It's now time to apply for Arizona Elk and Antelope tags. We will assist you with the draw. We have 3 top trophy areas for Elk: archery or rifle. Deer applications come later. I haven't had time today to pull up the AZ G&F web site but it should have all the current details listed. You must purchase a AZ non resident hunting license before you can apply. It is $151.25 and non refundable. However, your Elk/Antelope tag fees are refundable if your not drawn. Elk tag is $595 and Antelope is $485 (includes your $7.50 application fee). You can purchase bonus points for $7.50. With this license, you can apply for all draw hunts. We offer hunts for all AZ big game, and those of you who are in the know, AZ has some monster bucks and bulls. The key is getting drawn. Elk or Antelope runs $4,500 and is a fully guided 7 day hunt! We will advise you on what areas we're putting you in for and the deadline is February 8th so there's not a lot of time to waste. You must mail in a physical application; no electronic app's. We will help you with this. Contact me soon or talk to me in Dallas: Booth 2704.





Also, if your looking for a great Mt. Lion hunt, we have 5 day hunts with dogs (that can dry track, so snow isn't necessary) for $3,500. Or, for $5,500 you can hunt 5 days. No Lion, no problem. Keep coming back until you get your Lion at NO additional hunt fees.
Happy New Year,
David

David,

I think app deadline is Feb 8th - to be in hand - not post marked. They do not take online apps, so you have to mail it in or the outfitter needs to take it in. I just happen to know this because I filled mine out today. Looks like your guys kill some big elk!

Here is the exact page...
Click for AZ app page

Thanks Tim, I just reviewed the updates and yes, deadline is Feb 8th for Elk or Antelope. If you can draw a tag for deer, elk or antelope, your chances of taking a buck or bull of a lifetime are honestly good.
Happy New Year,
David

What are the chances of drawing an elk tag?

quote:

Originally posted by L. David Keith:
You must purchase a AZ non resident hunting license before you can apply. It is $151.25 and non refundable. However, your Elk/Antelope tag fees are refundable if your not drawn.
...You can purchase bonus points for $7.50.

David, nothing to do with you, but I can't help noticing that yet another level has been reached in sticking it to out of state hunters. Wow, a non-refundable fee of $151.25 to participate in a draw!

You should think that for that kind of money, at least payment for bonus points would be included. Alas, no such luck. Why am I not surprised?

- mike

Edited..



David, yes, it is frustrating. But I can say I have drawn several good tags since moving here (including 1 rut bull tag with a muzz), so I can't complain too much! Now sheep on the other hand! I keep wishin and praying though!
I have no issues with the way AZ runs their hunts or draw process. Its one of fhe better ones IMO. Best thing Ive bought was a lifetime license here in case I ever move.

Good luck in the draw. Getting mine filled out in the morn!

DoubleDon, it's tough to draw in several States but some hunters get lucky the first time out. The situation lies in the fact that so many hunters want a tag. Even the residents have a difficult time drawing a tag. However, once you apply for the Elk or Antelope, if you are unsuccessful you can apply for a deer tag with the same non resident hunting license.

Mike, yes, it's become more common to require out of State hunters to purchase a license before they can draw. We have the same deal here if you want to draw for a duck blind. Not as much money, but still, you may not draw a blind. However, with the license you can hunt any blind that is not occupied by legal shooting time. At least it's not a total loss. With so few tags and so many applicants, I think it's just another way to cull down the number of applications. Tough call for we out of State hunters, but finding an easy solution is never easy.

Scotty, we're just in a world where everything is costing more. Makes it difficult to hunt, and can be frustrating, but your State offers a lot in return. You want a big buck or buck, we have to pay the price for a tag in trophy areas. I do feel our money helps keep game departments in business, and game projects funded, so it's not all bad. No one knows frustration more than a resident who can't draw a tag year after year in their home State.
Good hunting,
David

David and Scotty, I'll try hard to get over my sticker shock Arizona was always a dream - who would not like to hunt the Kaibab (sp?) or the Strip? Alas, tags are hard to come by...

- mike

What's the success rate on your mountain lion hunts usually?

