Kaibab Hunters get Elk&Buffalo tags...

[AZ402]

Well boys, if you get drawn for a Kaibab deer tag this year--and they increased the early rifle tags on the westside from 500 in 2004 to 1,000 this year, then you can also purchase an elk AND a buffalo tag!


Oh yes, they have done away with the House Rock buffalo hunts, now it will be handled as population management hunts (G&F will call you when buffalo are out of the park and available) or you buy a tag and see one on the deer hunts and get 'em!


What do you all think about this??

 

[JohnSWA]

Man, that's awesome! Sure hope I get drawn!!!

 

[AZ402]

I don't mind it except I think the 1000 tags for the early West hunt is WAY, WAY to many tags..............

 

[bowhuntinmaniac]

Yeah, but how many of those drawn deer hunters will throw away the tag to hunt buff?
Are the archery OTC tags able to hunt buff?

 

[BOHNTR]

VERY interesting....A little different than what I wote them a few years back. I had sent in a proposal that would allow any rifle hunter with a Kaibab deer tag to shoot either a buck deer OR any elk. I submitted this proposal when the AZGF were looking for ways to get rid of the few elk that had "appeared" on the plateau a few years back.

I agree, ADDING 500 additional buck tags on the west side is unreal. I really don't know where they are counting these deer at. As you know, I've hunted there every year (archery) for the past 20+ years. Last year was one of the worst for sheer deer numbers. So much so, I'm not planning on returning this year. Should be interesting for sure....can't wait until I can read the entire proclamation and understand more.

Thanks for giving us the heads up Stan.

 

[Funter]

AZ402

Where did you get your info?

 

[SageGhost]

reply

i just drove thru there last tuesday morning from chandler , on my way home to boise.. i counted over 200 head of deer before i even made it to the jacobs lake turn off, i have been camping between kaibab and fredonia and have seen more deer and elk then anywhere else in the western states.It is my opinion that 1000 tags is reasonable.I have talked to people .in kanab utah who have told me that the ranchers are no fans of the elk in that area and elk poaching is rampant. does anyone have any info on herd numbers for unit 12a or surrounding areas.

 

[AZ402]

Funter, this was taken up at the Commission meetings this past weekend. There is some good discussion on it at http://www.bowsite.com/bowsite/tf/regional/thread.cfm?threadid=109237&MESSAGES=11&state=AZ

 

[Lv2hnt]

Stan:

I agree with you and Roy --- I had an early West Side rifle tag year before last and it was the worst I'd seen up there in YEARS! I sure would like to see how G&F is substantiating the increased tag numbers for deer on the Bab for this year.

As for the elk herd (for those who don't know), G&F does not want stray elk continuing to mosey on down from Utah. They do NOT want elk to get a strong foothold to the detriment of the deer herd (although elk HAVE been there in limited numbers for some time now); in fact, the stated goal is "supposed" to be to eliminate elk from the North Rim. [You'd think an effective plan would have been implemented by now.] Anyway, what Stan mentioned is NEW for those drawing rifle tags for the North Kaibab this Fall --- an opportunity to purchase OTC tags for elk and/or buffalo to go along with one's rifle tag. BTW, I haven't heard anything yet about archery deer hunters getting in on this ...

Lv2hnt

 

[Funter]

AZ402,

Thanks.I will forward this to my wife or get her to log in and read it here.

 

[bowhuntinmaniac]

Lv2, no the bowhunters were left out in the cold on this one.......now the chance of a bowhunter being able to kill a buff that qualifys for the record book is very slim in AZ.