SCORE! AZ Fall Draw Results Out

[sumpnz]

AZ has just released their draw results for the Fall 2005 season.

My co-worker and I got cow elk tags for Unit 9 (NW of Flagstaff), for the mid-October season. I can almost taste the tenderloin kabobs.

Anybody have any particular hints to help me out? My co-worker has some experince with elk hunting, and his dad, who has more experience than either of us, will probably come along for at least the first few days of the hunt.

FWIW, I'll be using my CZ550 in 6.5x55mm with handloaded 140gr Barnes XLC bullets (I'm aiming for 2700-2900fps depending on accuracy).

 

[Lennyjoe]

We didnt get drawn for crap. :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

 

[sumpnz]

Sorry to hear that Lenny. You'll still be going archery deer hunting though, right?

 

[WayneConrad]

Two of the guys I work with each put in for elk, deer, and turkey. One got turkey.

I'll try to stay out of their way today.

 

[sumpnz]

Yeah, the whole draw system here stinks. Of course, if we had a better population of deer and elk (or fewer hunters - not that I'd ever want that, if anything getting more people into hunting is what we need) then the draw situation would be vastly improved. A few more years like the last one in terms of rainfall, and we may well see that happen. The last few years have seen record low numbers of deer tags authorized on account of the drought.

I hadn't bothered to put in for deer. I suppose I probably should have, and picked a set of hunts I knew I'd never get drawn for just to get the bonus point. Though they do have the bonus point only deal to put on your application.

Next time I jump jobs and move I really need to go somewhere that has great trout fishing and where deer are like rats with antlers. Anbody know of a place like that that also has a decent number of defense/aerospace jobs?

 

[Lennyjoe]

I hate the whole draw process in Arizona along with the friggin terrain. Gotta drive forever to get to cooler temps and gotta sneak around like a gila monster to find deer in the desert plains.

I can't wait to get back east where I can go to a darn Wal-Mart, buy a license and go out and harvest 5 deer and 3 turkey with one license.

Bowhunting is the only option I have for deer this year. Gonna be tough, but thats whats fun about bowhunting.

I'm so pissed right now with the whole draw thing. Such is life.

 

[scout26]

Here in Illinois, I just checked and got two deer tags, one either sex and one anterless only. I may try for a third once the random daily draws start.

If you want to come hunt Illinois, here's a link to the tags left, by county:

http://www.dnr.state.il.us/admin/systems/05/firearm%20deer%20lists.htm

 

[sumpnz]

What's the cost like for out of staters? Can you rifle hunt, or is it shotgun only for centerfires?

 

[scout26]

Sumpnz,

Shotgun only, Non-Res is $200 for an Either sex permit or $225 for an Either Sex and a Bonus Antlerless Only permits. 12 Aug is the deadline for 2nd Lottery mail-in.

Never hunted anywhere in the state where I said "I sure wish I had a rifle instead."

If you can't/don't fill you tag, you're either waiting a nice wall hanger or sleeping in your stand. This state is overrun with deer !!!

Opening morning last year, I counted 27 bedded down/hanging out within 50 yards of the shower building of the state park where we camp. (No hunting allowed in the campground of course. )

 

[sumpnz]

I asked partly because I don't own a shotgun, just rifles when it comes to long guns. Do they allow handguns during the general season? I've got a Redhawk in .44mag that should work fine within 40-50 yards.

 

[Remington788]

Handguns are allowed during the regular season as long as they meet certain specs. As long as your redhawk has a 4 inch or more barrel it will be legal.

 

[sumpnz]

Yikes, I knew it was a hike, but 1600+ miles is rather far to drive to blast Bambi. And trying to fly the meat home will be a challange. Texas or Oklahoma isn't nearly as bad of a drive, and from what I hear they have just about as many deer.

Rem788 - My Redhawk has a 4.5" barrel (previous owner had it cut down from the original 7.5").

