AZ hunting

I picked my 1st elk shed in 9 on the 1st day of my trip. Unfortunately nothing for the next 30 miles over 5 days. I glassed it up from across the canyon, I didn’t realize how big it was till I put it next to the bull at my house. I should have spent more time looking for the other side

 

Anyone chasing gobblers ?
Spring in the Turkey woods is always fun.

 

I just got back from chasing gobblers in NM. Took us 3 solid days of hiking around before we found them. Snuck in at dark, got within 150 yards of the roost. My buddy's and I estimated there must have been 4-6 toms in that area. At first light the dominate hen started putt'ing and gathered up the crew and started moving way from us. We thought we were screwed but held out continuing to try and call them back in. Eventually we ended up having two toms thunder out at us at 50 years (or so), with a few more calls they saw the decoy. The biggest of the two kicked on the turbo and came in running, full on fluffed up and tail fan extended. Our buddy who has never gotten a turkey tried his best to hold off till the other tom came into the clear too but he couldn't hold out any longer (honestly I don't know if I could have either). Ended up rolling it at 25 yards with #7s TSS.

Huntin' gobblers is tough, lots of long days and lots of frustrations, but it's all worth it when it all comes together.

 

Awesome - love it when it all comes together!!

 

We got our arses handed to us.
50mph winds . Snow.
Gobbling off the roost for about 10 min then silence.
Caught some nice trout at BIG lake.

 

Man that's what happened to us too on the last day of our hunt trying to get a couple more tags filled, the snow came in the night before.. We couldn't get them to gobble for more than a few minutes. tried tracking them in the snow but didn't pan out. Glad you got to do some fishing at big lake!

 

Ya'll!!! I am in a dilemna. Need some advice. To pointguard or not to pointguard? I drew a Unit 1 early Archery Bull tag on the bonus pass. However, all the people I expected to be available help out also got drawn in their various 5/6 units. The only one I would have to help me is my father who is coming off a knee replacement, and my brother.

In my head, I am going to pointguard for the sole reason as there isn't going be really any elk hunting experience in this camp outside of (5) days last season for my Fathers Unit 1 bull tag. That being said, if I do pointguard, I am going to make a trip up to CO to do an otc hunt just for more experience, hopefully I can make it a backpack hunt to get away from the crowds.

Also pending is me getting drawn for 13A Rifle Deer, this is another reason why I might pointguard.

 

Sorry you are too late from what I can tell. Go hunting with your brother. Pointguard must be bought at time of applying or before the application deadline at the latest.

From G&F..........

Here are the requirements:

PointGuard is available to applicants who apply online for a hunt permit-tag.


PointGuard is $5 per species, per applicant, purchased at the time of completing the online application, or prior to the application period deadline. The fee is non-refundable.
Only one hunt permit-tag may be surrendered, per species. If an applicant is drawn in the future for that particular species, that hunt-permit tag must be used, expending all accumulated bonus points. Only then may an applicant participate again in PointGuard.
The primary applicant (the person who takes the lead in completing the online application for the other applicants) will be prompted to purchase PointGuard at the time of completing the online application. That primary applicant can purchase PointGuard for each additional applicant.

 

I purchased pointguard during my application process

 

I think he’s asking because he had already paid the 5$... that being said it’s 12pts to draw in max point pool so you could end up waiting a long time until you draw again. How many points did you have? Do either your brother or dad know how to call?

 

Im a firefighter, and being that the archery seasons are during the busy time of the year (fire season) I always purchase point guard. Knowing my luck I'd pull 13B deer or an elk tag with no vacation during the season. In your case I'd definitely go, it's unit 1 archery elk. Theres plenty of good bulls in the unit and I couldn't imagine it would be a hard hunt.

My parents live in 3B and every time we go to unit 1 to look theres no shortage of finding elk.

 

Sorry I didn't realize you had purchased it. Hoping for better rain and water situation this season to help antler growth.

 

Personally I'd go... Unit 1 is a solid unit and there isn't a shortage of elk in that unit. When you say there isn't any elk hunting experience in camp outside of the 5 days last year on your dad's elk hunt, do you mean that between the 3 of you, you guys have about 5 days of elk hunting experience?

Are your friend's hunts in units 5/6 the same dates as your hunt?

 

Hows 7W?

 

Another option is to donate your tag to a qualified 501c3 that can accept the tag and then give is to a disabled veteran or child. If you do this, it's the same thing as using your pointguard. You will still have all of your points. Sportsmen For Heroes Foundation operates up in unit 1 and has some amazing people working there. I'd highly recommend donating that tag because they will give it to a deserving disabled veteran.

 

Welp, got the #SAND reply from the NPS and AZGF for being selected as a "Skilled volunteer".... Don't forget to get your apps submitted for fall hunts before EOD tomorrow (6/8).

 

I never got a response from that. Unless the wife thought it was junk E-mail and trashed it. I know of 1 guy from AZ that got picked. I figure most of the others picked are out of staters.

 

It would be interesting to get the perspective of his experience after it's all said and done.

 

Some people are already thinking this cull won't happen. Supposedly an Indian tribe somewhere has started a petition to stop the cull.

 

For the curious who didn’t apply and wonder what the rejection email looks like.