A little more AZ info

[AZ402]

Deadline: June 13, 2006
The deadline to submit applications for fall 2006 hunts is Tuesday, June 13, 2006. It is anticipated that online applications will be accepted through this Web site beginning the first part of May 2006. Paper applications will also be accepted by U.S. mail and at AGFD customer service offices. 2006-2007 Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations with information about the fall draw should be available as a downloadable PDF document through this Web site no later than May 1, 2006. Printed copies of the regulations should be available at license dealers statewide by the third week in May.

 

[A-con]

I bought my license on line last night. It was real easy, I think Arizona has the best (easiest ) on line system.
By the way, I’ve got 2 sheep points, only about 15,000 people in front of me, do you think I should hold my breath ?

 

[AzSlim]

I'm sitting on 10 points for sheep so if you get drawn before I do don't mind if I say a few bad words.

Lightning does strike, there have been a few people that drew on their first try.

 

[Delw]

Slim
Last year was the only year I didnt put in cause I goofed up
So I should have lots of bonus points for sheep..
I am going to get one this year and another lope tag as well.

Delw

 

[Basser]

Don't want to get anxious too soon, but this is the year I might finally draw

 

[AZ402]

Hunters will want to get copies of this year's hunt regulations when they are available online and via hunting license sales dealers: There are lots of changes this year to the big game hunt seasons, in large part to assist efforts to retain and recruit hunters.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission on April 22 set the commission orders for deer, elk, pronghorn, turkey, javelina, bighorn sheep, buffalo, bear, and mountain lion, along with the small game hunting seasons, predator/furbearer seasons, and trapping seasons.

The newly adopted hunt regulations will be available online at the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Web site at azgfd.gov by the first week of May. The printed regulations should be available at license dealers throughout the state by mid-May. The fall hunt application deadline is 7 p.m. (MST) June 13. Hunters can again apply online for the big game hunts this year at azgfd.gov.

Here is a quick summary of changes this year:

The online application process is again available this year.


There are fall javelina big game hunt permit tags available this year.


Bonus points and loyalty points now also apply to javelina, turkey and bear.


A 10-percent non-resident cap now applies to bighorn sheep, buffalo, all antlered deer, bull elk, javelina, antelope and turkey. There is no longer a 15-percent bighorn sheep set-aside of hunt permit-tags for non-residents.


The $5 application fee per applicant will no longer be refunded on rejected applications.


Applicants must be 10 years old by deadline day (June 13) to apply for bonus points. However, if applying for a hunt, applicants must be 10 years old by the beginning date of any hunt they select.


Hunters are required to physically check-in for bear and mountain lion kills.


Archery deer hunters are still required to report their harvest; compliance for this requirement last year was low.


The 20-percent bonus point pass, meaning that 20-percent of tags in each hunt will be set aside for applicants with the highest number of bonus points, now applies to bighorn sheep, buffalo, antelope, bear, deer, elk, javelina and turkey.


Metro unit numbers and boundaries have changed. Units 4A and 5A also changed.
Game Branch Chief Leonard Ordway said the department conducted an exhaustive effort to come up with strategies and efforts to increase hunter retention and recruitment, including maximizing hunting opportunities where feasible. Those recommendations resulted in a lot of small structure modifications this year, and even some significant changes, such as establishing some limited fall hunting for javelina.

Other proposed changes, such as having an earlier draw for elk and pronghorn antelope, will be implemented next year (some require rule changes before being implemented).

Saturday's commission meeting wasn't the only time public input has been gathered during the hunt-regulation process. During January and February, the Arizona Game and Fish Department conducted 11 public meetings throughout the state that were attended by approximately 600 people. The department also received approximately 350 written comments, mostly via e-mail.

"Because of all the proposed changes this year, we received what may be a record amount of public comment, which shows we have a robust process in place," Ordway said.

One area of ongoing concern, Ordway said, is the lack of reporting this past year by archery deer hunters. He explained that as of last year, successful archery deer hunters were required to contact the Game and Fish Department by person or via phone within 10 days of harvesting a deer. Unfortunately, department analysis indicates that only 25 to 30 percent of the successful archers complied with the new requirement last year.

The archery report-in process was put in place to gather data on archery harvest rather than going to a full draw system for archery.

Ordway noted that both mountain lion and bear hunters have mandatory check-ins within 48 hours of harvesting an animal. "The mountain lion check-in requirement is new this year," he said.

A piece of good news, Ordway said, comes from the small game arena: the Gambel's and scaled quail harvest was almost 1.5 million birds this past season, which is the best quail harvest since the early 1980s.

 

[BillyGoat]

Don't want to get anxious too soon, but this is the year I might finally draw

That's about enough whining from somebody who drew a 'lope tag on their first try. You're giving the rest of us a bad image.

As Slim pointed out, it's easy to draw a deer tag in AZ if you pick the right unit. If you're only putting in for the Kaibab, well then you have no business complaining when you don't get drawn 7 years in a row.

 

[Basser]

A blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while

Gonna have to start looking to some states north of AZ for more opportunities...

 

[AzSlim]

I know a few people that will be happy to see the 20% set aside for max bp's too. One in particular has never hunted elk despite being a 3rd generation Az'r. He is holding out for an early bull archery tag - with the points he has he should go this year.

