Arizona Elk Hunt Structure Unchanged

[AZ402]

For any who haven't heard, the Commission voted today 4-0 (Gilstrap
absent) to keep the hunt structure for elk the same as we had in
2005. No shift of archery elk tags to November, shortened hunts, any
elk tags, etc. Bob Hernbrode made the motion.

The only species acted upon at today's meeting was elk. The
Commission's action on deer, javelina, antelope, bighorn sheep and
other issues for 2006-2007 will be in April at the meeting in Tucson.

Also, Tucson's public meeting on the hunt structure last Thursday drew

about 60 sportsmen who voted 98-99% against both the deer and elk
changes. Javelina somehow didn't get addressed. Sportsmen also
overwhelmingly favored extension of the antelope season and an
increase to bighorn sheep tags, as well as a separate draw for
antelope and elk to be held earlier in the year so hunters can plan
their hunts farther in advance.

Some of us have been cussin' those Commissioners for months. Now it's

time to thank 'em for listening.

Thanks again to all who whet to the meetings and wrote letters and sent emails. A huge thanks to the ABA as well.

 

[A-con]

There is a thread going around several other sites pointing out a possible problem for nonresidents who don’t have max. points. It goes like this. Arizona has increased the pass point tags to 20%, meaning 20% of the tags go to those who have the most points, without having to “get lucky” in the lottery drawing. Nonresidents are limited to no more than 10% of the total tags per unit/hunt. Because lots of nonresidents have the maximum points, the 10% NR cap will be used up by the 20% pass point applicants before the lottery drawing even begins. Therefore, the only nonresidents to draw any of the more popular units will be those with maximum points.
This effectively makes Arizona a preference point state for nonresidents, at least those wanting to hunt the top seven or eight units.