Arizona newbie

[swampdog112]

I'm an Oklahoma guy very new to hunting out west and have never hunted in or applied for tags in Arizona. I'm pretty familiar with Wyoming's draw process/odds and have hunted once in Utah several years ago. I've got a trip planned to Wyoming for fall 2015 but am beginning to think about lining up future options for different hunts.

I have zero preference points for Arizona and dont know much about the possibilities for a hunter in my position. I am beginning to think about 2016/17 and I was just wondering if there were any decent species/areas I should look at that I may be able to access with 1 or 2 points.

I like to do as much of my own research as possible and don't want to be "that guy" who's looking for someone else to do his research for him, I'm just hoping to narrow the scope a little. I'm beginning to look at New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado as well with hopes of having at least one thing to go after every year while I accumulate points but being a new first time dad on shift work, my free-time has been DRASTICALLY cut down haha.

I'm hoping to get a tag or two applied for in each of these states or at least some preference points purchased before the deadlines close and for somebody new to this, all of the different info and draw processes are a bit overwhelming.

Thanks for any tips or wisdom you guys might have!

 

[Tim McCoy]

Congrats on your new Dad status. Not much better than that. My Dad was from OK, if it is west of the Miss. River, it is west, right? Are you an Eastman's subscriber? Are you a hunter with rifle, bow or muzzy, or some combo? If you are looking for general ideas, offer a little more info and I am sure you will get some great ideas.

 

[missjordan]

The eastmans MRS subscription is full of useful information that would probably help you make some decision about where to start applying. And welcome to the forum!

 

[Retterath]

welcome to the forum

 

[marcusvdk]

Welcome to the forum

 

[swampdog112]

Congrats on your new Dad status. Not much better than that. My Dad was from OK, if it is west of the Miss. River, it is west, right? Are you an Eastman's subscriber? Are you a hunter with rifle, bow or muzzy, or some combo? If you are looking for general ideas, offer a little more info and I am sure you will get some great ideas.

Thanks! I rifle hunt primarily. Used to bow hunt a ton but kind of got away from it for a while. I'm primarily interested in elk, mule deer, antelope, moose, and mtn goats. I'm just hoping I get lucky on those last two and can draw the tag while I can still physically pull of the hunt haha. I'm also a DIY guy, I respect what the guides do and they have the best job there is but I like to do it on my own (as does my wallet). I realize not having a ton of points means less land to choose from and hunting areas where I may have to backpack in quite aways to get to the good areas but I'm ok with that. Just trying to figure out which states offer the best hunts for certain animals without impossible draw odds.

 

[swampdog112]

Thanks guys

I actually didn't have a clue what you were talking about when you referenced the MRS subscription so I looked it up. Sounds like that may be really helpful

 

[swampdog112]

I guess what I'm trying to figure out now is what animals to focus on in each state so I can start applying for tags and building my points... it would also be nice to be able to plan 1 hunt each year to one of these places for something while my points build for other areas rather than waiting 6 or 7 years to build up the points to make a hunt.

I also can't afford to apply for everything everywhere so i'm trying to narrow it down as much as possible. It seems like wyoming is the place to go for antelope and I will likely buy an elk point there every year as well until I can get one of the good units... maybe moose too.

I've heard Arizona has some monster antelope and huge elk as well. If a guy doesnt mind hopping around smaller pieces of public land are there units where these hunts can reasonably be drawn without having to have max points?

 

[Tim McCoy]

WY is Antelope Valhalla. Yep, try WY for speedy goats. AZ is one very tough rifle Antelope draw, very tough. If I were in OK, and wanted a Moose, I'd cost out a guided Moose hunt for Canadian Moose, vs Wy points and tag investment. Or look at ID, very high Moose draw rates there, relatively speaking. Sometimes it comes down to the if I have to buy a license in a Z state for X species, may as well apply for all. WY antelope, deer and elk points are affordable, but all three together for points cost well over $100. Any one not so bad. AZ you have to buy a $160 ish non refundable license, points not so bad, buy the license, may as well as buy some points, and so it goes. Not much help I know, but keep narrowing your focus and some of the more experienced folks here will be able to offer better ideas for you to consider.