I don't have that kind of patience, my first choice has been bull only the last couple years, the rest are cows. I like to hunt and I like the meat. Maybe some day I'll get a bull tag, but doing it this way I average a cow tag every 3 years. And with my daughters hunting they got jr tags every other year so we have kept the freezer full since 99. This is the last year for my youngest as a jr, liable to impact my freezer.....

 

[Delw]

slim it took me exactly 20 years to get my first bull tag got one a few years later
my first lope tag took like 17 years then another one then another one HAHA
pretty cool lope tag with north rim deer hunt then miss a year another lope tag with north rim hunt, then miss a year get my first elk tag then miss 2 years and get a lope tag with a early bull tag. this year I want my lope tag with my sheep tag in unit 13 and I will be one satisfied happy camper.
I will probally give my sheep tag to my daughter like I gave her my last lope tag.
since getting drawn is 99.999% of getting a ram anyhow.

 

[AzSlim]

You don't want much do you? You got that right about being drawn for sheep. My kids are on their own for sheep, if I get a tag they aren't getting it.

Last year was the first year I put in for lopes here. Growing up in Wy we never bothered to hunt them, didn't care for the meat unless you shot them early in the morning in bed. Since Creed got his 2 years ago, and lost all his points, we put in together last year and will again this year. Also, since I am done with deer for the year I want at least one tag and trying for 2 species will improve my odds. If nothing else I will get to guide my daughters, and hopefully pick up a little business guiding so I get to play in the woods.

 

[BuzzH]

Where do people come up with this crap???

"didn't care for the meat unless you shot them early in the morning in bed."

You're going to tell everyone that antelope meat is only good when they're shot in a bed? They taste different than one thats shot just standing around nibbling on forbs?

Nothing screams "assclown" louder than someone making a statement like that.

Good luck finding clients to guide with logic like that.

Oh, and I've killed antelope in sagebrush, cow pastures, winter wheat fields, and on the edge of Ponderosa Pine forests.

Shot them standing, running, walking, bedded and I couldnt tell any difference in meat quality...at least the 44 that I've killed.

 

[sturge]

This is my year for an early bull tag and a strip tag for deer. I know it. I can feel it. The new cap helps, I hope anyway.

 

[AzSlim]

Buzz, that was a family preference from the couple goats shot at the ranch outside of Lander. Would much rather have deer or elk. Each to their own......

And if you think you can't tell the difference in meat that is hot due to running and adreneline pumping and meat where the animal was not stirred up then you are full of crap.

 

[BuzzH]

AZslim,

I've never been able to figure out what "adreneline" tasted like...maybe you could explain what its like.

I've shot a few antelope after they'd ran for a long ways...both does and bucks...never could tell the difference in meat quality, thats a fact.

If you believe that antelope meat tastes different after they've ran for a while...I just have to ask...do you also believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy?

How much do you think an antelopes body temperature rises when it runs for 3-4 miles??? How "hot" does the meat get? Most mammals cant tolerate more than a couple degree change in body temperature, so I again, I dont understand your logic of "meat that is hot due to running"...

I doubt theres even a 1-2 degree change (if that, beings how antelope have over-sized cardio-vascular systems). I also doubt antelope pump adreneline through their bodies just because they decide to jog a few miles.

I'd say meat quality is 99.9999% how people take care of it rather than what the antelope was doing or eating prior to being shot.

Theres more myths surrounding antelope than any animal out there, and they're 99% pure B.S.

I rate antelope meat way above either deer or elk...never had anything but top quality meat from them...always good flavor and always more tender than either elk or deer.

 

[Delw]

Buzz I think you and I are the only ones that like lope meat better than elk or deer.

 

[TheTone]

What antelope I have had was very, very good. The burger was just ground, nothing added and I thought it was excellent. Of course it was shot just standing there on a hillside, opening day, just after first light so I'm sure thats why.

As for the whole, adreneline thing I'm going to have to agree with Buzz on this. One of the better elk I've ever ate was one that by most standards should have been terrible. It had been jumped out of its bed, ran across a canyon, shot rather poorly more than once (no I was not the shooter), an unseasonably warm day, and a mature bull with very little fat from the rut. He still ate just fine. He was promptly gutted and was in camp and on his way to a meat locker within an hour of being shot.

 

[FAIRCHASEBEN]

I don't like to shoot at a running Antelope either for the same reason Slim doesn't , they taste just like they smell when they're pumped full of adrenalin.
We've always skinned , washed , quartered and cooled our goats immediately after killing but nothing can take the taste out of a goat that's been shot with that last bullet after a 300yrd sprint. But if you can drop one feeding or bedded down it's truely some of the mildest meat you'll ever taste, if you take care of it properly of course.

Buzz , didn't the doctors explain to you how the metal plate in your head would interfere with your olfactory sensors?

 

[BOHNTR]

The "adrenaline" tasting animals is one of the oldest myths in the hunting world. Absolutely no scientific support and far too many examples that condradict the claim, IMO. But hey, I also enjoy antelope.

 

[BuzzH]

Not according to the resident experts FCB and AZslim...science be damned.