 

[Remington788]

I have cousin who lives in AZ, drove out there once to visit and it took 22 hours, not fun. If you ever get the chance to hunt here though, do it. A lot of things suck about Illinois, but the deer hunting is not one of them.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I just talked to my hunting pardner and we are going to Missouri in Nov for deer. Also, I'm going to fly home to WVA during Thanksgiving and hunt on property I own there.

Would rather hunt deer local though. Such is life. 3 more years and I can retire from the Air Force and move back east where the hunting is good.

 

[scout26]

A lot of things suck about Illinois, but the deer hunting is not one of them.

The hunting is great, but the season needs to be expanded/lengthened. The woods get mighty crowded and the deer go into freakout mode. Granted we have d@mn few hunting accidents in this state, but if the season was longer (spread out over say two weeks) we would probably harvest more deer safely. Achery season is 3.5 months, why can't firearm season be two weeks ??

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Sumpnz,

Missouri might be for you. I am not a trout fisherman, but I know there is some good fishing in the south part of the state. As for deer and turkey, it is phenomenal. I own some land about 100 miles NW of St. Louis that I hunt on every year and we do very well for deer. And, the permits are unlimited in that part of the state. You can buy one either sex permit and then unlimited antlerless permits for $7 apiece. Even non-residents As far as aerospace jobs go, there just happens to be a large Seattle based firm there that is always hiring. I just happen to work for them in Seattle. (Being in Mesa, I suspect you may not have to switch companies either) The trout fishing here is about as good as it gets, but the deer/elk hunting is marginal at best. Hard to draw good elk tags. PM me if you want more info.

 

[Lennyjoe]

NRA4LIFE, I sent you a PM for info as well. I am going to retire from the Air Force in 3 years and am looking for a place to retire that fits my needs. Sports first, money second.

 

[sumpnz]

NRA4LIFE - PM sent.

 

[GunGoBoom]

Congrats and good luck! I got nothing on the controlled hunt draws (elk, pronghorn, deer) - nor did my buddies.

 

[EVIL5LITER]

Next time I jump jobs and move I really need to go somewhere that has great trout fishing and where deer are like rats with antlers. Anbody know of a place like that that also has a decent number of defense/aerospace jobs?

Might I recommend Alabama? We have plenty of aerospace jobs (NASA in Huntsville and a new multi Billion dollar Boeing plant here in Mobile), the fishing is spectacular (saltwater and freshwater), and we have quite possibly the longest deer season in the country, with the only limit being one per day. I think the deer population in this state is 4.5 million or so?

Along with the deer, we have awesome duck hunting as well, and the 2nd largest river delta in the country.

 

[sumpnz]

Nearly took a job near Birmingham when I graduated for college. Only problem was I got offer for $14k more in Tucson that also gave 3x the annual vacation (3 weeks vs 1 week). Plus, I'm not sure my wife would be willing to live in Bama, though I'm open to anything.

As it turns out, if I had taken that job I would probably have been layed off a few months later due the major slowdown following 9/11. Going into the defense side of the industry was the best thing I could have done, all things considered.

 

[EVIL5LITER]

What does your wife have against Alabama?

 

[sumpnz]

Same kind of thing her step-dad has against the east coast. An unreasonable, illdefined prejudice of the area. Probably has something to do with the heat/humidity and history of racial violence (esp around Birmingham). Of course, I'd rather not live in Oregon again and that's where she wants to go, given that all of her family lives there.

I've lived enough places to know that you just have to appreciate the good aspects of any given area and realize that the reason you're there is for a job or whatever and not get too worked up about what you don't like. That said, I got the hell out of Kansas as fast I could after a couple years of off and on living there.

 

[EVIL5LITER]

While there is a distant history of racial violence in Birmingham, the only racial violence your likely to encounter now would be black on black.

I have noticed that many people not from the southeast still think we are a bunch of uneducated inbreeders who like to lynch blacks in our spare time.

Talk about racially stereotyping...