[jsaunders2011]

I drew an archery elk tag in AZ units 28, 31, and 32. I've read that there are very few Elk in those units and the hunts have very low success rate. Would it even be worth to hunting or should I just take the $650 loss and move on?

 

[Ranger]

Welcome to AHF!!!

Congrats on drawing a non-res tag, although curious about the hunt choice. Hopefully you didn't list that as one of your first two choices! Is it a bull, cow, or "any elk" tag? Early or late?

For that limited ops hunt, it depends on how much you like elk hunting. I sure wouldn't want to waste a bunch of bonus points on it, but I don't play that game. This will be my 7th limited ops tag in 10 years, and I've filled five of the first six. Of course, I live in the area and know the country. (Different area than yours). If you bought Point Guard, you can turn your tag in and not lose your bonus points. If not, you can either hunt or not. You are not likely to see very many elk, but that's the challenge. Scouting for these hunts is pretty important, but I helped a non-res from WI last year with some info and he was able to harvest a young bull, as did I.

 

[jsaunders2011]

Welcome to AHF!!! Congrats on drawing a non-res tag, although curious about the hunt choice. Hopefully you didn't list that as one of your first two choices! Is it a bull, cow, or "any elk" tag? Early or late? For that limited ops hunt, it depends on how much you like elk hunting. I sure wouldn't want to waste a bunch of bonus points on it, but I don't play that game. This will be my 7th limited ops tag in 10 years, and I've filled five of the first six. Of course, I live in the area and know the country. (Different area than yours). If you bought Point Guard, you can turn your tag in and not lose your bonus points. If not, you can either hunt or not. You are not likely to see very many elk, but that's the challenge. Scouting for these hunts is pretty important, but I helped a non-res from WI last year with some info and he was able to harvest a young bull, as did I.

Thanks for the info Ranger! This is my first year applying, so I had no bonus points anyway. The unit choice was my fault. Rookie mistake.

 

[bearfoot1]

Welcome to AHF !!! Good Luck on your hunt even if it was a mistake. Did you buy Point Gaurd ??? Cant help on those units.

 

[jsaunders2011]

Welcome to AHF !!! Good Luck on your hunt even if it was a mistake. Did you buy Point Gaurd ??? Cant help on those units.

Didn't buy point guard because I didn't have any points to begin with.

 

[Hungry4Rabbits]

I've spent a lot of time in Unit 31, I heard a single elk bugle in the summer while coming back from the informal squirrel camp... so around bear season?

Last year I also found extremely fresh elk scat once.

That's about it...

I met a fellow once who used to have a lot of cameras up on the mountain, he said he caught a fair amount of elk running away from one of the forest fires a couple of years ago.

A coworker saw a cow elk around the Stockton Pass years and years ago.

That's about all the intel I have. I've spent a fair amount of time up in the pines and in ravines, crevices and never even a whisper.

A good friend of mine outfits in Unit 32- is there a lot, and has never even seen a whisper of them. He said his cousin killed one years ago close to a river in, I guess they can get lost and wander south of the White Mountains, but it was more luck than anything.

Maybe northern Unit 28 might have something as you inch closer to 27, but it is hard country and with no roads and lots of canyons.


I hear most people who get this archery hunt is totally by mistake.

 

[jsaunders2011]

I've spent a lot of time in Unit 31, I heard a single elk bugle in the summer while coming back from the informal squirrel camp... so around bear season?

Last year I also found extremely fresh elk scat once.

That's about it...

I met a fellow once who used to have a lot of cameras up on the mountain, he said he caught a fair amount of elk running away from one of the forest fires a couple of years ago.

A coworker saw a cow elk around the Stockton Pass years and years ago.

That's about all the intel I have. I've spent a fair amount of time up in the pines and in ravines, crevices and never even a whisper.

That's about in line with what I've heard. Thanks for the info.

 

[Ranger]

That's about in line with what I've heard. Thanks for the info.

What state are you in?

 

[jsaunders2011]

What state are you in?

Georgia

 

[lynn1130]

Georgia

Yeah, I was going to say it never hurts to hunt it even if there are low numbers but having to come from Georgia I might change my mind on that one.

 

[Hungry4Rabbits]

Yeah, I was going to say it never hurts to hunt it even if there are low numbers but having to come from Georgia I might change my mind on that one.

It's a good way of getting used to Unit 31 though- good coues country. I'm partial to unit 31 though... heh
32 is a high draw odds for rifle mulie, as is 28. Both hard hunts though.

 

[Painter]

You could look into hiring a outfitter. He would likely locate some before the hunt starts and get you going on the tight track.