CatfishKev

I'm lucky enough to have 5 kids and right now 3 are of hunting age. All 3 have killed one elk the last years. We got drawn for 2 youth tags this year (a first). Cant wait, I love helping my kids hunt. In the meantime im banking points for a primo hunt for me and my wife each. In the meantime i get to hunt with the kiddos and keep the freezer full. Not a bad gig at all! My advice to you is learn and understand the draw process, your good now because you had minimal points and have a tag. Go do the hunters ed course and watch the AZGF YouTube videos on the draw process. The last thing you want to do is build up points and burn them on the wrong hunt. Hopefully you got beginners luck and scored a bull tag!

Well if your happy just to hunt a new species in a new state you won't be disappointed. After all you drew a tag. I don't know draw odds for your hunts but based on the 2a and 2b threads you bumped to the top they seem less desirable and therefore you could have drawn it. If you did.. here's the good news, you have home field advantage! Get a pair of 15s and a tripod and glass glass glass. Learn every part of the unit, find the north facing slopes and shady areas to identify bedding areas. Look up lots of threads on glassing etc. Find feed and water sources and stack the odds in your favor. Find shelter areas or push zones and you will be golden! Good luck dude!

Right on, didn't know if you had it narrowed down. Hope it's a bull tag!

Will this be your first elk hunt? You seem unfamiliar with the whole process, and I don't mean that disrespectfully. Friends on an elk hunt are lifesavers. Any idea which hunt you got?

Lol, I figured. Bull, cow, unit etc?

Nah, jus start hunting harder to hunt animals right here in AZ. Like Fire ants.

I got 0 experience judging elk. Hearing about scores I always figured a 300" bull is a shooter any day in my book. That being said I would still guess him over 300.

Dang, 3 tags! What unit? We got 2 in 23.

What you get?

Nice find dude, congrats!

I made a paperweight!

2 and 3 years ago the powerlines had a fair amount of activity during the youth hunts. Last year you could tell that forest service had mowed them all down in the areas we had hunted and seen elk the couple years prior. It was a complete ghost town compared to the years before. The kids in camp had a real tough year last year I think in large part due to the thinning of these areas. My question is, once an area is cleared how long does it take before native food sources regrow to a point where they become a feeding area again for elk and or deer?

I just threw up in my mouth a little

Wow! I'd like to see the quality of a stripper that only cost $7.50 per dance.

Don't know. I guess either way with the recent storm it should be ok

I bet a high percentage of cats are killed the same day a tag is bought. Coincidentally.

I think like $15

I've never killed one, good thing there not expensive.

Killed a cow with my 10 year old son on an otc hunt once. No pack frame and was only my second experience dealing with one in the field. Let me tell you it was BRUTAL!. Killed it on Christmas eve and it literally took all day to get it out and back to camp. Cool thing was cooking some backstrap steaks over the fire that night my boy said "if I died tonight I would die happy". One of my most cherished memories.

Too many unknown variables to answer from an outside perspective.

I have a couple kilos of primo stuff I need to pick up around 17 and the 101 and get down here. Anyone making a trip already?

Dang immigrants have made it all the way to Payson!

And if crap really hits the fan you can bust open those tacos and use the lens to start a fire to warm up that frozen granola bar. Kidding aside, lots of good info in this thread. Pillow cases make great game bags unless you carry your kill kit on your back then lightweight is key. Also as mentioned you can sleep warm without spending buku bucks. Comfort is king when it's cold out. If your cold when your out or sleeping it becomes crappy quick.

Indeed I am. Buck looks good too!

Got my cargo to Sierra Vista. Thanks Daniel (muledeerarea33) for potentially risking your life by going into the wrong backyard to pick this up for me! I'm glad you did not get shot! And thanks Dennis for the hook up. He looks good above the fireplace. Hopefully I'll get my fish tank fire buck back soon to keep him company.