I've been putting off going public with this . . . .

[Djfan]

But it looks like we have to leave Wyoming and move to Buckeye, AZ.

Not excited about it at all, but it will be for family, so the decision is already made.

So, what's to hunt down there? I've done quail and dove in the SW part of the state before. What else?

 

[TheJason]

Best of luck with your move.

 

[elkantlers]

Well, that's a bummer if it's not really what you want.

Hopefully you can get some Couse Deer and javelina while you're down there.

 

[Bigjay73]

There's great deer, quail, dove and javelina within 30 mins of Buckeye, amazing elk hunting in the mountains. Fishing is okay, but nothing special. Coues here and there, but overrated in my opinion. Easy tag to obtain and fill, but the payoff is low.

 

[LopeHunter]

But it looks like we have to leave Wyoming and move to Buckeye, AZ.

Not excited about it at all, but it will be for family, so the decision is already made.

So, what's to hunt down there? I've done quail and dove in the SW part of the state before. What else?

New Mexico borders Arizona and is not a points state though only a small sliver of big game tags is allocated to non-residents not using a hunting guide.

New Mexico issues about the same percentage of tags to non-residents as Arizona since the Arizona random pool portion of the draw is “up to” rather than guaranteed for non-residents.

New Mexico might fit your idea of worth applying as you have three choices which all get looked at if your application is drawn. You can select a couple of very, very low draw odds hunts with Choices 1 and 2 then use Choice 3 for a bit easier tag to draw though far from a sure thing.

After six months or so living in Arizona as your primary residence then you can look into getting a resident hunting license but you can’t hold a resident license in another state in the same year as I recall.

Arizona offers a lifetime hunting license to residents. If in a few years you are able to return to Wyoming then you once again are going to pay non-resident fees for Arizona tags but you are treated as still being a resident during the draw process so you have much better odds to draw a random tag than other non-residents.

Turkey hunting is possible in Arizona and New Mexico if that is off interest. Might not be any over the counter tags. Not sure about black bear.

 

[tormenter]

The NR draw closes shortly in AZ - I would make sure you get in it and get a preference point. Every point matters in AZ big game draw.

 

[JCS]

Golf? Fishing at lake pleasant and Alamo. Summer fishing up north from Prescott to alpine.

Football, baseball, etc.

 

[ccc23454]

Better get your NR wyoming app in before end of month, if you want to elk hunt in fall. Travel safe and good luck.

 

[Hunting Wife]

Isn’t there a pretty healthy population of bobcats down there?

Be open to trying anything and you’ll probably find at least a couple things that will challenge and grow on you. Best of luck with the move.

 

[Muzzlestuffer]

Too bad you have to move.! We depends on the type of hunting you do. Most critters on a draw point system but you can get over the counter (non-permit) type tags for bear some units and seasons. Most archery are (non-permit) but now have quotas so once reached that unit closes. Of course elk is the biggie here it usually takes two years to get drawn depending on unit. Good luck on your move keep us posted on the hunting.

 

[TheTone]

Arizona is a really cool state IMO and somewhere I could definitely see myself living. Excellent predator calling, lots of archery deer opportunities, you’ll be in for way better draw odds for elk as a resident and way easier winters

 

[Djfan]

Arizona is a really cool state IMO and somewhere I could definitely see myself living. Excellent predator calling, lots of archery deer opportunities, you’ll be in for way better draw odds for elk as a resident and way easier winters

More info on the archer deer there?

 

[TheTone]

More info on the archer deer there?

bunch of units offer OTC archery mule deer and coues hunting. I think it’s all on a harvest quota now but I could be wrong. For a guy willing to try you can find deer.

 

[gonhunting247]

I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the opportunity to hunt a variety of game on a regular basis if you are willing to hunt the lower tier type opportunity hunts. I know I love huunting there as a NR and you'll have a lot more oppurtunity as a Resident!

 

[BuzzH]

More info on the archer deer there?

Take hunters safety right away when you get there, point for every species for life.

I've spent a lot of time down there from the Feb.-April time range working. The fishing is spectacular at that time of year, Bartlett, Pleasant, Roosevelt, Apache, Alamo all very good. Good as in up to 100+ fish days for stripers, white and yellow bass, largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, etc. I fished nearly every weekend I worked down there.

Also helped a couple buddies with spring turkey down there as well, its pretty good hunting and the tags don't seem all that tough to draw.

Personally, I would make sure I drew and hunted coues deer every year. It's the one fairly unique species that you can't hunt in a lot of other states. They are WELL worth the effort, very challenging and one of the hunts I look forward to the most in AZ.

Elk hunting is excellent and I would think if meat is all you're after either the general seasons or cow seasons are pretty easy if you aren't picky.

I would also take advantage of the wing shooting primarily doves and quail, its very good.

Would also be a good time to bag a few javelina, custom built for short range weapons and also another unique species. Predator hunting is also very good. I see bobcats nearly every trip down there, including the most recent trip this past December. I would think with a semi-serious approach you'll get grey fox, bobcats, coyotes and very likely a lion.

Don't dread it, embrace what the State has to offer...

 

[Djfan]

Take hunters safety right away when you get there, point for every species for life.



Don't dread it, embrace what the State has to offer...

I am a hunters safety instructor here in Wyoming.

I am doing my best to not dread it. Thus the thread.

Love your response. I told Mrs. Fan that I wanted to get the bass boat running again as soon as we get there. She loves to fish, so she is on board.

 

[BuzzH]

I am a hunters safety instructor here in Wyoming.

I am doing my best to not dread it. Thus the thread.

Love your response. I told Mrs. Fan that I wanted to get the bass boat running again as soon as we get there. She loves to fish, so she is on board.

Pumpkin seed lizards 4" and 6", texas rigged for bass in the lakes...you can thank me later.

Snap small twister tails for whitebass in pleasant/aqua fria...you get sick of fileting fish:

 

[Djfan]

Pumpkin seed lizards 4" and 6", texas rigged for bass in the lakes...you can thank me later.

Snap small twister tails for whitebass in pleasant/aqua fria...you get sick of fileting fish:

We'll have to hook up for some fishing when I get there.

 

[TheTone]

Learn a good rain dance also. It’s been super dry down there the past few months. When I was there a couple weeks ago I was blown away by how bad some things looked. Big patches of cactus dying, cottonwoods in waves that seemed to be dying, etc