid license on Feb 14th, would indicate otherwise.
Better safe than sorry... I'm buying the license. lol.

 

[Thomas11]

U can get two years outta of a license in AZ so long as the deadline for the next year draws deadline is covered by your existing license. This means u have to apply the last day or two of the elk draw deadline for it to work the next year. The deadline I think in AZ is the second Tuesday of every feb so it depends on when that day falls also as to if your previous years license will work. in UT your license only has to be good as of the date you are applying and not the deadline date. So you have more of a gap in timeframe there. Now if u are applying for more than one species in AZ u will have to buy another license every third year. Of course u would have to buy the license the second year of in AZ if u happen to draw before u go hunt because it wouldn't be valid at time of hunt. Hope this makes sense

 

[JimP]

And then if you wait until the dead line you run the risk of the system crashing and you then go without a chance at a permit.

I have seen a number of states draw systems crash on or near the last day due to overload from hunters trying to get into the draw in the last minutes.

 

[WapitiBob]

You can get two years of elk draws from the same license, provided the app date is sooner the 2nd year. 2017 is the start of the 7 year cycle and as such, all dates moved back one week. Therefore, 2017 is the start year for getting two draw periods from the same license. Utah has the same 7 day structure so you need to know on which year the date is the earliest and would then kick back a week the following year, negating the ability to span two draw periods. I believe Utah kicked back last year.

AZ, license valid on last day of draw period, and to hunt. There can be a gap between the two.
UT, valid license when YOU apply, not needed to hunt.

 

[NDHunter]

You can get two years of elk draws from the same license, provided the app date is sooner the 2nd year. 2017 is the start of the 7 year cycle and as such, all dates moved back one week. Therefore, 2017 is the start year for getting two draw periods from the same license.

That would only work though if you're ONLY applying for elk/antelope tags, correct? You could buy a license on the last day of the app period this year which would probably cover you for next year's elk drawing. But then when you go to apply for sheep or deer, you'd have to buy a license. If you bought it on the last day of the app period in year 2, that should cover everything in year 3.

If you're like Umpqua though and have 27 antelope points, all is good.

Also, like a few mentioned, if you play the game of applying on the last day of the app period, you run the risk of the system crashing. Not sure it's worth it or not to risk it. Maybe staying up til midnight and applying it at 12:01 a.m. of the last day is the way to go....

 

[WapitiBob]

It doesn't work for multiple draws. I only apply for sheep in my home state, one wasted app fee is enough for me. I get off at 12:30 so it fits my schedule...

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

Also, like a few mentioned, if you play the game of applying on the last day of the app period, you run the risk of the system crashing. Not sure it's worth it or not to risk it.

As many last minute problems that AZ has had historically with crashes near the end of the application period, I would never risk applying the last week. If you don't manage to get your app in, you don't just lose the current year's point, you also lose your loyalty point if you've applied over 5 years straight.

 

[JimP]

People just need to bite the bullet and get the license. Then go quail hunting or put in for javelina, you won't go on a funner or harder hunt all in the same day.