few points

[prhunter]

Hello all,

Are there any AZ bull elk tags that could be drawn with 0 points? Ive never applied for elk in AZ so I'm having a hard time deciding what to put in for.

I would like to have the opportunity to go hunt rather than waiting many years for one dream hunt.

Any input will be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[hoshour]

Highly doubt it. You can hunt quite a few areas in CO for elk OTC and many MT tags are easy to draw.

 

[dustin ray]

non-permitelk tags but your going work hard for that one

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

With the new AZ draw system implemented for nonresidents in 2016, everyone has a chance to draw the elk tags they apply for no matter how many points they have. You will greatly improve your odds if you don't shoot for the moon on your hunt choices. Now if you are asking about a guaranteed tag with 0 points, that is a different story.

 

[The Deer]

With the new AZ draw system implemented for nonresidents in 2016, everyone has a chance to draw the elk tags they apply for no matter how many points they have. You will greatly improve your odds if you don't shoot for the moon on your hunt choices. Now if you are asking about a guaranteed tag with 0 points, that is a different story.

My opinion is if you're going to apply in Arizona as a nonresident if that's the case then you're better off hunting other states every year then Arizona and apply til you draw a good tag there

 

[mgorm16640]

My opinion is if you're going to apply in Arizona as a nonresident if that's the case then you're better off hunting other states every year then Arizona and apply til you draw a good tag there

I couldn't agree more with this. I just moved from AZ, and as a resident I only drew 2 tags in 5 years, both in 7E. Good unit but has alot of hunters and tags. Just build points for AZ and hunt Colorado, Wyoming, places that are easier for non-residents to get a tag. At the same time build points in AZ. When you have enough points for a decent unit you should also have a few elk seasons under your belt and could really capitalize on the AZ tag.

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

I have not heard much chatter yet about the 2016 nonresident draw odds. In my own research, for an elk tag for my wife next year, there was some awful point creep on several hunts we were interested in (as in 3-5 points in a single year type awful). If you decide to wait until you have the points to draw to apply for a tag, you may have a very long wait. The new nonresident draw structure just insured that the top point holders will draw out about half as fast as they were in the past.

 

[JimP]

The one problem with just getting points in Arizona is that they are costing you the price of a hunting license every year without you using it. You would be better off getting the license and then using it to chase some quail or drawing a tag for another animal such as a javelina and hunt down there every year as you are waiting to get enough points to draw your other tags.

Also if you do go to Arizona you need to take their hunter safety course which will add a point onto all of your draws and then after putting in for a few years you also get a loyalty point for that species. So there are 2 points that you really don't have to do much for that adds to your total.

 

[dustin ray]

Once you start chasing points in AZ its hard to stop but i did just that i like to hunt to much to wait 15 years for a tag in a state next door to me I'm not chasing horns but I'm having a great time and I'm also on a long term scouting plan for my son if he can just hold out

 

[BOHNTR]

Arizona is a 'no brainer' apply state, IMO. It's not a waste of a license either........if you're a bowhunter and take full advantage of their OTC deer tags and seasons throughout the calendar year. As a NR, I get to bowhunt mule deer & coues deer in the rut in January.........if not successful, I can hunt them again in August and September.......if I'm still not successful, I can hunt them the last two weeks of December on the same tag! Definitely putting the license to use.

 

[cmbbulldog]

If you want to hunt more in AZ, apply for the late elk tags. Archery or rifle. Your odds go up exponentially and you can hunt a unit 3-4 times (maybe more) before you would draw an early tag... its tougher hunting, but your hunting and you can learn a unit.

 

[maximus]

Late archery tags are easier draw for example 22 North is a 100% draw and some others are 60 to 70% draw, they are tough hunts but you'll be hunting.

 

[hoshour]

I have not heard much chatter yet about the 2016 nonresident draw odds. In my own research, for an elk tag for my wife next year, there was some awful point creep on several hunts we were interested in (as in 3-5 points in a single year type awful). If you decide to wait until you have the points to draw to apply for a tag, you may have a very long wait. The new nonresident draw structure just insured that the top point holders will draw out about half as fast as they were in the past.

Yup. When they took so many tags out of the point draw and put them in the random draw, that left far fewer tags for those that have been building points, many of them for a very long time.

Preference point and bonus point draws really only work for a certain number of years and then just break down. That's what happened in AZ and there are no fair fixes.

 

[WapitiBob]

You do not need to buy a license every year if you are applying for points. Because the license is for 365 days, you can use it for two consecutive draws, provided you do not span the draw date reset.

 

[buckbull]

Arizona is a 'no brainer' apply state, IMO. It's not a waste of a license either........if you're a bowhunter and take full advantage of their OTC deer tags and seasons throughout the calendar year. As a NR, I get to bowhunt mule deer & coues deer in the rut in January.........if not successful, I can hunt them again in August and September.......if I'm still not successful, I can hunt them the last two weeks of December on the same tag! Definitely putting the license to use.

Unless you are a nonres that is within a reasonable driving distance to the hunt unit, this really isn't practical for most guys limited by money, vacation time, and family obligations.

 

[brushcreek]

You do not need to buy a license every year if you are applying for points. Because the license is for 365 days, you can use it for two consecutive draws, provided you do not span the draw date reset.

if you are going for one species only that is true but not if you want to build points for multiple species

 

[Thomas11]

if you are going for one species only that is true but not if you want to build points for multiple species

I've done this as well, but it's tricky. And I just apply for deer and sheep every other when the license is valid