JustinL01, sorry for the slow reply. I was stuck in Dallas due to the snow storm and just returned home. Currently, the Lion hunts are underway, and to give you an updated reply, I want to talk to our Outfitter to catch up with how things are going thus far. I should hear from him soon and post current and past years success rates.
Good hunting,
David

David, in the last 2 sentences of your first post, you said 5 day mt. lion hunts were $3500 then said you could hunt 5 days for $5500. don't understand what you meant.

The $3,500 hunt is for 5 days only. If you pay $5,500, you hunt for 5 days. If you do not get a Lion, you may rebook another 5 days (or more) until you get your Lion. This is a 100% success rate. Weather, illness, injury, bad luck etc., can prevent anyone from taking a trophy, anytime, anywhere. This hunt is making sure that if you need to return muliple times, you do so without paying any further fees to the Outfitter. Keep in mind that if you return after your license/tag has expired, you would need to buy a current one. However, there still is no extra fee for the additional hunt period. I hope this clears it up better.
David

David It took my wife and I two days of mostly white knuckle driving to get home from Dallas also. When you hear from your Mt Lion guy keep me in mind. thanks Art

Glad you made it home Art. It was a tense drive and I waited two days before leaving Dallas. Just received an update this morning on the Lion hunt. Success rate to date on the $3,500 hunt is 80%. The $5,500 hunt is a "return until you get your Lion" offer. Hunts are held on private ranches where Lion's are a predator problem on live stock and game. You will be hunting on horseback and foot. These hounds are from a long line of "dry ground" dogs and do not need snow or rain to track Lion's. This is a big advantage over those needing heavy moisture to track. License are over the counter. Best times are December - end of April. However, they can be hunted year round. Lodging is at the ranch house so you will not be staying in tents or hotels miles away. Each Lion hunter will have two guides and hounds. Beautiful area for those who love photography and/or wish to bring their wife or family. I recommend this hunt to those in decent physical condition as it ups your odds in keeping up with the hounds and riding a horse. It can be a moderately physical hunt.

Cougar my Outfitter just caught and the terrain the big ones live in. As mentioned, his dogs are dry ground trained so you don't have to have snow. Transportation is mainly horseback and foot once on the track:

I'm aware this is a place to advertise and not the place for discussions but just can not help myself for this post.
I find it litte wonder why the ranch hunts in Canada for elk (and other species) are getting so popular with the gouge being dug so deeply into the pockets of nonresidents for limited tags. I've given up Mt. and their sponsored tags at scalpers prices for the same reason. Not that I couldn't afford the price but rather it gauls me to pay it to hunt on public land that I contribute to via taxation. It isn't just me either I speak to more and more hunters every year with the same opinon.
Now surely someone will make the post..."good stay home so my odds are better.." to wit I reply then pay for your own game management and see how long it takes before your tags cost what NR's run.

Supply and demand 2thdoc. This outfitter has entered his own State's Antelope draw for 20 years and never been drawn! If it weren't for non residents swarming to these western States, these guys could increase their odds of getting to hunt their own game tremendously. I personally know how tough this pill is to swallow. I've paid for land owner tags, vouchers and the like. But hunting is getting expensive in many places worldwide unfortunately. I wish it wasn't so but now not only are license, travel & accommodations expensive, we have to have a $20,000 rifle, $50,000 vehicle and $20,000 worth of branded merchandise or we're "not huntin."
Regards,
David

David: Of course you are correct my venting certainly wasn't pointed towards you. I have a bit of interest in the mt lion hunt an shall contact you via email on that or you can PM me with the information, 5 day trip peaks my interst the most. Doc

No offense taken doc, we're all in the same boat. I remember going to WY with $300 in my pocket and coming home with $40-$50. Now the cost of a plane ticket overseas costs as much as a week of waterfowling here in the States. Will send you info.
Regards,
David

read the PM

L. David,
Email sent.

Four days left until the deadline for AZ Elk and Antelope. To answer some questions, you can put in for a preference point only if you want to increase your odd's for a future hunt. Outfitter will assist you with the application but time is running out. Deer app's will be available next.
LDK

Took me 13 years to draw a archery tag in Az. Hunted on my own and killed a 360 bull after 7 days. This was probably my one and only trophy bull elk hunt in my lifetime. I've got 11 bonus points for mule deer and still waiting. Drawing a tag is like hunting, you have to be patient and MAYBE you get lucky.